After losing a five-month unbeaten run to Espanyol, Barcelona have this Thursday, 25 January, the opportunity to revenge. He will return to face the rival in the game of return of the quarterfinals of edition 2017/2018 of Glass of the King of Spain. In Camp Nou, the match starts scheduled for 18h30.
In Espanyol’s stadium, the poor cousin of Catalonia won by 1-0 thanks to goal in the end and penalty missed by Lionel Messi. Thus, he will have the opportunity to act needing only the draw to get a place in the semifinals. Barcelona have to win by two goals difference to advance. If you return the minimum score will force the extension to take place and, if there is an equality in extra time, the decision will be in penalties.
Barcelona’s recent performance
On Sunday, January 21, Barca showed they were not shaken by the loss of the invincibility. Against Betis in Seville, it took time to open the scoring, which only happened in the second half, but then started and thrashed 5-0.
He achieved the 54 points (17 wins and three draws), leading 11 points ahead of leaders Atletico Madrid, who were 1-0 at home to Girona.
Coach Ernesto Valverde may be able to count on a ‘boost’ to try to make a comeback in the King’s Cup. They are undergoing injury treatment and must undergo a new evaluation that will determine whether defenders Javier Mascherano (seven matches in the Spanish 2017 / 2018, no goal) and Thomas Vermaelen (eight games, no goal); Andres Iniesta (15 matches, one goal) and Jose Manuel Diaz (one match, no goal); and attackers Ousmane Dembelé (four games, no goal) and Paco Alcacer (eight games, two goals).
The current form of Espanyol
The lack of Espanyol’s squad gave a resounding demonstration on Saturday, January 20. Three days after the historic victory against Barcelona the team failed to keep up and was hit by Sevilla. At home, it took 3 to 0.
In practice, the result was of little importance. With 24 points (six wins, six draws and eight losses), the team occupies the fourteenth place of LaLiga. With eight points away from Sevilla, which closes the European tournament qualifying zone in sixth place, and with seven other clubs between them, that goal is almost impossible to achieve.
Thus, the team has to stay away from the relegation zone, which maintains a respectful eight-point distance from La Coruña, eighteenth placed, and bet all their chips in the King’s Cup.
To try to hold Barcelona in the game back, coach Quiq
ue Flores must be able to count on all the cast at his disposal. It does not face problems with contusion or suspensions.
History of the matches Barcelona vs Espanyol
Espanyol’s victory in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the King’s Cup ended an undefeated series of rivals in official matches between them that reached 21 clashes.
While the main European Cups have the greater chance of surprises happening with single game settings in Spain, the regulation that requires round-trip rounds significantly reduces this possibility. This, of course, benefits the teams with greater economic power such as Barcelona, who used a mixed team in the first leg and now must field all their best players.
Thus, Barça is the best option for guess. It has a price of 1.10 in Bet365. Draw returns 9.50. Even though they have won the first leg, Espanyol is still considered the biggest underdog in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup with a 19.00-for-1 victory. Prices in effect at 14:55 on 01/22/2018.