Preview: Espanyol vs Sevilla – prediction, team news, lineups

Seville will look to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Barcelona when they continue their La Liga campaign with a clash against Barcelona Espanyol at RCDE Stadium on Friday evening.

The guests are currently in 13th place La Liga tablewith 12 points from the first 10 games of the season, while Espanyol is in 15th place with 10 points from the first 10 games of the season.

Game preview

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Espanyol have won three, drawn one and lost six of their 10 league games this season, collecting 10 points. This puts them in 15th place in the table, two points above the relegation zone.

The Catalan club secured a return to La Liga for the 2024-25 season thanks to their success in last season's Segunda Division playoffs and will now look to regain a foothold at this level of football.

Manolo GonzalezThe Spain side enjoyed their best form this season between late August and mid-September, picking up seven points from three games, but were beaten in four of their last five games in Spain's top flight.

Espanyol will enter this competition following a 4-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao and their defensive record this season is somewhat worrying as they have already conceded 17 goals, which is one of the worse records in the division.

The Whites and Blues have lost both league games against Sevilla in the 2022/23 season, while they have not managed to defeat their Friday opponents in Spain's top flight since January 2017.

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Sevilla, as previously mentioned, will come into this game after a disappointing result against Barcelona, ​​losing 5-1 to the Catalan giants, with that defeat ending a positive run for the team Garcia Pimienta's page.

In fact, before the heavy defeat to the league leaders, Los Nervionenses had taken seven points from their three games against Real Valladolid, Athletic and Real Betis, but they will be looking to bounce back quickly here.

Sevilla have a record of three wins, three draws and four defeats from their ten league games this season, collecting twelve points. This puts Sevilla in 13th place in the table, just three points behind seventh-placed Real Betis.

The Sevilla team finished 14th in the last La Liga season, which proved to be their worst season since relegation in 1999/2000. Therefore, there is a lot of room for improvement in the current season.

Sevilla are unbeaten in their last 10 top-flight games against Espanyol, recording seven wins, while they have only lost twice to the Catalan team in La Liga since January 2011.

Espanyol La Liga form:

Sevilla La Liga form:

Team news

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Espanyol will once again have to do without the services of Fernando Calero due to a muscle problem while Javi Puado And Edu Exposito There are still doubts for the Catalan team ahead of the game against Sevilla.

Puado has scored three goals for Espanyol this La Liga season, but he has missed his side's last two games due to a knee problem and it remains to be seen whether the Spaniard will be back on Friday night.

Head coach Gonzalez will make changes from the team that started the heavy defeat against Athletic Pere Milla And Alvaro Tejero It is expected to be introduced into the XI, although there could be a start for it too Walid Cheddira.

As for Seville, Saul Niguez remains on the sidelines with thigh problems, but Tanguy Nianzou will be back in the squad after being suspended against Barcelona.

Head coach Pimienta will resist the temptation to make sweeping changes to his team, but Albert Sambi Lokonga is likely to be introduced, while there could also be a place in the team for a fit-againer Djibril Sau.

Isaac Romero will once again take the lead for Sevilla Chidera Ejuke And Dodi Lukebakio It is expected that the guests will continue to play on the outside positions on Friday evening.

Possible Espanyol starting lineup:
Garcia; El Hilali, Gomez, Kumbulla, Olivan; Gragera, Lozano, Milla; Tejero, Cheddira, Romero

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Carmona, Bade, Nianzou, Pedrosa; Agoume, Lokonga, Sau; Ejuke, Romero, Lukebakio

We say: Espanyol 1-1 Sevilla

Sevilla have enjoyed recent encounters with Espanyol, but the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in that game in February 2022 and we can see the same result here. The visitors have yet to triumph on their travels this season, so we find it difficult to support them against an Espanyol side who have picked up three wins in their last four home games.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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