Two of the most in-form LALIGA EA SPORTS teams are set to face each other in the first weekend of 2026, as Los Periquitos host Barça on Matchday 18.
The new calendar year is set to kick off with a much-anticipated clash, as Matchday 18 features the local derby between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona. Los Periquitos are scheduled to host their cross-city rivals on Saturday in ELDERBI DE BARCELONA, a clash between two of the most in-form teams in LALIGA EA SPORTS. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Manolo González’s side are heading into the match on the back of five straight league victories, their longest winning streak in the top flight since June 1999. They sit comfortably fifth in the table, 13 points behind leaders FC Barcelona, who have won eight in a row and lost just one of their last 12 games across all competitions.
Barça dominate after ELCLASICO loss
FC Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat away at Real Madrid back in late October may have been a major blow, but Hansi Flick’s side managed to bounce back from adversity and returned to the top of the table thanks to an eight-game winning run in the league.
Averaging 2.8 goals scored per game, Barça boast the finest attack in the league, as well as one of the best in Europe so far this season. An outstanding Ferran Torres has already netted 11 league goals, with Lamine Yamal having registered 14 goal contributions via seven goals and as many assists in 14 games.
Heading into Saturday’s ELDERBI DE BARCELONA, Flick’s team have won six of their nine games away from home so far this season. In fact, only Real Madrid (21) have picked up more points on the road than FC Barcelona (19). Yet, it should be noted that Barça’s two defeats so far this term have both come away from home, at Real Madrid and Sevilla FC.
Following their 2-0 victory away at Villarreal CF, they have already been crowned LALIGA EA SPORTS winter champions for the 14th time in the 21st century, winning this unofficial accolade in 10 of the previous 13 seasons.
RCD Espanyol’s extraordinary first half of the season
Meanwhile, everything seems to be clicking at Los Periquitos, who have won six of their nine home games thus far. Having also celebrated four wins on the road, RCD Espanyol have seen only four teams record more victories than González’s side (10) this season.
Midfielder Pere Milla has stood out with a team-high six goals, while Carlos Romero is currently considered as one of the finest left-backs in the league. Romero is fifth in the league in both tackles won (28) and tackles+interceptions (64). He has also contributed in the final third with three goals and two assists in 16 league games.
The two RCD Espanyol stars got their names on the scoresheet as Los Periquitos came back after Álex Berenguer’s opener to beat Athletic Club at San Mamés just before the winter break. Currently boasting LALIGA EA SPORTS’ fourth-best defence with 17 goals conceded in as many games, RCD Espanyol have kept three clean sheets in their last four league games.
Only Thibaut Courtois (eight) has managed more clean sheets than Marko Dmitrović (seven), who has made sure that Joan García’s void has been filled. In fact, this game will mark García’s first game against the team where he took his first footballing steps before departing to FC Barcelona last summer following an outstanding season at RCD Espanyol.
The head-to-head record is in FC Barcelona’s favour, as Los Azulgranas haven’t lost any of their last 16 games away at Los Periquitos in the league. Barça have won three games in a row against RCD Espanyol, including a 2-0 road victory that allowed Flick’s team to clinch last season’s league title at the RCDE Stadium.
It remains to be seen if the hosts will manage to take revenge against their cross-city rivals or whether FC Barcelona will extend their unbeaten streak in the league by kicking off 2026 in style.
