FC Barcelona – Espanyol
Our Barcelona – Espanyol prediction is: Barcelona to win (-2 handicap) – 1.65 odds
- Barcelona wants to extend its lead in the table
- Espanyol is in the relegation battle
- In the last duel, Barcelona won 4-2
On Sunday, November 3 at 4:15 p.m., FC Barcelona will host city rivals Espanyol at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for the highly anticipated La Liga derby. The Catalans lead the table with a whopping 30 points and an impressive goal difference of 27, but the road to the top was not a sure thing. Under the direction of Hansi Flick, the team showed relentless dominance in the current season, only to suffer an unusual 4-2 defeat against Osasuna.
Espanyol, on the other hand, is fighting against relegation. 17th place in the table and only 10 points after eleven match days speak volumes about the difficulties facing the team of coach Manolo González. Espanyol have lost four of their last five games, often underperforming, especially defensively. The narrow 2-1 win against Mallorca was a ray of hope, but more as a glimmer of hope than a turnaround.
Nevertheless, the encounter promises to be explosive and could hold surprises. While Barcelona still wants to underpin its title ambitions, Espanyol urgently needs points to avoid relegation. The combination of managerial ease and desperate battle to avoid relegation promises to be a gripping game in front of a passionate home crowd.
Barcelona – Espanyol info
- Date & Time: 03/11/2024, 4:15 pm
- Venue: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona
- Competition: La Liga, Matchday 12
- TV broadcast/livestream: DAZN, OneFootball
Barcelona Form & Record Check
In the current season, FC Barcelona, under the direction of coach Hansi Flick, is showing impressive form. They are at the top of the La Liga with 30 points and a goal difference of 27, which underlines their offensive and defensive stability. The latest results highlight Barcelona’s dominance, particularly the remarkable 4-0 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid on October 26, in which Robert Lewandowski scored twice and decided the game with his accuracy and efficiency. The performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on October 23, with a 4-1 win, also showed the team’s class and versatility. The role of Lamine Yamal, who made a significant contribution to the offensive output with his precise assists, deserves special mention.
Likewise, Barcelona impressed with a 5-1 win over Sevilla in La Liga, indicating that the team is living up to a high standard despite occasional defensive lapses, such as the 4-2 loss to Osasuna. That defeat, however, was an outlier in an otherwise solid series. Notably, Barcelona has shown an ability to bounce back quickly after setbacks and to perform at crucial moments. They have recorded comfortable wins over Alavés and Young Boys, winning 3-0 and 5-0 respectively. This consistency is underlined by the impressive statistic that Barcelona have scored in each of their last ten matches, underlining their offensive firepower and strategic focus under Flick.
The beginning of a new era of success?
Barcelona are currently playing a style of play characterized by precise passing and quick ball movement, with players like Pedri and Pablo Torre Carral playing a key role. The upcoming derby against Espanyol offers the opportunity to further consolidate their lead in the league and shows the team’s unyielding ambition to compete this season both nationally and internationally. This intense preparation and current strong form promise an exciting encounter in the upcoming league game.
Barcelona facts & analysis
- Last 4-0 win against Real Madrid
- Ranked 1st in La Liga
- Scores more than 3 goals per game on average
Espanyol form & record check
Espanyol face FC Barcelona in a game that will be decided by their inconsistent form. In the last ten games, the team under coach Manolo González has only managed four wins, the most impressive of which was a 4-0 Copa del Rey win over San Tirso. However, this commanding performance cannot hide the weaknesses in the league. The recent painful 2-0 home defeat to Sevilla and a clear 4-1 defeat at Athletic Club once again highlighted defensive problems. In between, only the narrow 2-1 win over Mallorca stood out as a ray of hope, underlining the ability to hold their own against mid-table opponents, but even that was not enough to improve their solid form.
The team showed surprising stability at home against Alavés at the end of September, where they managed a 3-2 win. Sometimes they manage to keep things tight defensively, as in the goalless draw against Atletico Madrid at the start of the season. However, their performances on opposing pitches raise questions; the team often allows too many chances. With only ten points from many games, Espanyol are currently in 17th place in the table, well below where they wanted to be. In particular, the team’s susceptibility to conceding goals, along with the negative goal difference of -9, continues to cause uncomfortable discussions.
In search of stability
González is under pressure to eliminate the weaknesses in the defensive line-up and to deliver a more stable performance against the local rivals in order to stay in the league midfield. The upcoming game against the in-form Barcelona could serve as a yardstick – either as the starting point for an upward trend or as a further setback in the search for stability.
Espanyol facts & analysis
- Last lost 2-0 to Sevilla in La Liga
- Played in the Copa del Rey on Thursday
- Stand in 17th place with 10 points
Barcelona are preparing for their upcoming La Liga match against Espanyol and are expected to field a 4-2-3-1 system under the direction of head coach Hansi Flick. With key center back Ronald Araújo out with a muscle injury, Pau Cubarsí is likely to play in the back four in his place. Iñaki Peña will take the place of Marc-André ter Stegen in goal due to the latter’s injury. The defense could consist of Jules Koundé, Íñigo Martínez, Pau Cubarsí and Alejandro Balde. In midfield, Pedri will play a major role as usual, supported by Marc Casadó. The offense will be led by Lamine Yamal, who recently excelled as an assistant, as well as Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, who are known for their precision and goal-scoring prowess. The absences of Ferran Torres and Andreas Christensen weaken the depth of the team, but with Gavi and Dani Olmo, the squad still has strong options on the bench.
Espanyol are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against FC Barcelona, with the absence of Calero through an Achilles tendon injury leaving a gap in defense. In his place, Cabrera could move into the starting lineup. In midfield, the return of Lozano could be crucial, with Gragera out with an ankle injury and Expósito also a doubt with a knee injury. Milla is key and will be motivated after his strong performance in the last game against San Tirso. In attack, Cardona and the goal-scoring Véliz will lead the offense, supported by Javi Puado. Joan García will be in goal, while Manolo González will be in charge of the sideline.
Barcelona – Espanyol head-to-head & statistics
The head-to-head comparison is clearly in favor of Barcelona with three wins to two draws. Espanyol have not won in their last five games. The last meeting ended in May 2023 with a 4-2 away win for Barcelona. Noteworthy is Barcelona’s streak of five consecutive games in which they have scored a goal in both the second half and overall. Espanyol, on the other hand, have conceded goals in each of their last five meetings after the break. The upcoming clash promises to be another exciting game, given the clear statistics of recent years.
Head to Head (H2H)
