Deportivo AlavesvsEspanyol Barcelona

Current Form and Recent Performances

Deportivo Alaves, currently languishing in the 18th position of La Liga, has been grappling with inconsistency, as evidenced by their recent 1-3 defeat to Real Betis. The return of defender Garces, a former captain at Colon, is a positive development, yet his adaptation to La Liga's pace remains a question mark. The absence of goalkeeper Antonio Sivera due to a hand injury is a significant blow, given his impressive record of 49 saves and three clean sheets this season. Jesus Owono is expected to fill in, but the defensive stability remains a concern.

Espanyol Barcelona, also in 18th place, has shown glimpses of promise with a recent 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid. However, their off-field controversies, particularly regarding the CSD's ruling on player registrations, have cast a shadow over their campaign. Despite these distractions, Espanyol's squad, featuring players like Walid Cheddira and Javi Puado, has demonstrated resilience, which could be pivotal in their upcoming fixtures.

Head-to-Head Analysis

Historically, Espanyol has had the upper hand in this fixture, winning 11 out of the last 26 meetings. Notably, they have won four of the last five encounters against Alaves, including both matches last season. The most common result when Alaves hosts Espanyol is a 2-1 victory for the home side, but recent trends suggest Espanyol's dominance might continue.

Statistical Insights and Predictions

Espanyol scores 29% of their goals in the final 15 minutes, indicating a strong finish to matches, which could be crucial against an Alaves side missing their first-choice goalkeeper. Alaves has struggled to score consistently, with an average of 0.77 goals at home, while Espanyol averages 1.17 goals away. Given these statistics and Espanyol's superior recent form, an away victory seems likely.

Conclusion

Considering the current form, historical data, and recent performances, Espanyol Barcelona is poised to secure an away win. However, with both teams having vulnerabilities in defense, it's probable that both sides will find the net. Therefore, the prediction is an away win with both teams scoring.