Barcelona vs Espanyol prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-11-02 15:15.
[p]Barcelona warmed up for this season’s first Derbi Barcelonà in the best possible way, defeating Bayern Munich (4-1) and Real Madrid (4-0) in the space of less than a week. Hansi Flick’s men have now won five games in a row, each by at least a three-goal margin. They also have a six-point lead at the top of La Liga standings after 11 rounds, giving them a sizeable advantage at this early stage in the title race. [/p]
[p]That could be ominous for their next opponents Espanyol, as Barça are unbeaten across their last 26 league H2Hs (W19, D7), the best such run of any team in any regional derby in this competition. The hosts have also won 12 of their last 13 home league H2Hs (D1), only adding to the expectancy that they will extend their supremacy in this derby fixture. Barcelona’s aura is enhanced by their recent record at their temporary home of the Estadi OlĂmpic LluĂs Companys, having won their last ten league games at this venue.[/p]
[p]Espanyol find themselves at the wrong end of the table, starting this round just one point above the bottom three. That’s largely due to a run of five defeats across their last six league games (W1), which negated the positives of consecutive wins over Rayo Vallecano and Alavés immediately prior to this run.[/p]
[p]All three of their wins and all but one of their points in this league season have come at home though, which plays further into their huge underdog tag. Bringing further worry, the White and Blues are actually yet to win on the road in this league campaign (D1, L4), which includes three defeats in a row coming into this one. [/p]
[p]Key battle: Robert Lewandowski scored a first-half brace in a 4-2 win for Barcelona when these sides last met and six of his last seven goals at this venue have also come before the break. Former Barcelona youth product Sergi GĂłmez could be out to stop Lewandowski, but will be wary of controlling his aggression having been carded a personal-high five times in 17 H2Hs.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ten of Espanyol’s last 13 league matches as the away side against Barcelona saw them lose without scoring.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]