Will the Blaugrana turn the corner in the Derbi barceloní?
Four wins, five draws and 17 points – that’s not only the record of Espanyol Barcelona, but also the record of FC Barcelona. The crisis-ridden Blaugrana have been waiting for another treble for four consecutive league games and are only ninth in La Liga.
It is all the more surprising that in the run-up to the Derbi barceloní between Barcelona and Espanyol Barcelona, the odds are swinging so clearly in the Blaugrana’s favour. Although there is still plenty of quality in the financially troubled club’s squad, the Blanquiazules’ chances of an away win at their city rivals have rarely been better, after all.
In addition, Espanyol Barcelona have been in good form recently. The promoted team has lost only one of its last six league games and has always scored at least one goal of its own in all of those six matches, or even scored twice in five of the six games.
So the Blanquiazules can definitely be expected to score at least one goal in Camp Nou. In a Derbi barceloní that is not easy to predict, we recommend betting on goals on both sides for Barcelona against Espanyol Barcelona.
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
FC Barcelona has been one of the most successful teams not only in Spain but even in Europe since the middle of the 20th century. 26 national championships, 31 national cups and nine international tournament victories are among their achievements.
The current situation is correspondingly difficult for Catalonia’s figurehead, which is accustomed to success. The club’s icon Messi had to be parted with this summer, partly due to crushing debts, and without him the Blaugrana would have lost their dominance.
Xavi makes his coaching debut in the Derbi barceloní of all places
Barca have only won four of their first twelve league games (five draws, three defeats), leaving them in ninth place in the current La Liga table. They are already eleven points behind leaders Real Sociedad.
Consequently, coach Ronald Koeman, who was replaced by Xavi a fortnight ago, had to pack his bags. The 41-year-old is now set to make his competitive debut on the sidelines of the Blaugrana, who have gone winless in four consecutive league games and have picked up just two points from a possible twelve.
Only one win in last six league games
It is all the more surprising that the Catalans’ recent crisis does not seem to have spread to the bookmakers yet.
There is still plenty of quality in the squad of the five-time Champions League winners, who could punch their ticket to the last 16 against Benfica Lisbon in the top flight on Tuesday. However, this quality has not been called upon recently.
Projected Barcelona line-up:
ter Stegen – Alba – Lenglet – García – Mingueza – de Jong – Busquets – González – Fati – Gavi – Depay
Last matches played by Barcelona:
LaLiga
11/06 2021 – Celta Vigo 3 – 3 Barcelona
Champions League Grp. E
11/02 2021 – Dynamo Kiev 0 – 1 Barcelona
LaLiga
10/30 2021 – Barcelona 1 – 1 Deportivo Alaves
10/27 2021 – Rayo Vallecano 1 – 0 Barcelona
10/24 2021 – Barcelona 1 – 2 Real Madrid
Espanyol Barcelona – Statistics & current form
Espanyol Barcelona have never won the Spanish championship, but have at least won the Copa del Rey four times (most recently in 2006) and have also reached the UEFA Cup final twice, in 1988 and 2007.
The Blanquiazules also hold seventh place in La Liga’s perennial standings, but that did not prevent the Blaugrana’s city rivals from being relegated in the summer of 2020 after 26 consecutive years in the top flight of Spanish football.
No relegation fears after good start to season
After all, it didn’t take the Periquitos (in German: die Wellensittiche) long to come back. Under Vicente Moreno, the Catalans won direct promotion to La Liga 2, losing only eight of their 42 league games.
Now the Blanquiazules want to establish themselves in La Liga again as a first step, for which they look quite good after 13 completed games. Like their city rivals Barca, RCDE have picked up 17 points and are currently tied for eleventh place on points only because of their poorer goal difference. An away win in the Derbi barceloní and the promoted team would even overtake its great rival.
Won only nine of 76 league away games at Camp Nou
Looking at the record, however, betting on the Blanquiazules to win away at Barcelona against Espanyol Barcelona is decidedly ill-starred. In league play alone, RCDE have only won nine of their 76 away games at Camp Nou.
Most recently, there were eleven defeats in a row at the stadium of the city rival in La Liga with 2:34 goals. However, with the Periquitos having lost just one of their last six league games and going into the Derbi barceloní with much more momentum, the chances of taking something tangible away from Camp Nou have not been this good for a long time.
Predicted line-up of Espanyol Barcelona:
López – Pedrosa – Cabrera – Gómez – Vidal – Bare – Puado – Darder – Herrera – Embarda – de Tomás
Last matches played by Espanyol Barcelona:
LaLiga
11/06 2021 – Espanyol 2 – 0 Granada
10/31 2021 – Getafe 2 – 1 Espanyol
10/26 2021 – Espanyol 1 – 1 Athletic Bilbao
10/23 2021 – Elche 2 – 2 Espanyol
10/18 2021 – Espanyol 2 – 0 Cadiz
Barcelona – Espanyol Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 167 – 61 – 72
The Derbi barceloní has been played a staggering 300 times and with 167 victories, more than half of all duels have gone to the Blaugrana, who have lost only one of their last 26 duels with the Periquitos (20 victories, five draws).
Barcelona – Espanyol Barcelona tip
When it comes to Barcelona vs Espanyol Barcelona, the prediction may not completely exclude the “head to head” comparison. Nevertheless, the Blaugrana have changed significantly compared to the last few years due to the departure of Messi and are more vulnerable these days than they have been for a long time. Barca are currently waiting four league games for another win (two draws, two defeats).
The visitors, on the other hand, come into the Catalan city derby with momentum. The Blauquiazules have lost only one of their last six league games, in which they scored a total of eleven goals and never went scoreless.
Accordingly, we find plenty of value in betting on goals on both sides, for which Barcelona vs Espanyol Barcelona betting odds of 1.90 are available.
