Struggling Espanyol will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches when they travel to Getafe in La Liga on Sunday afternoon.
The away side are currently 19th in the table, boasting just 14 points from their opening 16 games of the season, while Getafe are 13th, three points above their opponents in this match.
Match preview
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Getafe beat Diocesano and Mallorca in the Copa del Rey and league respectively in their first two matches after the 2022 World Cup, but they have lost their last two against Levante and Sevilla.
Indeed, Quique Sanchez Flores's side were dumped out of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 3-2 defeat to Levante on January 3 before suffering a 2-1 loss to Sevilla in the league last weekend.
A total of 17 points from 16 matches has left Getafe in 13th spot in the table, just two points above the relegation zone, with a number of sides cramped together in the bottom half of the division.
As it stands, there are only three points between 19th-placed Espanyol and Getafe in 13th, while there are only five points between Espanyol and Valencia in 11th, which is incredible at this stage of the campaign.
The Deep Blue Ones have only played one season out of La Liga since 2004, but they have been 15th in their last two campaigns and will certainly be wary of being dragged into a relegation battle this term.
Flores's side have only taken nine points from their eight home league games this season, and they will be taking on an Espanyol side that have lost just twice on their travels in La Liga during the 2022-23 campaign.
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Indeed, Espanyol have the third-worst home record in La Liga this season, but they have lost just two of their eight away games, which should hand them confidence heading into this match.
The Catalan outfit, as mentioned, are currently in the relegation zone, but they are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, which includes three wins in the Copa del Rey.
Espanyol, who will take on Athletic Bilbao in the last-16 stage of the cup on January 18, have drawn with Barcelona and Girona in their last two league games, but they have not managed to secure all three points in the league since the middle of October.
Diego Martinez's side will view these type of matches as crucial in their battle to remain in the division, and they will go in search of just their third league victory of the campaign this weekend.
Espanyol recorded a 2-0 victory over Getafe when the two sides last locked horns last March, but they suffered a 2-1 defeat in the corresponding match during the 2021-22 campaign.
Team News
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Getafe will again be missing Mauro Arambarri on Sunday due to an ankle problem, but the home side are otherwise in excellent shape heading into the contest,
Head coach Flores could make a couple of changes from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Sevilla, with Stefan Mitrovic, Jordan Amavi and Nemanja Maksimovic coming into the side.
Munir El Haddadi is pushing for a spot in the final third, but Borja Mayoral is again set to be joined by Enes Unal in the front two.
As for Espanyol, Adria Pedrosa, Gori, Keidi Bare and Pol Lozano are on the sidelines due to fitness problems.
The visitors will also be missing Brian Olivan, who picked up a booking against Girona last weekend, but Vinicius Souza and Dani Gomez will be back from suspensions of their own.
Souza is expected to return in the middle of midfield, while there could be a change in the front three, with Javi Puado potentially replacing Nico Melamed to start alongside Martin Braithwaite and Joselu.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Mitrovic, Duarte, Dakonam; Amavi, Maksimovic, Milla, Alena, Iglesias; Mayoral, Unal
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Gil, Calero, S Gomez, Montes; Darder, Exposito, Souza; Braithwaite, Joselu, Puado
We say: Getafe 1-1 Espanyol
Espanyol have drawn five of their eight away league games this season, while Getafe have shared the points on three occasions at home. There is not an awful lot between these two teams in terms of quality, and we are expecting the spoils to be shared in Sunday's La Liga contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
