The Barcelona Derby will have a little extra meaning than it usually does when Barcelona takes on Espanyol this Saturday. That’s because Espanyol are performing much better than they typically do in La Liga. Espanyol are currently in seventh place in the table, and they have one of the top defenses in Spain through the early part of the year. That back line will be put to the test when they face a Barcelona club that has historically dominated this tie.
Don't miss the Spanish La Liga action from RCDE Stadium in Cornella, Spain at 2:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on beIN Sports.
Spanish La Liga Betting at BookMaker.eu
Espanyol +467
Barcelona -191
Draw +340
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Barcelona are once again top of the table, but the Blaugrana have yet to distance themselves from the field like they normally do. They are just one point ahead of second-place Sevilla, and there are only five points separating Barca from Real Madrid despite the latter’s five losses in league play this season. The club is coming off of a solid 2-0 win over Villarreal in Camp Nou last weekend to retake first place in La Liga, and Barcelona will have a game before facing Espanyol. Barca must face Cultural Leonesa in the second leg of the Copa del Rey Round of 32 on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Espanyol punched their ticket to the Round of 16 in the Copa del Rey with a 1-0 win over Cadiz. They lost the first leg on the road 2-1, but that away goal gave them the win on aggregate. Espanyol are looking to reverse the poor form they have displayed in La Liga in recent weeks. This was a team predicated on defense, but they have had trouble in the back since a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in early November. Espanyol have allowed three goals to Girona and three goals to Getafe in their last two matches, and that’s shocking given how well they were performing.
Injury Report
The visitors are somewhat banged up coming into this match. Samuel Umtiti and Rafinha are long-term scratches, and Sergi Roberto is going to miss the game with hamstring injury. Arthur is questionable to play, but Barca look set to get back two players. Sergi Samper is back with the club again after a calf injury kept him out for an extended period, but the bigger news is that Luis Suarez is set to return. Suarez had a knee knock, yet he is expected to play against Espanyol.
It looks like Espanyol will only be without two players for this match. Naldo has been sidelined with a strained hamstring and is currently listed as out, and Sergio Garcia is also expected to miss the match because of a hamstring strain.
Player to Watch
Only a few weeks ago, some were saying that Barcelona needed to part ways with Ousmane Dembele. The former Borussia Dortmund star has ignored his critics though, and he is proving why Barca decided to bring him over. He scored a banger of a goal in the Champions League last week, splitting two defenders and curling in a beauty to put Barca up 2-0 on PSV, and Dembele might finally be getting comfortable. That is not good news for Barca’s detractors.
La Liga Prop Bet – Under 1.5 first half goals -169
Don’t expect Espanyol’s defensive woes to continue against Barcelona. The hosts will redouble their efforts against their city rivals, and they will likely try to force Barca to slowly pick them apart. That is likely to stall the first half, and I don’t see more than one goal being scored.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
If Barca were later in the Copa del Rey, I would like Espanyol’s chances more given Barca’s injury situation and having one less day of rest. However, Barca will sit a lot of their starters in the second leg of their cup tie and that will help them stay rested in order to get this win.
Spanish La Liga Odds: Barcelona 2, Espanyol 0
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
