Pedri 'fully fit' as Barcelona eye Derby battle against Espanyol

Pedri returned to full training after the festive break following a minor calf issue that kept him out of Barcelona's final match of 2025 against Villarreal.

The midfielder trained with his team-mates on Monday during an open session at the Estadi Johan Cruyff and has now set his sights on Saturday's derby at the RCDE Stadium.

"I wanted to train. I had a little overload," Pedri told Sport. "Fortunately I feel well now, eager to continue contributing to the team and enjoy myself on the pitch."

The Spain international said he felt ready to play and expected a tough test against Espanyol, despite Barcelona's strong recent form.

"I'm feeling very good to play," he said. "We're arriving at the derby with good momentum. Espanyol won't make it easy, but we'll go out to win as always."

Barcelona head into the derby in excellent league form. The clubs have won their last eight La Liga matches, a run that has lifted Hansi Flick's side four points clear at the top of the table. Flick has relied heavily on Pedri when fit, with the midfielder central to Barcelona's control in possession and tempo in midfield.

Espanyol, meanwhile, are expected to treat the derby as a major occasion, with home support likely to create a hostile atmosphere. Pedri acknowledged the challenge but made it clear Barcelona's focus remained on maintaining their winning run.

With Pedri back in training and declaring himself ready, Barcelona have received a timely boost as they look to start the new phase of the season with another statement victory in one of Spanish football's most intense fixtures.