Betting Preview: Espanyol – Barcelona: Back both teams not to score

Catalan rivals Espanyol and Barcelona lock horns in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter finals at the RCDE Stadium.

Los Blanquiazules made it into the last eight with a narrow 3-2 aggregate win over Levante. They drew with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday and could only move one place up to 14th place.

This is going to be a big test for Quique Sanchez Flores’ side and they have been tagged underdogs with Bet365 at odds of (10.00).

The Blaugrana did have an easy ride over Celta Vigo, winning 5-0 and 6-1 on aggregate. They then topped it up with an impressive 4-2 comeback win at Real Sociedad at the weekend to maintain their nine-point lead at the top of the standings.

Barca have always had the better of Espanyol down the years and are poised to gain the away advantage with victory at odds of (1.28).

The same betting firm quotes odds of (5.25) for the game to end in an unlikely stalemate.

Ernesto Valverde’s men have won their last six competitive clashes with Espanyol and look good for a double chance in the RCDE Stadium at (1.071).

Five of the aforementioned six games has produced three or more goals and that outcome repeating itself in the Catalan capital is available at odds of (1.57).

Both teams have scored in just four of their last 10 meetings. ‘NO’ thus stands at (1.80) with Bet365.

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were on the scoresheet in the previous round against Celta and likewise the weekend encounter at Sociedad. The duo are tipped to score at (1.66) and (1.40) respectively anytime in this game.