On Thursday night, La Liga leaders Barcelona host Espanyol in the Copa del Rey quarter final second leg. Espanyol shocked their neighbours by recording a 1-0 win in the first leg, but it is likely to be much tougher at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona have been formidable this season. In fact, the Catalan giants have suffered just one defeat in their last 31 games in all competitions. That defeat was in the first leg of this tie.
Ernesto Valverde’s side bounced back from that loss by winning 5-0 at Real Betis in La Liga at the weekend. The league leaders have also been prolific in front of goal, scoring at least three goals in four of their last five outings in all competitions.
The home side have also won 13 of their last 14 games in all competitions at the Nou Camp. Valverde’s side have scored at least two goals in all 14 of those unbeaten games on home soil. At the other end of the pitch, they have kept clean sheets in five of their last six home games at the Nou Camp, conceding just twice.
Espanyol will be buoyed by that first leg victory but will know that it will be difficult to progress past their neighbours. Quique Sanchez Flores’ team were on a run of four games unbeaten in all competitions until last time out, when they suffered a 3-0 home hammering against Sevilla.
The visitors are unbeaten in their last three away games in all competitions, winning their last two games on their travels without conceding a goal. However, those two wins are their only away victories in their last 11 away outings in all competitions.
Barcelona will be highly confident of overturning the first leg deficit and Forebet predicts that the home side will record a comfortable win over their local rivals.