Espanyol vs Alaves prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-09-13 14:15.
[p]After a drab start to the La Liga season, Espanyol host Alavés for what will be a second consecutive home game at the Stage Front Stadium, after beating Rayo Vallecano 2-1 here last time out for their first win of the league campaign (D1, L2). A glimpse at Espanyol’s H2H record against their visitors points to a tight game between the sides (W15, D8, L13), but having won three of the last five H2H meetings (D1, L1), the Catalonian side may be confident of recording back-to-back La Liga wins for the first time since April 2022![/p]
[p]Within that recent H2H run they conceded just three goals, and that same defensive solidity has been on show this campaign, as they are yet to concede more than one goal in a single contest. That’s a good sign for the team that conceded the most goals in the division in their last stint in the top-flight in 2022/23 (GA:69) but strangely had the sixth most potent attack in La Liga with 52! [/p]
[p]Luis GarcĂa’s AlavĂ©s have had a brilliant start to their campaign (W2, D1, L1), sitting in La Liga’s European spots ahead of this weekend’s action. Although much of this success is due to some solid home form, they were able to stun fellow Basque side and European participants Real Sociedad 2-1 in their last La Liga away outing for their first win in four H2H fixtures (D2, L1). [/p]
[p]The picture is becoming increasingly brighter for a side who have now lost just one of their last six La Liga contests (W3, D2) and will now be targeting three consecutive top-flight wins for the third time this calendar year. Espanyol will be acutely aware of Alavés’ defensive weakness on the road however, with the visitors keeping just one clean sheet across their past eight league away trips (W2, D1, L5).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: One of the nominees for La Liga’s U23 Player of the Month award in August, Alejo VĂ©liz has struck one of Espanyol’s two goals this campaign, and each of his last three league goals arrived after the 70th minute. Meanwhile, summer signing Toni MartĂnez has struck two goals across his first two La Liga appearances for AlavĂ©s.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Highlighting the tight nature of recent H2H contests, only one of the last 11 meetings saw a side win by a multi-goal margin.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Luke Bridle[/i][/p]