Copa del Rey, 3rd round, Saturday, 04.01.2025 at 19:00
Am I right here? My Barbastro Barcelona tip for the 3rd round of the Copa del Rey 2024/25 has something of a deja-vù!
I’ll explain why that is in my Barbastro Barcelona prediction. You’ll also be able to better understand why Hansi Flick’s squad are likely to face a tough assignment next Saturday
Do you remember how exciting it was a year ago? The game between Barcelona and Barbastro shortly after the New Year, also in the third round of the Copa del Rey, ended in a narrow 3-2 victory for the Catalans. There’s no question that the win was a good one.
To be honest, however, the result should have been clearer given the huge difference in class.
Furthermore, the clear underdogs from the province of Huesca should – from a purely logical point of view – have emerged stronger from this previous year’s duel.
A year later, the club from the Segunda RFEF should have come to the realization that even the great FC Barcelona occasionally only boils with water.
The lower-ranked hosts, UD Barbastro, paved their way into the third round with another impressive performance.
A 4-0 triumph over Amorebieta and a remarkable 2-0 home win over Espanyol Barcelona clearly showed that they are not to be underestimated, even a year after their deep run in the Copa del Rey.
This latest win against the “Blaugrana’s” little brother in particular should make even the big favorites sit up and take notice. After all, the combative teams from the Segunda RFEF can prove to be a nuisance even for established teams from the top soccer league.
Don’t expect too much from them, though, as they spent almost the entire game in their own half against Espanyol, with a shot ratio of 3:24 and a possession percentage of just 26%.
However, you can expect more from Bet-at-home’s new customer bonus. Click on the graphic and collect up to €100 for your bets.
For the Catalans, meanwhile, the winter break came at the best possible time. Two late December defeats in La Liga against Leganes and Atletico Madrid put a real damper on their initial dream start to the 2024/25 season.
The lead from the first half of the season? It has melted away. Hansi Flick probably had to tighten a few screws over Christmas to get the “Blaugrana” back on track. That is precisely why the German must not take this game lightly.
Now to the specific betting suggestions: As expected, the Barbastro Barcelona odds from most bookies see the visitors as the heavy favorites. The bookies give the Catalans odds of around 1.05 – even away from home. Of course, anything else would be a surprise.
But the huge odds differential invites me personally to reduce the risk considerably with a good handicap choice on the underdog.
Because one thing is certain: a closer result than last year is anything but unlikely.
Thanks to the experience of the previous season, I assume that Barcelona will again go into this duel with a “1B eleven”.
Sure, Xavi is not Hansi Flick and different coaches handle early cup appearances differently. But the former coach of the DFB team should prefer to use his best players in view of the recent mixed performances.
Nevertheless, it will be difficult for FCB to motivate themselves on Saturday against an opponent who can only welcome 6,000 spectators at best in the Estadio Municipal de Deportes. At least in terms of “motivation”, the challenger should therefore feel stronger impulses.
Personally, I like the Asian handicap of +3 on UD Barbastro at odds of around 1.86 in the Bet365 app. That should give the amateur club the goal buffer they need to come out on top, at least on my betting slip.
I also like the extremely generously quoted “Both teams to score” bet, which you can place at around 2.75 with most German bookmakers.
And why not? Both Barcelona clubs – Espanyol in the 2nd round and Barcelona in the last edition of the Copa del Rey – conceded two goals each. Barbastro has therefore proven on several occasions that he can score from just a few chances.
I didn’t choose this bookmaker by chance! My personal Bet-at-home experience has been particularly positive when it comes to Spanish soccer matches.
The bookmaker offers a wide range of bets, from La Liga to the Segunda División.
Attractive odds, numerous special bets and intuitive operation make Bet-at-home ideal for fans of Spanish soccer. Anyone who bets here can count on a comprehensive and first-class experience.
Conclusion: Barcelona are still somewhere in the winter break and could also be without one or two regulars on Saturday.
Despite the bad experiences against this opponent from the previous season, it is still difficult to imagine a blatant fiasco for the “Blaugrana” in the province of Huesca.
But the fourth-division side should still be able to ensure another close game.
If Barca go about their business half-heartedly and only thaw out in the second half, results like 1:2, 1:3 or even 2:3 should always be possible.
My Barbastro Barcelona tip: Victory UDB with handicap +3
