Remis specialist visits Catalonia
Three quarters of the regular season have been completed in the Spanish lower house and the hosts from the Catalan metropolis are well in the race for promotion in third place. Now Espanyol Barcelona await the kickers from Tenerife – you can read our betting tips and odds here!
In 13th place in the 22-team La Liga 2, the visitors are only in no-man’s land in the table compared to the home side. How average they are on the road can also be seen from the fact that they have eleven wins, twelve defeats and eight draws
For Tenerife, however, the ranking is okay. The island’s ambitions are limited and last year they finished in a similar position in tenth place at the end of the season. On top of that, the visitors have been predominantly at home in the Spanish lower house in their history anyway and this has been the case again for 14 years now.
The betting tip for the match between Espanyol Barcelona and Tenerife is for a draw at half-time.
Espanyol Barcelona – Statistics & current form
The Catalans were relegated to the second tier last season, but this faux pas could soon be ironed out. They are currently just one point away from second place, which would give them a direct ticket to La Liga.
What’s more, the Blue & Whites are in good form. Coach Luis Miguel Ramis’ side are unbeaten in five rounds (3-2-0) and recently defeated Eibar, a direct rival in the promotion battle.
The relegated La Liga side’s successful season has been largely down to a reliable attack. Although Joselu, a top striker, is currently on loan to Real Madrid, the “Periquitos” have the most goals in the Spanish lower division together with Eibar!
The strikers of the four-time Copa del Rey winners are particularly efficient at home: on average, they score twice in front of a home crowd. By comparison, their own goals away from home are 1.13.
Espanyol’s top striker has to miss out
In attack, the two-time UEFA Cup finalists will also be able to call on Denmark’s Martin Braithwaite, the current top scorer in La Liga 2 – but not against Tenerife.
The former FC Barcelona player injured his knee in the last league game against Real Zaragoza shortly before the break and it was not the only bad news for the home side. Winter new signing Ruben Sanchez had already left the field injured and the defensive player is now also unable to play. On top of that, Brian Olivan is missing in defense due to a card suspension
No more than one goal by Barcelona?
In view of the absence of Braithwaite, the prediction of a maximum of one goal by the home side is also recommended for the clash between Espanyol Barcelona and Tenerife. Just how much his absence weakens the home side’s attack can be seen from the fact that he has scored nine of the hosts’ last 14 goals!
Although the home side’s second-best goalscorer stepped into the breach with a goal in Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Celta Vigo, it was the striker’s first goal in his ninth competitive match this year. From this perspective, his form can be described as fundamentally improvable despite the goal.
Predicted Espanyol Barcelona line-up:
Garcia – Ruiz, Cabrera, Ruiz, El Hilali – Gragera, Aguado, Sanchez, Bare, Jofre -Puado
Tenerife – Statistics & current form
The island’s footballers are eleven points clear of the relegation zone, but with just as many games remaining, last season’s La Liga 2 runners-up should pick up a few more points to ensure they stay up.
However, the “Chicharreros'” recent form has been modest – at least when coach Asier Garitano’s side have played away from home. The visitors have not won away from home in six rounds (0-3-3).
Moreover, their weakness on the road is not a new pattern: the “Tinerfeños” have only won three of their 15 away games (3-4-8) and have only picked up 13 of their 41 points on the road this season!
Only a narrow defeat for Tenerife?
In view of the above, the betting tip and odds on a home win with a goal difference are worth considering for the clash between Espanyol Barcelona and Tenerife. The loss of top striker Braithwaite has weakened the home side, but a narrow victory should still be enough due to the away weakness of the visitors and the home strength of the third-placed team
Predicted Tenerife line-up:
Soriano – Leon, Jose Amo, Mellot, Nacho – Teto, Gonzalez, Rubio, Corredera – Lopez, Enric
Espanyol Barcelona – Tenerife head-to-head / H2H result
The last head-to-head clash took place on the Canary Island in September last year. On that occasion, CD beat Espanyol 1:0.
Thanks to that success, the club, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022, is unbeaten in four league duels in this pairing (2-2-0).
Espanyol Barcelona – Tenerife tip
The prediction for the clash between Espanyol Barcelona and Tenerife is a draw after the first half. At least in the first half of the away games, the visitors, who are generally weak away from home, have been stable.
Ten of their 15 away games have ended in a draw at the break. Huesca alone have the same number, but they also have one more away game on the clock. Furthermore, the home side have been significantly weakened in attack due to the absence of Martin Braithwaite
The Dane is the top scorer in La Liga 2 and has scored no less than two thirds of the hosts’ last 14 goals of the season! Even if the betting base still considers the home side the favorites for the match, it is to be expected that Espanyol’s higher quality will only just prevail and probably only as the game progresses.
