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Espanyol v Barcelona Betting Preview: Latest odds, team news, tips and predictions

A cross-city derby in the quarter finals of the Copa del Rey should ensure a fiery atmosphere at the normally tepid RCDE Stadium on Wednesday evening as Barcelona make the short trip to face local rivals Espanyol.

Ernesto Valverde's men are unbeaten in 29 matches in all competitions, although their neighbours would like nothing more than ending that run and knocking them out of the competition that Barca have won for the last three seasons.

Match odds

dabblebet price a home win at 8/1 (9.00) while Barca are offered at 2/7 (1.28) to take a lead back to the Camp Nou next week, and the draw is offered at 9/2 (5.50).

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Team news

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Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out for at least three weeks having only just returned from a long term injury, while Andres Iniesta is a major doubt with a calf problem having been an unused substitute in the weekend win at Real Sociedad.

Paco Alcacer has returned to training but is unlikely to feature, Samuel Umtiti is nearing a return to fitness, and Nelson Semedo is recovering from tonsillitis.

For Espanyol, Sergio Garcia, Pablo Piatti and Manuel Jurado are all doubts after missing Sunday's 1-1 against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.

Blaugrana derby dominance to continue

While Espanyol always try and make things tough for their eternal rivals in the derby, Barca have been able to deal with them comfortably over the last few years.

Espanyol Barcelona Copa graphic

In fact, the last four league derbies have seen four wins for Barca, who have scored 17 goals in the process and conceded just one, so there is little to make us think this run will change on Wednesday evening - particularly given Espanyol's attacking deficiencies.

Quique Sanchez Flores' men have scored just 16 goals in 19 league matches, the third lowest total in the division, and are overly reliant on forward Gerard Moreno, who has netted half of those goals, and if Barca can keep Moreno quiet then there is every chance they will record another straightforward derby victory.

Tips and predictions 

Barca to score and over 2.5 goals in the game is priced at 4/5 (1.80) and is a selection which has paid out in each of the last four derbies, while also tempting is the price of 8/11 (1.73) for Barca to win with a -1 handicap, a bet which has proved profitable in each of the last six meetings between these two sides.

Betting Banner - Best Bet Barcelona to win with a -1 handicap at 8/11 (1.73) for a 3pt stake with dabblebet

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