Read our prediction for Espanyol vs Barcelona below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Espanyol vs Barcelona and you can increase your winnings!
Espanyol vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting tips
El Derbi Catalán is scheduled for the 47th time this millennium as an official competition in Spain. Can the home team and the team closing the gap create a stunt against the great Barcelona?
Espanyol:
Last season, Espanyol managed to get a European football ticket for the first time in years and the group stage was then survived without any problems. However, the club management was not satisfied with the European success alone and just before Christmas, trainer Pablo Machín was fired. Abelardo Fernández has been at the helm of the Catalans since December 27, it is already the third trainer this season and is appointed based on the successes achieved with Sporting Gijón and Deportivo Alavés.
The resignation of Machín followed the defeat against direct competitor Leganés. In Madrid, Los Pericos lost for the thirteenth time this season and the gap in the safe seventeenth place of the ranking has now risen to five points. So a lot of work to be done for Fernández to get his new team on the road, especially in the offensive sense, it was a rather sad sight to see Espanyol take action in the first half of the season.
Barcelona:
As bad as Espanyol is currently doing at the national level, the Ernesto Valverde formation is doing so well. As expected from the Catalan colossus, the league table in La Liga is supplied, the club has the best goal balance and group victory in the Champions League is secured. We can state that, apart from the problems with an unsatisfied Arturo Vidal, everything is under control at Barça.
After this round of play, the Valverde formation will have to pack the bags again quite soon, because next week there will be a battle for the Spanish Supercup. Instead of a traditional match with the cup winner, a mini-tournament will be played this season in the desert among the top four teams of last season. Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will meet each other on Thursday, after which we may be presented with a Clásico as the final on 12 January.
The Blaugranas will in any case have to take office this weekend without the injured Marc-André Ter Stegen, the German goalkeeper struggles with knee problems and is replaced by Neto. Furthermore, the team will face the cityman with full confidence. For the last league defeat to visit Espanyol, we have to go back no less than thirteen years in time.
Espanyol vs Barcelona head to head matches
30.03.19 LL Barcelona Espanyol 2 : 0
08.12.18 LL Espanyol Barcelona 0 : 4
07.03.18 CF Barcelona Espanyol 1 : 0 (0 : 0)
04.02.18 LL Espanyol Barcelona 1 : 1
25.01.18 CDR Barcelona Espanyol 2 : 0