Follow live text updates as Barcelona take on Espanyol
Xavi's first game as boss
Espanyol are level on points with Barcelona before Saturday's meeting and hoping to be victorious for the first time since they won 2-1 in February 2009
Barcelona 0-0 Espanyol
Another Barcelona free-kick - this time from the left flank - is cleared by Raul de Tomas.
Frenkie de Jong does brilliantly to tee up Memphis Depay moments later, but the Dutchman's volley is straight at Espanyol goalkeeper Diego Lopez.
Barcelona 0-0 Espanyol
There's a tremendous atmosphere at the Camp Nou tpnight.
Teenage debutant Ilias Akhomach wins a free-kick with his first touch of the ball. It's in a promising position out on the right, but the hosts fail to make the most of it.
Barcelona 0-0 Espanyol
And off we go!
Barcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
Tonight's attendance is expected to be around 75,000.
Kick-off is just seconds away...
Barcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
The teams are out - we're almost ready to go.
The Nou Camp looks pretty full to me, or fuller than it was against Alaves in Barcelona's last home game.
Barcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 22 La Liga meetings with neighbours Espanyol, winning 17.
Espanyol's last league victory in this fixture came in February 2009, when Ivan de la Pena scored twice for Mauricio Pochettino's side in a 2-1 triumph.
A certain Yaya Toure was on target for Barcelona.
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
Xavi certainly has a big job on his hands.
Barcelona are down in ninth in La Liga, level on points with Espanyol - although they do have a game in hand.
A win for either side would lift them to within six points of the top four.
Image source, BBC SportBarcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport
Espanyol fans call themselves the "wonderful minority". In a football-obsessed city such as Barcelona it can be hard to spot the club's blue and white jerseys amid a sea of blaugrana.
For almost 80 years Pericos fans have had to accept finishing below Barcelona and, while they can stomach living next door to a footballing "monster", the club's last visit to the Nou Camp proved a particularly traumatic day in the history of this traditionally-lopsided rivalry.
Luis Suarez scored in a 1-0 win for the hosts in July last year to confirm Espanyol's relegation to the second tier for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign.
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
Asked whether now is a good or bad time to face Barcelona at Camp Nou, Espanyol boss Vicente Moreno said: “It is not something that I consider. The moment is not chosen.
“Winning in that pitch is always difficult. We'll have to do things bordering on excellence to win. The only team that has won [this season] is Real Madrid. I expect a difficult game.”
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Barcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
More from new Barca boss Xavi: “We need our people. We need them to cheer and to give everything.
“We’re not going to be lacking in terms of attitude. I assure you that we’re going to give everything and we need [the fans]. We have do be together.
“If they’re as dedicated as they were during my presentation, that’s enough for me.”
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
Xavi makes two changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Celta Vigo before the international break.
Gerard Pique returns from injury, while 17-year-old Ilias Akhomach makes his debut. New signing Dani Alves is ineligible until January
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Mingueza, Garcia, Pique, Alba, Nico, Busquets, De Jong, Gavi, Depay, Akhomach
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Espanyol make one change to the team that beat Granada 2-0, David Lopez replacing Keidi Bare in midfield.
Espanyol XI: Diego Lopez, Vidal, Gomez, Cabrera, Pedrosa, David Lopez, Embarba, Herrera, Darder, Puado, De Tomas
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Barcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
In a video to fans posted shortly after his appointment, former Al Sadd manager Xavi said: "It wasn't goodbye, it was 'see you soon'. The Camp Nou has always been my home.
"You're my fans, my people, the club that I love the most. And now, I'm coming home."
Image source, Getty ImagesBarcelona v Espanyol (20:00 GMT)
It has been a long wait.
Two weeks since he was officially appointed as Ronald Koeman's successor, Xavi will take charge of his first match as Barcelona head coach this evening.
All eyes will be on the former Barca midfielder when he takes his place in the dugout for tonight's game against city rivals Espanyol.
Image source, Getty Images