Espanyol vs Alavés: A La Liga Battle at RCDE Stadium

Espanyol will be looking to snap a frustrating four-game winless streak in La Liga when they host Alavés on Friday evening. The Catalan side currently sits fifth in the table, two points ahead of Celta Vigo, while Alavés finds themselves precariously positioned 15th, just one point above the relegation zone. This match promises to be a captivating encounter with significant implications for both teams.

Espanyol’s Recent Struggles

Espanyol’s campaign has been largely impressive, accumulating 34 points from 21 matches with a record of 10 wins, 4 draws, and 7 defeats. However, recent form has been a concern. Manolo Gonzalez’s team has failed to secure a victory in 2026, managing only one point from their last four league games – a draw against Levante amidst losses to Barcelona, Girona, and Valencia. Their home record remains solid, with 6 wins, 1 draw, and 4 defeats in 11 matches, offering a glimmer of hope against an Alavés side struggling away from home.

Alavés’ Fight for Survival

Alavés’ away form is arguably the worst in the division, having collected a meager 4 points from 10 games, scoring just four goals in the process. They are 15th in La Liga with 22 points, clinging to safety by a single point. Despite their overall struggles, Alavés has shown flashes of resilience, winning two of their last three games across all competitions, including a 2-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the Copa del Rey and a 2-1 league win against Real Betis. Last season, they narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 15th, and appear to be facing another challenging battle for survival.

Head-to-Head Record

Historically, Espanyol has had the upper hand in this fixture, winning four of their last six league matches against Alavés. However, Alavés secured a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Espanyol’s last home win against Alavés came in September 2024 (3-2), and they haven’t lost to Alavés at RCDE Stadium since March 2002.

Team News

• Espanyol: Javi Puado remains sidelined with a serious knee injury. Omar El Hilali returns from suspension and is expected to start at right-back. Kike Garcia is an option in attack.
• Alavés: Facundo Garces is serving a long-term suspension. Nikola Maras is out with a knee injury, and Denis Suarez is a doubt with a muscular issue. Toni Martinez, who was impressive against Real Betis, is likely to feature in the starting lineup. Carlos Vicente has moved to Birmingham City.

Predicted Lineups

Espanyol: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Jofre, Gonzalez, Lozano, Terrats; Fernandez, Milla

Alavés: Sivera; Tenaglia, Protesoni, Pacheco, Otto; Guridi, Blanco, Ibanez, Alena; Boye, Martinez

Prediction

Despite Espanyol’s recent dip in form, Alavés’ struggles on the road make them vulnerable. We anticipate Espanyol will capitalize on their home advantage and secure a much-needed victory. For more in-depth data analysis, including predicted scorelines, check out WhoScored.com.

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