Thursday night sees the clash of two Spanish sides. With the away side now in the champions league final.
we are taking Barcelona to win and yamal to score or assist @ 1.70 odds
Barcelona will secure the La Liga title if they beat rivals Espanyol in the Catalan derby at the RCDE Stadium on Thursday night.
This comes after they beat closest challengers Real Madrid 4-3 at home last time out, giving them a seven-point buffer with just three games to play. That was Barcelona’s fifth straight league win, and they remain unbeaten in La Liga since December.
Espanyol are not safe from relegation just yet as they sit five points above the relegation zone in 14th. A 3-2 loss at Leganes last time out was their third in a row, which does not bode well for them as they bid to stop their rivals winning the title in their own stadium just like two years ago.
Barcelona have also won the previous two H2Hs, and are unbeaten in the last 11 meetings in all competitions. In fact, the last time Espanyol beat Barcelona in La Liga was in 2009, and their last home league victory over their rivals was in 2007!
How the bookies view it: Barcelona favourites for title triumph
Barcelona are as short as 2/7 with BoyleSports to claim victory and also the title, while a draw is priced at 9/2 with the same bookmaker. Espanyol are as far out as 7/1 to spoil the party.
Recent head-to-head: Olmo inspires Barcelona to victory
Dani Olmo scored a brace as Barcelona ran out 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture in November. Raphinha was also on the scoresheet, while Javi Puado grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors.
Players to watch: Garcia’s goalscoring odds appeal
Puado has scored in Espanyol’s last two matches against Barcelona, and will be determined to find the net again.
Eric Garcia loves to get forward from right-back, and has scored in each of Barcelona’s last two matches. BoyleSports are offering a tempting 6/1 for him to do so again.
Espanyol have no fresh concerns, as Pol Lozano is likely to miss out again with fitness issues. However, Omar El Hilal is now available for selection and could start.
Inigo Martinez is suspended for Barcelona, but Alejandro Balde should return to the starting line-up. In-form Ferran Torres could keep his place ahead of Robert Lewandowski.
Espanyol: Garcia, El Hilal, Cabrera, Kumbulla, Romero, Gonzalez, Kral, Exposito, Puado, Fernandez, Jofre.
Barcelona: Szczesny, Garcia, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Torres.
Anything else catch the eye?
There will be fireworks when Espanyol and Barcelona go head to head in the Catalan derby on Thursday evening. Los Periquitos suffered a 3-2 loss to Leganes at the weekend, but they are still on the right track to secure the La Liga survival. The good news for the hosts is that Omar El Hilali is back from suspension, but fellow defender Omar El Hilali remains in the recovery room.
Barca, meanwhile, came from behind to beat Real Madrid 4-3 in El Clasico, with the team moving one step closer to regaining La Liga title. With Lamine Yamal and Co. brimming with confidence ahead of the local derby, away win should definitely be considered. Centre-back Inigo Martinez is banned for the match, while fit-again left-back Alejandro Balde is pushing for a start. Anyhow, we are tempted to bet on Hansi Flick’s troops, who aim to clinch their 28th Primera Division title as soon as possible.
