Espanyol vs Valladolid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-10-15 16:30.
Espanyol have not enjoyed the best of starts to this La Liga (LL) season and alarmingly come into this round outside the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference alone (W1, D3, L4). This is actually just the 12th time in Espanyol’s history that they’ve won no more than one game across their opening eight league matches and they’re only one point better off than they were at this stage of the 2019/20 campaign where they went onto finish bottom, therefore anxiety will be growing around RCDE Stadium.
The panic button should remain unpressed for now though with Diego MartĂnez’s men showing signs of improvement, coming from behind in both of their recent consecutive 2-2 draws against Valencia and Cádiz. Slow starts in those two matches means Espanyol have now conceded first in seven of their eight league encounters this season, a habit the hosts will need to shake off if they’re to realistically start climbing the table.
Considering Real Valladolid drew first blood in both H2H meetings last season en route to securing successive wins, Espanyol shaking off that bad habit here may be unlikely. Valladolid could now win three back-to-back LL games against Espanyol for the first time since 1963, and like their opponents, they have avoided defeat in each of their last two matches (W1, D1) meaning the mood in the camp of the mid-table side is sure to be improved. That mood should be further lifted after the players were given plenty of encouragement this week by local fans who were allowed to attend and spectate Wednesday’s training session.
It can’t be ignored though that Valladolid don’t have a great record on their travels in this competition, winning only one of their previous 14 LL away matches (D7, L6). However, that sole win did come in their last trip against Getafe (3-2) and Valladolid could now win successive LL away games for the first time in four years!
Players to watch: Espanyol’s Joselu has scored four goals across his last four LL games, three of which opened the scoring for his team. Meanwhile, Valladolid forward Sergi Guardiola has enjoyed facing Espanyol of late, scoring two goals across the last three LL H2Hs.
Hot streak: Both teams have scored in each of Espanyol coach MartĂnez’s last four personal H2Hs against Valladolid (W2, D1, L1).