Espanyol vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2026-01-02 20:00.
[p]The first Catalan derby of the season between Espanyol and Barcelona pits the only two sides with a 100% winning record across the last five La Liga rounds against each other. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Espanyol have been the surprise package in La Liga this season, transforming from a side who only avoided relegation by two points last season into one who are now threatening the European picture. Five successive top-flight victories, culminating in a 2-1 success against Athletic Club, have certainly aided their cause, and they now stand on the brink of securing six such wins in a row for the first time since June 1999. Facing one of the league’s elite sides threatens to be their undoing here, as it’s against the top sides they’ve struggled this term, with three of their four league defeats coming against the pre-round top six hinting that securing local bragging rights will be a tall order. [/p]
[p]Barcelona spent Christmas comfortably clear at the La Liga summit after eight successive victories helped open up daylight to the chasing pack. With nearest challengers Real Madrid not playing until Sunday, the Catalan giants could provisionally open up a seven-point gap at the summit, and nine wins from ten competitive games (L1) suggest that’s a distinct possibility. It’s difficult to find too many chinks in Barcelona’s armour this season, but both of their league defeats this term coming on the road does show they’re most fallible on their travels. That’s particularly true in a defensive sense too, as Barça have kept just two clean sheets across their nine away league games this term.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This fixture has been one-sided in recent history, with Espanyol winning none of the last 28 La Liga H2Hs (D7, L21).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Only one Espanyol home league game this season saw over 1.5 first-half goals. [/p]
[p]Pre-round, only Barcelona (6) have scored more home league goals after the 80th minute than Espanyol (4).[/p]
[p]Only Oviedo (11) have conceded more first-half away league goals than Barcelona (10) pre-round. [/p]
[p]None of Barcelona’s nine La Liga away games this season stood level at half-time (HT: W5, L4).[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Roberto Fernández has scored after the half-hour mark in five of his six home goal scoring appearances for Espanyol. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in this corresponding fixture last season which is bedded within a run of 11 successive away goals to arrive on or beyond the 40th minute. [/p]
[p]Espanyol’s top scorer Pere Milla limped off against Athletic, while Pedri missed Barcelona’s last pre-Christmas outing. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]This derby clash has been dominated by Barcelona, but with Espanyol in fine form too, there’s value in backing Espanyol/Draw in the double chance market.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]