Spanish La Liga
2026-01-03 - Espanyol vs Barcelona
A Sports Betting Pick by Gladiator
Football: Spanish La Liga - Round 17
RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat), Spain
Saturday, 3rd January 2026 - Kick Off 21:00 CET
Espanyol
Espanyol have been one of the biggest surprises of the La Liga season so far. After narrowly avoiding relegation last term, they’ve completely flipped the script, arriving at this Catalan derby on the back of five consecutive league wins, their latest a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Athletic Club. Confidence is clearly flowing, and a sixth straight top-flight win would mark a milestone not achieved since 1999.
That said, this impressive run has come with a caveat. Espanyol have found life far more difficult against the league’s elite, with three of their four league defeats this season coming against teams currently occupying the top six. While their organisation and work rate have been excellent, stepping up another level against their city rivals is a very different challenge, particularly given the psychological weight of recent derby history.
Barcelona
Barcelona arrive as the benchmark in La Liga, having spent Christmas comfortably clear at the top of the table. Eight consecutive league victories have underlined their authority, and with Real Madrid not in action until later in the weekend, Hansi Flick’s side know a win here could further stretch their advantage at the summit. Overall form is formidable, with nine wins from their last ten competitive outings.
There are, however, minor warning signs on the road. Both of Barcelona’s league defeats this season have come away from home, and they’ve managed just two clean sheets in nine away league matches. Even so, their attacking depth, pace, and ability to control big games have consistently proved too much for domestic opponents, especially in high-profile fixtures like this one.
The Betting Verdict
Espanyol’s form deserves respect, and they should make this derby competitive, particularly with the backing of a buoyant home crowd. However, history, squad quality, and momentum all lean heavily in Barcelona’s favour. The visitors have dominated this fixture for years and possess too much attacking firepower to be denied again, especially against an Espanyol side that has struggled when stepping up in class. Expect a lively contest, but one where Barcelona’s quality eventually tells.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Espanyol 1-3 Barcelona
