Barcelona vs Espanyol
Barcelona are planning to grow their lead in the La Liga standings when they host Espanyol at Camp Nou this Saturday night. At the time of writing, the Blaugrana have a seven-point cushion, which might be cut to four points, as Real Madrid have a winnable game against Girona before this.
Hansi Flick’s men are coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss against Atletico Madrid in the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-finals tie yesterday, and a favourable result over Espanyol could somehow cure their ills.
Espanyol are 10th in the Spanish top-flight table with 38 points and are unlikely to make a run for European football next term. Given their poor run of La Liga 2026 results, there have been murmurs that Los Periquitos could undergo a major change if this continues.
This is certainly a big game for both sides, and SBOTOP has you covered.
Talking Points
Yamal a bright spot for Barcelona
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick lauded Lamine Yamal for his standout performance against Atletico Madrid yesterday. The 18-year-old winger was the central figure of the Blaugrana’s attack, and he could’ve recorded an assist if Marcus Rashford’s effort was not adjudged offside in the first half.
Against Los Rojiblancos, Yamal had three big chances created, 11 touches in the opposition box, completed nine successful dribbles, two accurate crosses, three accurate long balls, drew six fouls, and won 17 of his 25 ground duels.
By the way, Yamal is also Barcelona’s top scorer this season with 14 league goals and nine assists, and he’ll likely spearhead the team’s charge against Espanyol this weekend, especially with Raphinha still nursing a right hamstring injury. Marcus Rashford will likely take the opposite wing, with Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Fermin Lopez, and Ferran Torres as Flick’s other choices to join them in the final third.
There are concerns in midfield, as Pedri was subbed off early against Atletico Madrid due to a knock, while Frenkie de Jong is not yet 100-per cent fit. Eric Garcia, Gavi, or Marc Casado could occupy the middle of the park. Pau Cubarsi, who received a straight red card, should be available since his suspension isn’t applicable in La Liga.
Espanyol desperate to end long winless run
After winning the La Liga Manager of the Month in December 2025, things have gone downhill for Manolo Gonzalez. Espanyol have not won a La Liga game this year, as they’re now winless in 13 consecutive matches (D5, L8).
Before this, it looked like Los Periquitos could challenge for a place in European football next term. But fast forward to today, and Gonzalez’s seat is reportedly getting warmer. However, the front office recently publicly backed Gonzalez.
Espanyol have several players who can hurt Barcelona. Roberto Fernandez, Enrique Garcia, and Pere Milla have six goals each to lead the team, while Edu Exposito is the team’s top playmaker with six assists.
History
Barcelona are keen to complete another league double over Espanyol this Saturday. The Blaugrana won 2-0 in their reverse fixture at the RCDE Stadium last January, as Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski scored late goals to secure three points.
The Blaugrana have beaten Los Periquitos by at least two goals in their last four La Liga meetings. Espanyol’s last win over Barcelona in all competitions was a 1-0 victory in the opening leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie in 2018.
Barcelona and Espanyol are two of the clubs with the most seasons in the Spanish top-flight, and their rivalry is called El Derbi de Barcelona. Their league head-to-heads are quite one-sided. Barcelona have 105 wins, whereas Espanyol only have 34 wins and 40 draws. Xavi holds the record for the most appearances in El Derbi de Barcelona with 36 across all competitions.
Betting Tip
The La Liga 2026 odds expect Barcelona to make light work of Espanyol this weekend. The Blaugrana are 1.27 favourites to take maximum points, while Los Periquitos are huge 7.10 underdogs, and a draw is at 5.70 in the 1X2 market.
Hansi Flick will likely rotate his side on Saturday, but Barcelona should have enough to see this through thanks to their deeper squad. Besides rooting for the Blaugrana to win at Camp Nou, bettors can also add Under 4.00 at 1.70, Under 3.75 at 1.91, Under 3.50 at 2.08, and Total Goals 2-3 at 2.56 to the parlay. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 2-0 in favour of Barcelona – the result of their two previous encounters – is on a mouthwatering offer of 9.40.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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