Carrying a 1-0 result into the return fixture gives Espanyol a slender advantage, at first glance. But a quick look at the precedents confirms that Barcelona, despite the 1-0 defeat at Cornella and with the second leg taking place at home, are clear favourites.
13 times Barcelona have played the return fixture in the Copa del Rey knockout stages at the Camp Nou after losing 1-0 away from home, and only once were they knocked out: it was against Atletico in 1982 after failing to score in a goalless draw at the Camp Nou.
Statistics don't lie and they are clearly in favour of Barcelona making it through to the semi-finals. But even when setting aside the numbers, Ernesto Valverde's men are in spectacular form this season, led by the boundless figure of Lionel Messi.
And Espanyol's previous patterns? Not quite as impressive. Having won the first leg 1-0 up to nine times, they have only gone on to progress to the next round on three occasions, and never against Barcelona.
A tactically brilliant performance orchestrated by Quique Sanchez Flores in the first leg of this Copa del Rey quarter-final tie was enough to clinch a promising result for 'Los Pericos'. However, the numbers say otherwise.