Match Preview

After a 1-0 win at Cornella in the first leg, ahead of our FC Barcelona vs Espanyol preview and soccer odds, Quique Sanchez Flores’ men surprisingly find themselves coming into this game with an advantage. They are just 90 minutes away from a Copa del Rey semi-final appearance.

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FC Barcelona have suffered merely one defeat this season in all competitions, with Ernesto Valverde’s side managing to avoid such sensations until last week. Oscar Melendo’s late strike dealt the telling blow, with Espanyol certainly taking a lot of confidence from such a result.

Our FC Barcelona vs Espanyol predictions back the Catalan giants to turn things around in this derby clash, but the away side won’t crack easily, making a narrow win very interesting from our Copa del Rey tips.

Lionel Messi and company will want to remain in three competitions to keep the hope alive for a treble winning season during Valverde’s early months in charge at Camp Nou. Their record on their own patch has been exemplary for months.

FC Barcelona vs Espanyol Prediction and Betting Advice

Espanyol will arrive in very organised fashion, with Quique Sanchez Flores’ sides always very well drilled and defensively sound. Therefore, they will likely sit fairly deep and ask the hosts to try and break them down, while playing on the counter attack when they can. Getting into the half-time break unscathed is definitely not beyond the visitors, who will play on the back foot from the off.

Betway offer the best value on a draw at the break, before Barcelona go on to win the game and ultimately turn the first-leg scoreline around. That solitary Melendo strike is a very slender advantage, with the form that the likes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi find themselves in heading into the week certain to put any mistakes from the away side to the sword in clinical fashion.

The hosts have won their last four consecutive games at Camp Nou, scoring 14 goals and conceding none. They are looking very solid defensively, with Espanyol needing to make the most of any chances that trickle their way.

Our FC Barcelona vs Espanyol bets do back the away side to be able to find a way through, however. They will be playing on the counter attack, and have a lot of explosive players that can break at pace. The likes of Pablo Piatti, Leo Baptistao, Sergio Garcia and Gerard Moreno can all pose a threat, with the latter leading the line brilliantly this season. He can certainly sniff out a goal.

Betfair offer the best odds on the home side winning despite conceding, with passions bound to come to a fore in such a local derby clash. Throw in the fact that Barca have to go looking for a goal of their own, after losing the first leg, and they could leave gaps at the back for the away side to make the most of.

Our FC Barcelona vs Espanyol betting tips suggest that Valverde’s men will be able to turn things around on Wednesday at Camp Nou, but Espanyol will push them every step of the way. It could be a very tight margin of victory, but Barca’s extra offensive quality and home record should stand them in good stead.