Espanyol vs Barcelona: Preview and Predictions

Espanyol vs Barcelona
Spanish La Liga
Date: Saturday, 29th April 2017
Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: RCDE Stadium.

Barceloan are flying high at the moment. The whole season and Luis Enrique’s reign at Camp Nou can receive a completely different dimension if the team lifts the Primera Division silverware at the end of the campaign.

It all seemed wasted for the Catalans after the poor performances in both Champions League quarterfinal legs with Juventus.

However, Lionel Messi gave his best when the team needed him most and that’s probably why he is the best player of the generation.

Barca will definitely have an imperative to see off their Catalan rivals Espanyol in the derby match scheduled for Saturday evening at RCDE Stadium.

Espanyol

Quique Sanchez Flores can generally be satisfied with the campaign he has had with Espanyol in this term of Primera.

The team will end the season in the top half of the standings miles away from the relegation scrap.

The worrying fact ahead of the derby with Barcelona is the lack of efficiency in the final third as the team notched only a single goal in last two league outings.

Barcelona

Espanyol’s defense did a good job in the most recent games allowing no more than two goals in last four fixtures.

However, we all know that there is no defense capable of stopping Barcelona’s strikers in Spain (Juve showed they can in Europe).

Barca backed up the win in El Clasico with a demolishing 7-1 victory over Osasuna on Wednesday evening at Camp Nou.

Espanyol vs Barcelona: Head to head

Espanyol managed to no more than six wins in 56 meetings with Barcelona.

Blaugrana have been absolutely dominant in the Catalan derbies. Barca demolished Espanyol 4-1 in the first part of the season.

Lionel Messi bagged a brace, while Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba also got their names on the scoresheet.

Espanyol vs Barcelona: Prediction

Barca are massive favourites to keep challenging their arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of the standings.

Their victory at RCDE Stadium should not be questionable at all and the only realistic question is the margin of the win for the visiting side.