La Liga: It’s Derby Day in Catalonia

Barcelona vs Espanyol

La Liga is about to return.

The next few days bring us a full complement of fixtures to round off 2022 and, in the Nou Camp, a match known as El Derbi Barceloní.

Yet this is no ordinary derby.

This is a game which has a long history of rivalries and La Liga highlights. A match-up between giants and their much smaller neighbours, indeed underdogs.

Talking Points

Right now, there is a feeling that Barcelona is more a collection of expensively-assembled individuals. That is to be expected given the upheaval at the club, yet manager Xavi will know he has some real talent at his disposal and is shaping a new-look team.

While knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second successive season, domestically, the only points they have dropped so far are an opening weekend draw and defeat in El Clasico.

They managed to hold onto their two point advantage at the summit last time out, despite playing an hour with 10 men after Robert Lewandowski’s dismissal.

He wasn’t the only Barca man to see red as Gerard Pique, who has now bid farewell to the club, was sent off from the bench after remonstrating with the official, while Xavi received a yellow card after complaining to the officials.

It did not stop them overturning a half-time deficit against Osasuna though.

Naturally, the Polish striker, the division’s top scorer, will miss this weekend’s clash as he begins a three match suspension.

Xavi has three options to pick from up front, with Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay vying for a start, meanwhile winger Ousmane Dembele, a World Cup runner-up with France, has returned to training and could be involved.

After spending big in the summer, signing the likes of Lewandowski, Brazil winger Raphinha and defender Jules Kounde among others, making controversial financial sacrifices to do so, it would be ironic if two of the genuine youthful talents in their ranks – Pedri and Gavi – prove to be the difference.

They are certainly two players the manager has complimented as better at the age of 20 than he and his former teammate Andreas Iniesta – the fabled midfield duo of the side considered the best Barcelona team ever.

As for crosstown rivals Espanyol, fighting for survival and only one point clear of the drop zone, manager Pablo Machin is likely to select Martin Braithwaite in attack against his former side, after a sour parting of ways last summer.

Braithwaite never let Barca down, even if it was felt he was not of the quality they have been accustomed to in more recent times.

History

Espanyol moved to the RCDE Stadium in 2009 but it was not until their 10^th meeting with their neighbours at their new arena that they were able to win a derby fixture (three draws, six defeats), winning 1–0 in a Copa quarter-final first leg tie.

However, the Catalan giants overturned it 2-0 the following week to go through in the tie.

Barcelona have historically dominated these matches and Espanyol have only succeeded in defeating their Catalan rivals three times in almost 70 years.

Last season, Barca edged this corresponding fixture thanks to a Depay penalty.

The return ended 2-2 – for the second successive season – when the illustrious visitors needed Luuk de Jong to come to their rescue after Sergi Darder and Raul De Tomas had cancelled out a Pedri opener.

All this in a frantic finish in which Gerard Pique and Nico Melamed were sent off after a clash before substitute De Jong’s intervention.

Manu Morlanes, who had come on in the 62nd minute only to go off eight minutes later because of an injury, was also shown a red card at the end of the game.

Espanyol have only won in the Nou Camp four times in their history and have not beaten their neighbours in the league since 2009.

Overall, Barca have won 39 of their 60 clashes in all competitions with just five Espanyol successes and 16 draws.

Betting Tip

How can you not back the leaders against a side just one point clear of the drop zone.

That is reflected in the SBOTOP La Liga betting odds which price the hosts 1X2 @ 1.24 compared to the visitors @ 10.00.

Even the draw seems unlikely when it is pitched @ 6.00.

A repeat of last season’s match – Correct Score 1-0 – is on offer @ 8.50.

It does seem a low scoring affair is unlikely given total goal 0-1 is available @ 6.00 compared to 2-3 @ 2.25, 4-6 @ 2.32 and over 3.50 goals @ 2.14.

I simply cannot see past a winning start to 2023 for Xavi’s men and my *** tip is First Half Asian Handicap Barcelona -0.75 @ 1.98.

 

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