Preview: Espanyol vs. Elche - prediction, team news, lineups

Los Pericos fell to a narrow defeat at Osasuna on Thursday, while the visitors' winless run was extended to 10 games after a 3-0 battering at the hands of Real Madrid.

Match preview

It has been a slightly underwhelming start for Diego Martinez at Espanyol since the promising young manager joined the Catalan club at the start of the 2022-23 season.

Certainly not helped by the departure of 17-goal striker Raul de Tomas in September, the new coach has struggled to find consistency in Cornella, having recorded just two wins and three draws in his opening ten league games.

Nonetheless, with a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid last weekend, Los Pericos finally managed to win their first home game since April, as a Joselu header snapped an increasingly worrying streak.

They were unable to follow that important victory up, though, as they squandered three big chances in a 1-0 defeat to Osasuna at El Sadar on Thursday.

A notoriously difficult place to go, Espanyol should not be too disheartened by their defeat in Pamplona, but will certainly have drawn a few rings around the visit of Elche this weekend.

Joselu has scored in each of his last four games at the RCDE stadium, so the visit of LaLiga's leakiest defence presents a huge opportunity to make it two home wins in a row, after over six months without picking up three points in front of their own fans.

Having conceded 24 goals in LaLiga this season, only three sides across Europe's top five leagues have been hit harder than Elche.

Los Franjiverdes have already changed managers, welcoming back former coach Jorge Almiron after the sacking of Francisco earlier on this season, but they remain the only side in the Spanish top flight without a win to their name after the first ten games of the season.

Almiron's men came agonisingly close at Valencia last weekend, as a controversially disallowed goal denied them all three points in a 2-2 draw at Valencia, but his players were comprehensively beaten on Wednesday night, as a rampant Real Madrid secured a 3-0 win at the Estadio Martinez Valero.

The visit of the reigning European champions was not ideal preparation for a more winnable game this weekend, but Los Ilicitanos can at least take solace from a good performance at Mestalla ahead of their trip to a defensively-shaky Espanyol side, who they actually beat 2-1 away from home last season.

Espanyol La Liga form:

L

L

D

D

W

L

Elche La Liga form:

L

L

L

D

D

L

Team News

Espanyol will continue without full-backs Adria Pedrosa and Ruben Sanchez here, although both are said to be nearing fitness.

Coach Martinez had been speaking of a stomach bug among the squad earlier this week, but reports from training seem to suggest that those affected will be able to play.

Martin Braithwaite returned to the starting XI in that defeat to Osasuna, and he will be one of the main threats for the home side, alongside the creative Sergi Darder and the clinical Joselu.

For the visitors, only former Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez will miss out, leaving Almiron with a healthy squad to choose from.

Star striker Lucas Boye will start up front after an encouraging performance against Real Madrid, and he will be joined by Pere Milla, who scored a brace in this fixture last season.

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

Lecomte; Olivan, Cabrera, Gomez, Calero; Souza, Exposito; Braithwaite, Darder, Vidal; Joselu

Elche possible starting lineup:

Badia; Clerc, Bigas, Verdu, Palacios; Mascarell, Guti; Morente, Milla, Collado; Boye

We say: Espanyol 1-1 Elche

On paper, Espanyol are the stronger side here, but the situation is becoming increasingly urgent for Elche, who need a victory, and quickly, if they are to avoid being left behind.

After a promising attacking performance at Mestalla, we are backing the bottom side to grind out a result here.

Previews by email