Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Barcelona set to have full squad to choose from vs. Espanyol

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is set to have a full squad to choose from at home to Espanyol in La Liga next Sunday evening -- in a game which could see the Blaugrana claim the title.

With just two games remaining, Barca are level on 85 points with Atletico Madrid atop the table, with Luis Enrique's side having a better head-to-head record, while Real Madrid remain just one point behind in third place.

Should both their challengers lose next weekend, when Atletico are at already relegated Levante and Madrid host mid-table Valencia, a Barca win against their local rivals would see them retain the title.

Asked about Espanyol fans hoping for a repeat of the "Tamudazo" -- when Raul Tamudo famously scored at Camp Nou in the last minute to deny Barca the title back in 2007 -- Barcelona board spokesperson Josep Vives said the issue had not come up in conversations with his fellow directors.

"The 'Tamudazo' is a long time ago now," he said. "We did not talk about it at the board meeting. When you are positive it gets the emotions going. We did talk about having a great team and we want to write a new chapter in the club's history."

Barca have a full week to prepare for the derby, while title rivals Atletico and Real Madrid respectively face Champions League semifinal second legs at Bayern Munich on Tuesday and at home to Manchester City on Wednesday.

After being given Monday off following Saturday's 2-0 win at Real Betis, Barca's week began quietly according to a club statement.

"The FC Barcelona first began preparations on Tuesday morning for Sunday's derby with Espanyol at 5.00PM [local time]," the statement said. "After following 2-0 victory at Betis with two days of welcome rest, Luis Enrique and his players were at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on a sunny morning to prepare for a game in which three points will leave them just one more win away from clinching the league trophy.

"They'll be training every day from Wednesday to Saturday at 11.00am CET for a game that will also serve as a tribute to Manel Vich, the charismatic Camp Nou stadium announcer who died this week at the age of 78. On Sunday, a recording of his voice will welcome supporters to the stadium as he did for almost 60 years, and the team line-ups will be shown in silence."

Barca defender Jeremy Mathieu again took part in the session as he recovers from the knee injury picked up on international duty with France in March. The ex-Valencia player is expected to be given the medical all-clear to return later this week.

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