FC Barcelona - RCD Espanyol: Will Barcelona maintain their distance from Real Madrid?
On Saturday, April 11, we will see a clash from matchday 31 of La Liga between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol. The match kicks off at 18:30 CET, and I am offering a betting pick for this game.
Barcelona - Espanyol: match facts and H2H
- Barcelona have lost only one of their last ten matches.
- At home, Barcelona remain unbeaten. However, they have suffered two defeats in the UEFA Champions League.
- Espanyol are winless in their last 13 matches.
- Away from home, Espanyol have gone seven consecutive matches without a win.
- Barcelona have the best attack in La Liga with 80 goals scored.
- Barcelona also have the second-best defence, having conceded 29 goals in La Liga.
- In 52% of their matches this season, Barcelona have scored in both halves.
- 33% of their matches this season have ended in clean-sheet victories.
- Only 7% of Barcelona’s matches have been lost without scoring, while Espanyol’s figure is 16%.
- In the last head-to-head meeting, Barcelona defeated Espanyol 2–0.
- The last time Espanyol beat Barcelona was in 2018.
Barcelona - Espanyol: match preview
FC Barcelona secured an important victory over Atlético Madrid in a very difficult match in the previous round and took advantage of Real Madrid’s defeat. The Catalan side have opened up a seven-point lead over the Madrid club in the table. Barcelona have 76 points after 30 matches. The team boasts the best attack in La Liga with 80 goals scored and the second-best defence with 29 goals conceded.
In La Liga, the team is on a strong run, although a few days ago they lost 0–2 to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League and will soon try to bounce back in the league and secure a place in the semi-finals.
RCD Espanyol are not competing in any European competitions and are currently mid-table, effectively playing for nothing significant at this stage. The Catalan side have 38 points after 30 matches, sitting in 10th place and six points behind the European qualification spots. It might seem they could still fight for Europe, but they are on a 13-match winless run. With such form, it is difficult to aim for higher positions, and they are likely to finish in mid-table as usual.
Expected lineups
- Barcelona: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; E Garcia, Gavi; Yamal, F Lopez, Olmo; F Torres
- Espanyol: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Ngonge, Gonzalez, Milla, Lozano, Dolan; Fernandez
Prediction
Despite the Champions League defeat to Atlético, Barcelona are performing well in the league, and they will need to continue this run if they want to maintain their lead over Real Madrid. I suggest a bet on Barcelona team total over 2.
