Barcelona v Racing Club: La Liga Predictions, Best Bets and Odds

Javier Sánchez

Barcelona and Racing Club meet at the Camp Nou this week.Flashscore

Barça host Racing in a clash where it’s tough to find value in the odds, but as always, Flashscore brings you the best predictions.

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The Blaugrana side come into this fixture after overcoming a scare against Levante (4-2), maintaining their perfect start with five wins from five matches.

Hansi Flick’s men have already scored 21 goals in the competition, their highest tally after the first five rounds since the 2011/12 season (22).

Despite showing some defensive frailties and with the German coach forced to rotate for what will be his seventh official match in four weeks, Barcelona’s home strength seems unquestionable: they have racked up 21 consecutive home wins in La Liga and have beaten Racing in their last eight head-to-heads (the most recent six without conceding), not losing at home to the Cantabrians since 1983.

On an individual level, the standout is the sensational Lamine Yamal, the first player to score three braces in the opening five league games since Lionel Messi in 2012/13.

Meanwhile, Racing Club arrive buoyed by an excellent start to the season after coming from behind to beat Alavés 2-1, with Yassir Zabiri as the star performer.

The Verdiblancos have seven points and have scored nine goals, a tally that before this round was only bettered by the top four sides.

However, the main handicap for José Alberto López’s team comes on the road, where both of their away games this season have ended in defeat, and they are enduring a winless run away from home in the top flight stretching back to January 2012 (4 draws, 8 defeats).

To make matters worse, the Montañés side travel without Andrés Martín, who is injured, and André Almeida, who is suspended, while the hosts will be missing Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji.

Barcelona v Racing Club Tips

Yassir Zabiri to commit 2 or more fouls - 5/6 @ bet365

Barcelona (-2.5) - 1.500 @ bet365

Over 2.0 goals in the first half - 1.850 @ bet365

Odds correct at time of writing, subject to change

Defensive demands and intensity in marking

For the first recommendation, we’re basing it on the defensive workload and the combative context the Verdiblancos’ midfield will face. Yassir Zabiri comes into this with sky-high confidence after playing the hero against Alavés, but at Camp Nou his role will require plenty of dirty work to contain Barça’s play through the middle.

Recent stats for the Racing forward show his constant involvement in pressing, having committed one, one, one, five and two fouls over the first five rounds.

Against a Barcelona side with a deep squad that monopolises possession and forces opponents to chase shadows, the 5/6 odds for Zabiri to commit at least two fouls are backed by solid statistics.

Tip: Yassir Zabiri to commit 2 or more fouls - 5/6 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: The bet wins if Yassir Zabiri commits at least two fouls during the match.

Comfortable margin on the scoreboard

For the second prediction, the balance tips towards the Blaugrana given their historical dominance and the visitors’ poor form. Barcelona have not only won their last eight matches against Racing, but have kept a clean sheet in the last six meetings and in four of their last five midweek home league games.

Added to this is Racing’s fragility away from El Sardinero, where they have lost both away games this season and are winless in their last 12 top-flight away trips.

With Lamine Yamal in top form and a forward line averaging over four goals per game, the Asian handicap line of -2.5 for Flick’s side supports a win by three or more goals.

Tip: Barcelona (-2.5) - 1.500 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: The bet wins if Barcelona beat Racing de Santander by a margin of three or more goals (for example, 3-0, 4-1, 4-0).

Explosive start from the first half

For the third tip, we focus on the frenetic tempo both teams tend to set in the final third before half-time. Barcelona have shown devastating firepower at the start of matches, having scored exactly two goals in the first half in four of their five LaLiga games this season.

Meanwhile, Racing’s matches have been guaranteed entertainment in the opening 45 minutes: their games average 2.6 first-half goals, the highest in the league. What’s more, with visiting players like Pablo García scoring four of his last five goals before the break, the Asian line of over 2.0 goals at half-time offers excellent cover (stake refunded if there are exactly two goals).

Tip: Over 2.0 goals in the first half - 1.850 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: The bet wins if there are 3 or more goals in the first 45 minutes. If exactly 2 goals are scored, the bet is void and the stake is refunded.