Sports activities Mole previews Saturday’s La Liga conflict between Espanyol and Alaves, together with predictions, group information and potential lineups.
Alaves can have the prospect to make it 4 consecutive video games with out defeat after they journey to the Stage Entrance Stadium for Saturday’s La Liga assembly with Espanyol.
The Basque aspect are in sixth place with seven factors to their identify, whereas the guests are in 14th place after gathering 4 factors from as many matches.
Match preview
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After profitable promotion by way of the playoffs final season, Espanyol made a gradual begin to their La Liga marketing campaign, struggling consecutive 1-0 defeats to Actual Valladolid and Actual Sociedad.
Nevertheless, they subsequently constructed some much-needed confidence with a hard-fought goalless away draw in opposition to Atletico Madrid, laying the foundations for them to report a slim win over Rayo Vallecano of their ultimate outing earlier than the worldwide break.
Carlos Romero cancelled out Alvaro Garcia‘s fourth-minute opener, earlier than Tottenham Hotspur loanee Alejo Veliz netted a dramatic 96th-minute winner to spark wild scenes of jubilation on the Stage Entrance Stadium.
Espanyol will hope to present their supporters one other win to have a good time in Saturday’s contest as they appear to report residence victories in La Liga for the primary time since March/April 2022.
The hosts could possibly draw inspiration from the very fact they’ve received every of their final three residence matches in opposition to Alaves, together with a 1-0 victory of their most up-to-date residence encounter in September 2021.
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After ending in tenth place final season, Alaves have the powerful process of replicating that success within the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
They are going to be inspired by the very fact they’ve made a constructive begin to the brand new season, recovering from an opening-day defeat to place collectively a three-game unbeaten run.
Luis Garcia‘s fees performed out a goalless draw with Actual Betis, earlier than they beat 10-man Actual Sociedad 2-1 and recorded a 2-0 residence victory over Las Palmas.
After extending their unbeaten residence run to 6 league matches earlier than the worldwide interval, Alaves return from the two-week break with a street journey and hopes of recording back-to-back away wins for simply the second time in 2024.
Nevertheless, that could be simpler stated than completed as a result of Alaves have did not win any of their final eight aggressive away conferences with Espanyol (D2, L8) since they recorded a 2-1 victory in March 2002.
Espanyol La Liga type:
Alaves La Liga type:
Group Information
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Espanyol defender Edu Exposito is continuous to work on his restoration from an anterior cruciate ligament damage which has saved him out of motion since January.
The defensive duo of Fernando Calero and Leandro Cabrera are doubts as a consequence of ankle and muscle issues respectively.
After opening his La Liga account in opposition to Rayo, Veliz can have the prospect to attain in a second straight recreation when he leads the road in Saturday’s residence fixture.
As for the guests, they must cope with out the providers of full-back Hugo Novoa, who suffered an damage on worldwide obligation with the Spain Underneath-21 aspect.
With Novoa unavailable, Nahuel Tenaglia is about to retain his spot on the precise aspect of a backline that includes Abdel Abqar, Aleksandar Sedlar and Manu Sanchez.
Summer season signing Toni Martinez is pushing for a beginning place after scoring in his first two substitute appearances as an Alaves participant.
Espanyol potential beginning lineup:
Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Gomez; Tejero, Gragera, Kral, Romero; Jofre, Puado, Veliz
Alaves potential beginning lineup:
Silvera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Sedlar, Sanchez; Blanco, Guevera; Vicente, Guridi, Conechny; Martinez
We are saying: Espanyol 1-1 Alaves
Espanyol will probably be focusing on one other victory after getting the higher of Rayo of their final outing, however we predict they must accept a degree after they face an Alaves aspect who’re unbeaten in three matches.
For knowledge evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.
