Pressure will be on the home team this week in La Liga, as many consider this a must-win encounter for Espanyol. The Spanish side sit 18th in the standings and have only won one game in their last five.
However, a victory on Wednesday could see them end the round as high as 16th on the table. Espanyol will be without several key players this week, with Omar El Hilali and Jofre Carreras both suspended. José Gragera may also be missing due to a thigh injury.
The Spanish club have underperformed in the xG metric this term, scoring just ten goals from open play with an xG of 11.30. However, they’ve defended slightly better in La Liga, conceding 20 goals with an xGA of 20.52.
Rubén Baraja will be alarmed by Valencia’s current position. The Spanish giants are rock bottom in the standings after winning just two of their 15 matches in 2024-25. This weekend it became known that the club is trying to replace him with Quique Sanchez Flores. However, financial hurdles are complicating this move, and Baraja will be leading the team against Espanyol, perhaps for the last time.
It’s their second-worst start to a top-flight season since 1957-58, and a defeat on Wednesday could leave them with too much to do to stave off the threat of relegation. Scoring goals has been a major issue for Los Ches throughout this season. They’ve scored just six goals in open play from an xG of 8.74.
Their better-quality chances have been created from corners, and they’ve scored five goals from an xG of 4.79. However, they’ll need to improve their defensive performance after conceding 18 goals from an xGA of 17.61.
Valencia will be without some key stars this week. Eray Cömert is suspended, while Mouctar Diakhaby and José Gayà are out till January.
Bet hereA lot will be at stake when these two sides clash in La Liga on Wednesday, meaning a popular Espanyol vs Valencia prediction could result in a shared point.
Scoring goals has been a major issue for both teams throughout the season, and neither side will be prepared to lose on Wednesday. Therefore, a low-scoring affair and cagey outcome are likely this week.
Draws have been a common outcome when the sides have collided, with three of the last four ending level. That includes two of the last three La Liga meetings between the sides at RCDE Stadium.
Chances will be kept to a minimum on Wednesday, and both sides’ lack of clinical edge has been evident throughout the campaign. Espanyol have averaged an xG of just 1.12 per match in La Liga, while Valencia have a poor xG of 0.89 in away matches. Under 2.5 goals looks to be a solid betting angle.
Espanyol also looks like a solid bet for picking up more cards. The home side have averaged 13.94 fouls per game in La Liga this season, while Los Ches’ average is just under ten.
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