Barcelona is nearing their 11th LaLiga championship since 2004-05 but first since 2018-2019 when they battle Espanyol on Sunday. With a 13-point lead on the table and just five matches to play, Barça needs just one more win to seal the title. Barcelona (26-3-4) is 5-1-4 against Espanyol over their past 10 matches, including a 1-1 draw in December. Espanyol (7-16-10), meanwhile, is at the opposite end of the table in 19th place and is battling to stay out of relegation.
The match at Cornellà-El Prat kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. Barcelona are the -200 favorites (risk $200 to win $100) in Caesars Sportsbook's latest Espanyol vs. Barcelona odds, with Espanyol at +525. A draw is priced at +325 and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before locking in any Barcelona vs. Espanyol picks, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green has to say.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since last year's World Cup, Green has been profitable in multiple areas on his soccer picks, including the Champions League (+3.45 units), the FA Cup (+3.07) and the EFL Cup (+3.64).
Now, Green has broken down Espanyol vs. Barcelona from every angle and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Green's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Barcelona vs. Espanyol:
- Barcelona vs. Espanyol spread: Espanyol +1.5 (-160), Barcelona -1.5 (+130)
- Barcelona vs. Espanyol over/under: 2.5 goals
- Barcelona vs. Espanyol money line: Espanyol +525, Draw +325, Barcelona -200
- ESP: Have a goal differential of minus-16 in Spanish LaLiga action
- BAR: Have scored 60 goals in league play in 2022-23
- Barcelona vs. Espanyol picks: See picks here
Why you should back Barcelona
Forward Robert Lewandowski is a big reason for Barça's success. He leads the Spanish LaLiga with 19 goals and is tied for sixth with six assists. Lewandowski has taken a league-high 95 shots and has a 55% shot accuracy rating. The 34-year-old from Poland has been known to score goals at a high rate. In 2020-21 while playing for Bayern Munich in Bundesliga, he scored 41 goals in just 29 matches. Last year with Bayern, he had 35 goals in 34 matches.
Raphael Dias Belloli, known as Raphinha, is the second-highest goal scorer for Barcelona, with seven goals and six assists in 31 matches, including 21 starts. In the December meeting with Espanyol, he did not register a point, but took four shots, including two on target. The 26-year-old Brazilian spent the past two seasons in the Premier League with Leeds. He scored 17 times in 65 league matches for Leeds. See which team to pick here.
Why you should back Espanyol
Forward Jose Luis Mato Sanmartin, known as Joselu, leads the Espanyol attack. In 30 matches, including 29 starts, he has scored 14 goals and added three assists on 76 shots, including 27 on target. He has two goals in the past three games, including the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Getafe on April 30. He has taken 20 shots over the past five matches. Joselu, 33, is in his first season with Espanyol, after spending the past three seasons with Alaves in La Liga.
Also picking up the slack on offense is forward Martin Braithwaite, who has nine goals and two assists in 27 starts. He has taken 53 shots, including 22 on target this season. He had an assist in a 4-2 loss at Villarreal on April 27. The 31-year-old from Denmark is in his first season with Espanyol after spending the previous three with Barcelona. He scored five goals in 44 LaLiga matches in his time with Barcelona. See which team to pick here.
How to make Espanyol vs. Barcelona picks
Green has broken down the Spanish LaLiga match from every angle. He is leaning Under on the goal total and has locked in two confident best bets, while offering a full breakdown of this matchup. You can only see his Spanish LaLiga picks and analysis at SportsLine.
So who wins Espanyol vs. Barcelona on Sunday? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Espanyol vs. Barcelona have all the value, all from the soccer expert who knows the sport inside and out, and find out.
