Barcelona vs Espanyol

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys sets the stage for the first Derby Barceloní of the 2024/25 La Liga season as Barcelona and Espanyol lock horns in conflicting spirits.

Barcelona’s formidable run of 26 league H2Hs without defeat (W19, D7) looks destined to continue after Hansi Flick’s high-flying side won five consecutive matches in all competitions via at least a three-goal margin! A stunning 4-0 rout of Real Madrid in last weekend’s El Clasico fortified Barcelona’s position on top of La Liga’s summit, opening up a six-point gap between them and Los Blancos. Virtually unplayable in their temporary home setting, Los Blaugranas have won their last ten league outings at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. An 11th straight victory is looming, considering they have emerged victorious from 12 of their last 13 home league H2Hs (D1). Yet, the only blemish on this run came in this corresponding fixture in 2023/24 (1-1).

On the other hand, Espanyol’s rotten patch in La Liga hit a new low last weekend as Sevilla humbled them 2-0 in their backyard, condemning them to a fifth defeat in six league games since mid-September. Growing defensive woes saw Los Periquitos concede multiple goals in four of those five losses. On top of that, except for a scoreless draw against Atletico Madrid in late August, they’ve lost all four remaining away league contests this season. A lack of scoring prowess saw them average just 0.4 goals per game during that sequence. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising they entered this round only a point clear of the bottom three.