Prediction: Getafe vs Espanyol
Verdict: Both teams to score – No
Best Odds: 7/10
Two sides who find themselves seeking a La Liga boost on Sunday afternoon, Getafe will welcome Espanyol to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Getafe
Starting with the hosts, while Getafe might have made their La Liga return on December 30th with a deserved 2-0 victory at home against Mallorca, it appears that might have just been a minor boost for Quique Sanchez Flores’ side. Opening 2023 by crashing out of the Copa del Rey thanks to an action-packed 3-2 loss away at Levante, the Azulones are coming off the back of another downbeat display. Last seen getting hit with a 2-1 defeat away at fellow strugglers Sevilla, the one-time Watford boss will be calling on his side to find some stability this weekend. While Sunday’s hosts might almost find themselves sat in La Liga limbo, they have managed to record just a pair of top-flight victories from their previous 10 attempts. With that run stemming all the way back to September 18th, Getafe have also shown some extended issues on home soil. In fact, Flores’ men have remarkably won just a pair of La Liga showdowns at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez since April 2nd.
Team News
Still dealing with an ankle issue, Getafe look set to once again be without Mauro Arambarri on Sunday afternoon.
Bagging a consolation strike against Sevilla last weekend and with three La Liga goals since returning from the World Cup break, Borja Mayoral will spearhead Flores’ charge here.
Espanyol
As for the visitors, while Espanyol might be enjoying a four-match domestic unbeaten run since returning from the World Cup break, they do find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat in the drop zone, Diego Martínez’s men are without a win from any of their last seven La Liga outings. Likewise, with just a single top-flight victory to their name since way back on September 4th, the Periquitos face what should be a real uphill struggle in 2023. Although Sunday’s guests might have marked their return from the festive break last month with an eye-catching 1-1 draw away at Barcelona, Espanyol have really gained a reputation as a stalemate specialist. In fact, Martínez’s side have had to settle for a single point in five of their previous six La Liga appearances. However, claiming a deserved 2-0 win when they welcomed Getafe to the RCDE Stadium 10 months ago, the ex-Granada boss will be hoping for a repeat display here.
Team News
Espanyol have already confirmed that they will once again be without the likes of Brian Olivan, Pol Lozano, Gori, Adria Pedrosa and Keidi Bare on Sunday afternoon.
However, both Vinicius Souza and Dani Gomez are free to make their returns this weekend after serving respective suspensions.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the two sides last faced off 10 months ago, Espanyol picked up a 2-0 victory at the RCDE Stadium.
- Each of their last eight straight meetings across all formats have finished with under 3.5 goals.
- Getafe have recorded just a pair of La Liga victories at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez since the start of April.
- Espanyol have now played out a stalemate in five of their previous six La Liga matchups.
- Getafe have scored more than a single strike in just one of their last seven top-flight contests.
Conclusion
In a showdown between two sides seeking a much-needed boost this weekend, neutrals could be treated to a cagey affair on Sunday afternoon. While Espanyol might have claimed a 2-0 victory when they welcomed Getafe to the RCDE Stadium 10 months ago, the Periquitos find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap. However, with Getafe remarkably bagging just a pair of La Liga wins on home soil since the start of April, Flores’ men have also shown some extended issues in front of goal. Bagging more than a single strike in just one of their last seven top-flight contests, Sunday’s opponents do have a habit of producing low-scoring affairs. Likewise, with three of their last four meetings at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez finishing with one or neither side finding the net, we’re backing a similar outcome.
Verdict: Both teams to score – No
Best Odds: 7/10
