Espanyol v Barcelona

• Both teams have scored in four of their last five respective matches

• Barcelona have averaged 2.7 goals a game this season

• Barcelona need three more points to win the La Liga title

Following their crucial El Clásico victory last Sunday, Barcelona have all but secured the La Liga title. While it's not mathematically over, a win on Thursday would officially seal their triumph, and they’ll be eager to get the job done.

Barcelona have been in relentless form, winning 14 of their last 15 league matches and looking virtually unstoppable. Espanyol, on the other hand, are in poor shape, managing just one win in their last five outings and suffering three straight defeats. Even away from home, Barcelona come into this clash as clear favourites.

⭐ Espanyol v Barcelona Predictions and Best Bets

Barcelona are the most prolific attacking side in La Liga this season, averaging 2.7 goals per game - the highest in the league by some distance. Espanyol, on the other hand, have struggled defensively, conceding an average of 1.34 goals per match. In the reverse fixture, Barcelona put three past Espanyol, and with the title race approaching its climax, they’ll be fully motivated to secure a convincing win here. All signs point to another high-scoring win for Barcelona.

Barca average 6.6 shots on target per game in La Liga, and this fixture presents an excellent opportunity to exceed that number. Espanyol have allowed the second-most shots on target per match in the league, conceding an average of 5.3. Given Barcelona's attacking prowess, that number is likely to increase. In the reverse fixture earlier this year, Barcelona recorded a huge 10 shots on target.

⚪ Inconsistency Defines Espanyol's Year

It’s been a largely disappointing season for Espanyol. A brief resurgence in April offered hope of a strong finish, but that momentum has quickly faded. They come into this match on the back of three straight defeats and are winless in their last four games, extinguishing any late-season optimism.

Offensively, they've struggled, averaging just 1.09 goals per game. Defensively, they haven't fared much better, conceding 1.34 goals per match - a reflection of their overall inconsistency throughout the campaign.

🔵 Barcelona Set Sights on the Crown

Barcelona have been the standout team in La Liga this season, especially during the second half of the campaign. They’ve won 14 of their last 15 matches and remain unbeaten in the league since December. Their attacking form has been exceptional, averaging 2.71 goals per game.

Notably, they beat Real Madrid twice in the league, scoring a combined eight goals in those encounters. While the title is virtually secured, they still need one more win to make it official.

📊 Espanyol v Barcelona Head-to-Head Key Stats

The last meeting between these two sides ended in a comfortable 3-1 win for Barcelona, who controlled the game from start to finish. Historically, the Catalan derby has been one-sided - Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 12 encounters with Espanyol and have opened the scoring in each of the last six meetings.

That said, Espanyol have managed to get on the scoresheet in four of the last five clashes, suggesting they can at least pose some threat despite the gap in quality.

Football Predictions at Andy's Bet Club

Andy's Bet Club is packed full of Expert Football Tips, such as our European Football Tips. We also have an easy-to-use Bet Builder Stats tool to help you conduct your own research. Look out for the latest Espanyol v Barcelona Betting Stats, as well as Gem Bets.

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.