Will RCDE force an away final to stay in the league?

Exactly a fortnight ago, the mood at Espanyol Barcelona was at rock bottom. A 4-2 defeat at home to arch-rivals FC Barcelona diminished their chances of staying in the league, while their city rivals celebrated the championship at the RCDE Stadium, prompting a stampede. Two league games later, however, the Periquitos have another chance. If Valencia win against Espanyol Barcelona, the Catalans could close the gap with a little help from the shooting gallery.

At the same time, it is anything but far-fetched to consider betting on a three-goal win for the Periquitos in Valencia against Espanyol Barcelona. After all, the Catalans recently picked up four points out of a possible six as part of two powerhouse performances, with the last guest game at the Mestalla so far also being won 2-1. However, a home defeat would also drag the Murciélagos, who are just two points clear of the first relegation spot, into the danger zone.

For the Valencians, the motto at home is “no losing”, while the visitors from Catalonia urgently need the full three points to go into the final matchday with the best possible starting position. Both teams are in their element. While the Murciélagos occupy twelfth place in the home table and have won eight of their 18 home games in La Liga, Espanyol Barcelona are the tenth best away team in La Liga.

However, the Periquitos’ performance at Rayo Vallecano (2-1) and their crazy comeback against Atlético Madrid (3-3 after trailing 3-0) convinced us a little more recently, which is why we have every confidence in the Catalans’ ability to claim another important treble and force the final against Almeria.

Valencia – Statistics & current form

Valencia Club de Fútbol has been part of La Liga for 36 years without interruption and has also represented Spain’s top division in the Champions League on occasion. In recent years, however, the club has always been in trouble. In 2020, the Murciélagos only finished ninth. In 2021, they finished 13th in the final table, and last season they were again only ninth.

At the same time, the Blanquinegros also lost the final of the Copa del Rey 2022, so that they have been waiting four years for another qualification for a European competition. What’s more, with two games left to play and only two points clear of the first relegation spot, even staying in the league is not yet in the bag.

The twelfth best home team in La Liga

Admittedly, given their 13th place in the table, it is not too likely that the men from Spain’s east coast will have to shiver in earnest again. However, if our prediction for Valencia against Espanyol Barcelona comes true and Rubén Baraja’s team loses this home game, it would still come to a possible fateful game at Betis Sevilla next weekend.

At least the home record of the Murciélagos, who have won eight of their 18 home games in La Liga at the Mestalla (four draws, six defeats), speaks against this. That still corresponds to twelfth place in the home table.

Only 39 goals in 36 league games

Nevertheless, the Blanquinegros’ momentum is not overly pronounced. Valencia lost their last league game again with 0:1 at Mallorca. It was already the seventh defeat in the 15th league game under coach Rubén Baraja, who was able to stabilise the team a little with six victories, but just not lead it to an early relegation.

The big shortcoming of the East Spaniards is and remains their lack of attacking power. The Murciélagos scored just 39 goals in 36 league games. That is eight goals fewer than the relegation-threatened Catalans, against whom Valencia have been waiting for another win in three La Liga matches (two draws, one defeat).

Espanyol Barcelona – Statistics & current form

Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona returned to the country’s top flight in the summer of 2021 as second division champions after a one-year interlude in La Liga 2, where the Catalans finished 14th last summer with 42 points.

This season, however, the Periquitos are up to their necks in it. With two matchdays to go, RCDE are second to last in the table and already three points off the bottom of the table.

Four out of a possible six points from the last two games

All the more remarkable is how the Blanquiazules reacted to the aforementioned 4-2 home defeat to FC Barcelona, in which their city rivals celebrated winning the Spanish championship in the Periquitos’ living room at the RCDE Stadium, of all places.

Just one week after the lost derby, Espanyol Barcelona celebrated a 2-1 away win at Rayo Vallecano, before the Catalans also fought back impressively against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday evening (final score: 3:3) despite being 3-0 down. In the end, they even managed to win against the Rojiblancos.

The tenth best away team in La Liga

Luis García’s side will be looking to take their new-found confidence to the Mestalla, where the Catalans have already recorded a 2-1 away win in their last outing so far.

It is all the more surprising that the odds are clearly against the Periquitos in Valencia v Espanyol Barcelona, even though the second-last team in the table has been particularly strong away from home. The Blanquiazules have secured 17 points from 18 games away from home, which is tenth best in La Liga.

Valencia – Espanyol Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H-balance

Head to head: 85 – 35 – 54

There have been a total of 174 meetings between the two teams so far and Valencia CF lead the head-to-head comparison with 85 wins. However, the Murciélagos have failed to win any of their last three competitive matches against Espanyol Barcelona (two draws, one defeat) and were also beaten 2-1 by the Periquitos in their last home match at the Mestalla so far.

Valencia – Espanyol Barcelona Tip

When it comes to Valencia vs Espanyol Barcelona, the betting odds do swing in the direction of the Murciélagos, who have won eight of their 18 home La Liga games (four draws, six defeats). The Catalans, however, tanked with new self-confidence with four out of six possible points from the last two league games and know that with an away win they might be able to force a final matchday after all. We expect the Periquitos to be accordingly committed.

Valencia have won two of their last three league games, but suffered their next setback in a 1-0 defeat at Mallorca on Thursday night. In total, there are just four wins on record in their last eleven league games (two draws, five defeats).

We are therefore risking a bet on an away win for the Catalans in Valencia against Espanyol Barcelona, who are doomed to win in this clash.