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20.11.21 - 21:00 CET
SPAIN: LaLiga
Much has been written about the current problems of the debt-ridden Barcelona, its long recovery from the departure of Lionel Messi and, more recently, the coaching issue. At least that last point can be ticked off by club president Joan Laporta. Barcelona have reached an agreement with their legend Xavi Hernández, who will try to continue his brilliant playing career (eight league titles, four Champions League triumphs) as head coach at the Camp Nou. The timing of his Barcelona debut in his new role worked out to be an ideal match. The city's derby may not enjoy the same fame as El Clásico, but it is still something of an outlier in the league programme, which adds to the expectations for Xavi's debut. Barcelona have been doing well in their duels with Espanyol for a long time. In the last ten years, it has a significantly positive score of 17-4-1. Despite all their actual problems and a run of four league games without a win (0-2-2), the more famous of Barcelona's two clubs will be the clear favourite in this derby, even though both teams have picked up the same number of points in the league so far (17, with Espanyol needing one more game to do so). Espanyol have not yet to win away this season (0-3-3) and are unlikely to end that wait at Camp Nou.
My bet:
Asian Handicap: Barcelona -1.0 @ 1.77 (bet365)
SPAIN: LaLiga
Much has been written about the current problems of the debt-ridden Barcelona, its long recovery from the departure of Lionel Messi and, more recently, the coaching issue. At least that last point can be ticked off by club president Joan Laporta. Barcelona have reached an agreement with their legend Xavi Hernández, who will try to continue his brilliant playing career (eight league titles, four Champions League triumphs) as head coach at the Camp Nou. The timing of his Barcelona debut in his new role worked out to be an ideal match. The city's derby may not enjoy the same fame as El Clásico, but it is still something of an outlier in the league programme, which adds to the expectations for Xavi's debut. Barcelona have been doing well in their duels with Espanyol for a long time. In the last ten years, it has a significantly positive score of 17-4-1. Despite all their actual problems and a run of four league games without a win (0-2-2), the more famous of Barcelona's two clubs will be the clear favourite in this derby, even though both teams have picked up the same number of points in the league so far (17, with Espanyol needing one more game to do so). Espanyol have not yet to win away this season (0-3-3) and are unlikely to end that wait at Camp Nou.
My bet:
Asian Handicap: Barcelona -1.0 @ 1.77 (bet365)
