La Liga: Espanyol-Barcelona 0-4 FT, as Messi scored a brace on the night
MATCH PREVIEW:
- Espanyol are winless in their last 18 LaLiga games against Barcelona (D4 L14), failing to score in 13 of them. It’s their longest run without a victory against the Blaugranas in the competition.
- At home, Espanyol have not won in their last 11 LaLiga games against Barcelona (D5 L6), scoring just one goal in the last six.
- Espanyol have lost their last three LaLiga games – they’ve not lost four in a row since May 2012.
- Barcelona have lost two games in LaLiga this season, one more than in the entire 2017-18 campaign.
- Barcelona have scored the most goals from both open play (28) and set piece situations (9) in LaLiga this season.
- If LaLiga games finished at half-time this season, Espanyol would have 13 points more than they currently have, the biggest differential in the competition.
- Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has scored three LaLiga hat-tricks against Espanyol, one of four teams he’s scored as many against (also Osasuna, Valencia and Deportivo).
- Barcelona’s Luis Suárez has had a hand in 11 goals in his eight LaLiga games against Espanyol (7 goals, 4 assists).
- Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has not won any of his eight managerial away games against Espanyol in LaLiga (D3 L5).
- Espanyol coach Rubi has lost both of his two league games against Barcelona, one in charge of Levante (2-0) and another in charge of Sporting (6-1).
LIVE COMMENTARY: