Barcelona return to domestic duty with a derby that feels more like a trap than a celebration. Beaten 2-0 by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Hansi Flick must now decide how much risk he is willing to take with his La Liga cushion when Espanyol arrive at the Camp Nou.

Seven points clear at the top, Barcelona appear in control of the title race, yet the timing is awkward. Real Madrid can trim the gap before Barca even kick off, and the second leg against Atletico looms, demanding fresh legs and clear minds. Flick has admitted he will “analyse everything” before choosing his line-up, aware that a slip in the derby could inject needless tension into the run-in.

The nightmare scenario is obvious: rotate heavily, drop points to a struggling Espanyol, then crash out of Europe in Madrid anyway. The Camp Nou, still basking in its post-renovation glow, has not yet seen a league defeat since reopening. Flick knows that record is part of the psychological armour his side will carry into the decisive weeks of the season.

That is why the fitness of key midfielders weighs so heavily. Pedri, withdrawn at half-time against Atletico with a minor issue, is considered essential to Barcelona’s control and creativity. Frenkie de Jong has only just returned to training after a hamstring problem, and any minutes he gets against Espanyol will be measured carefully with Tuesday in mind.

Gavi’s explosive cameo in the first leg offered a rare piece of good news. The 21-year-old, easing back from a long lay-off, injected intensity and bite that Flick may need from the start in the derby if he chooses to rest senior figures. Youngsters and fringe players such as Ronald Araujo, Marc Casado and Roony Bardghji are all candidates to shoulder responsibility against an Espanyol side in free-fall.

Manolo Gonzalez’s team have not won in the league this calendar year, their decline beginning with a 2-0 home defeat to Barcelona that shattered early-season optimism. On paper, they are ideal opponents for a rotated XI. In reality, derbies have a habit of ignoring form tables.

As Diego Simeone prepares to rotate his own Atletico squad before the second leg, Flick must strike a balance: protect his stars for Europe, or press his advantage in La Liga and risk arriving in Madrid with tired legs but a firmer grip on the title.