Espanyol vs Alaves Prediction & Betting Tips (14 September)

Having moved down to the 2nd division two seasons ago, Espanyol did not last long in the 2nd tier by integrating, via the playoffs, the elite this season. The objective now for the Catalans will be to stay in the 1st division for the next seasons and get out of this context of the promotion, relegation elevator. The championship started badly for the Barcelona side who lost twice by the smallest of scores on the Valladolid pitch 1-0 and for the reception of Real Sociedad 0-1. Concrete as not allowed against Atlético during J3, Espanyol brought back 1 point from Wanda 0-0 before winning their first match before the break, against Rayo Vallecano in Llobregat 2-1. In the ranking, at the start of this day, the Blanquiazules were repositioned in 14th place.

Opposite, we find the Basque club Deportivo Alaves, which rose the same year when Espanyol was demoted to D2. Last year, the retention was brilliantly obtained and now it is time for confirmation for the Basques. Like its opponent of the day, Depor started its new championship campaign with a setback on the lawn of the astonishing formation of Celta Vigo 2-1 before offering itself, a series in progress of three days without defeat including two successive victories against Real Sociedad on the road 1-2 and at home for the reception of Las Palmas before the truce 2-0. It will be recalled that the visitors thwarted the plans of Real Bétis during the 2nd day 0-0. 

The Pericos lost their top scorer in the league last season, Martin Braithwaite (22 goals) who flew to Gremio in Brazil. He is not the only one to have left since Nico Melamed (Almeria, free), Keta Balde (return from loan to Spartak Moscow), Keidi Bare (Zaragoza, free), Oscar Gil (Leuven, free), Max Svensson (Casa Pia), Jose Lazo (Albacete, free), and replacement Gaston Valles (Cartagena, loan) left. In the opposite direction, quite a few players bounced back to Llobregat but many in the form of loan like Naci (Ajax), Walid Cheddira (Napoli), Kumbulla (AS Roma), Alejo Veliz (Tottenham) , Alex Kral (Union Berlin), and Carlos Romero (Villarreal). The only one to have committed for several years is Alvaro Tejero (Eibar). The Frenchman Irvin Cardona (Augsburg) signed in the form of a paying loan. Still suffering from his cruciate ligament rupture, Edu Exposito will not return until October while Cabrera is also injured and potentially OUT today.

It was the recruits Veliz and Carlos Romero who gave the club victory against Las Palmas before the break. In the transfer window for Alaves, some good developments should be noted, notably with the arrival of midfielder Joan Jordan from FC Seville, Santiago Mourino (Atlético Madrid), Toni Martinez (Porto), Carlos Martin (loan), Luka Romero (AC Milan, loan), Manu Sanchez (Vigo, loan), without forgetting the free arrival of Moussa Diarra (TFC), the transfer of Hugo Ramos (RB Leipzig) or even the scorer Stoichkov (Eibar, photo), and the talented Tomas Conechny (Godoy Cruz). On the other hand, the two most prolific elements of last year, Samu Omorodion (return from loan to Atlético) and Luis Rioja (Valencia) took off, just like Nikola Maras (Sporting Gijon) and Julen Guerrero (Amorebieta) via loans. Departure of Xeber Alkain (Eibar), Javi Lopez (Real Sociedad), and central Ruben Duarte (Pumas, Mexico). In the infirmary area, there is no queue to report, the entire group should be in Llobregat today.