Espanyol will be aiming to continue their winning streak in La Liga as they face off against Getafe on Friday night. The Catalan side, currently sitting 15th in the standings, are coming off a 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo. On the other hand, Getafe, who are in 11th place, will be looking to bounce back after a 3-1 home defeat to Las Palmas.
Espanyol have been in good form since the March international break, collecting seven points from their last three matches. They have recorded back-to-back wins over Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo, following a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. With six points above the relegation zone, Espanyol have eased their relegation concerns and are now just three points away from 12th-placed Osasuna. Their aim is to secure safety in their first season back in La Liga after earning promotion via the 2023-24 Segunda Division playoffs.
In their previous meetings, Espanyol have won three out of their last four encounters with Getafe in La Liga. They secured a 1-0 home win earlier this season, but Getafe took the reverse fixture 1-0 in Madrid.
Looking ahead to Friday’s clash, Espanyol will be without the injured Jose Gragera and Brian Olivan. Additionally, Javi Puado is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card against Celta. The starting XI is expected to remain largely unchanged, with Alex Kral likely to replace Puado on the flank. Up front, Roberto Fernandez, who has scored five goals in 11 appearances since joining on loan from Braga, will retain his spot.
Getafe head into the match following a 3-1 home defeat to Las Palmas, marking their second loss in three matches. They have recorded 10 wins, nine draws, and 12 losses this season, accumulating 39 points to sit in 11th place. Despite struggling to score goals, Getafe have showcased strong defensive resilience, conceding just 28 goals, which is the third-best defensive record in La Liga.
Although Getafe’s attacking capabilities have been limited, they have found form on the road recently. They scored four goals in their last away outing against Real Valladolid and have won six of their last seven away league matches, including a convincing 3-0 victory against Real Sociedad.
Diego Rico will be unavailable for Getafe due to suspension following his red card against Las Palmas. However, there are no fresh injury concerns, allowing manager Jose Bordalas to consider several changes to his starting XI. Djene Dakonam is expected to return at right-back, with Juan Iglesias moving to the opposite flank. Juan Bernat and Juanmi could make way for Coba and Borja Mayoral, providing a much-needed attacking presence.
In conclusion, Getafe’s impressive away form deserves recognition, and a win for the visitors on Friday would not be surprising. However, Espanyol have found their rhythm in recent weeks and should be confident playing at home. With both teams in decent shape, a closely-fought contest is expected, and the hosts may have enough to secure a draw.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 7/4
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
