Murcia vs Espanyol

23/3- Other than Levante, who are placed at the bottom of the table Murcia is the other tam which is almost sure for being relegated at the end of this season. In case they need to survive in the top division only winning all matches now onwards can help them to an extent but practically this does not look possible. This weekend they get ready to play hosts to the 6^th placed Espanyol, a team that is trying to reach the 4^th position on the points table. Murcia have been a side that has lost 9 of its last 10 matches and they have been able to draw the remaining one match. While Espanyol have managed to win three of the last 10 matches but they have lost the remaining 7. The last match played between the two sides was earlier this season and Espanyol had been held to a draw while playing at home. In the last 15 years there have been 3 matches between the sides and Espanyol have won 2 while one has been a draw. Espanyol have been performing well away from home this season and they would like to get a full 3 points of this one in order to enhance their chance of ending the season in the top 5.

Espanyol come into this match after they defeated Mallorca in a home match last week and they would be confident playing a weaker team like Murcia. With an injury free squad the team should look for a win with a big margin.

Murcia on the other hand would be really low on confidence as they have not been able to score a single point in the last 6 matches. Their last week’s loss against Recreativo Huelva would have further hampered their confidence and against a team like Espanyol not much can be expected form this team.

Prediction: 1-3, Espanyol win

Espanyol vs Mallorca

16/3- After a disappointment against the league leaders last week Espanyol return home and this week they prepare to play hosts to Mallorca. While Espanyol are played 7^th on the points table their visiting opponents are 4 places behind them at the 11^th spot and both teams have a different style of playing as well. While most matches played by Espanyol result in a win or a loss, Mallorca are a team that has managed high number of draws this season. The data shows that Espanyol can be a highly inconsistent side while Mallorca can be relied upon as consistent performers. The last match between the two sides that took place earlier this season ended as a 2-2 draw and also the overall record shows that the teams have been on par with their performances. Out of the 21 matches played between the sides each side has managed to win 9 games while the remaining three have been draws.

Espanyol’s recent form has not been that impressive and out of the last 10 matches they have lost 7 times while have managed to win on 3 occasions only. Also with the dipping performances they are losing out on the position they gained on the points table after their efforts in the first half of the season. They would have to revive their form is they wish to score some important points in this tie or else they stand a good chance of losing further on their current position.

Mallorca on the other hand would be on a high as they managed a 7-1 victory over Recreativo Huelva last week and they would carry the confidence into this match. They have been strong defensively and have lost only a single match in the last 10 while there have been 7 draws and 2 victories for the side.

Prediction: 1-1, draw.

Real Madrid vs Espanyol

8/3- Real Madrid are going through a horrid phase and a team that had hardly thought of defeat throughout the season have been defeated 5 times in the last 10 matches which includes a loss to AS Roma in a crucial second leg match of the Champions League. However their strong lead in the beginning of the season has kept them at the top and in a very important home tie this week they take on Espanyol, one of the sides that were able to defeat Real Madrid in the earlier part of the season. Espanyol are placed on the fifth place and were able to beat real Madrid 2-1 while playing at home in the last encounter between the sides that happened in the initial stages of this season. Real Madrid are five points clear of the second placed Barcelona and would like to keep the gap as it is or possibly increase it but Espanyol is a side that can give them a run for their money.

Real Madrid were able to defeat Recreativo Huelva in an away tie in their last Laliga match and that would be something they can carry into this home tie. They are also well clear of Barcelona and would not be posed of the threat of immediate loss of the top position. Raul seems to have found his best form and the side would be hoping to capitalise on that along with the ability of Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the front. A win here would put them 8 points clear of second placed team and hence would also put a lot of pressure on Barcelona.

Espanyol on the other hand would want to improve on their 5^th position and their confidence would be sky high after the 2-0 home win against Valencia last week.

Prediction: 2-1, Real Madrid win

Espanyol vs Valencia

1/3- The last three weeks have been dreadful for Espanyol as they have been handed three consecutive defeats and are currently placed on the sixth position, they would be eager to get back to winning ways and in this attempt would be taking on 9^th placed Valencia in the match of the weekend in the Spanish Laliga. While Espanyol enter this after back to back defeats Valencia would be travelling for this match after back to back draws and would be hoping to make the most out of the slip in form of the home side. Earlier this season Espanyol had managed to defeat Valencia in an away tie with a 1-2 score line but the now the forms have reversed and Valencia would be keen on taking revenge. Looking at the overall record also Espanyol have been the dominant side but on current form Valencia look to be more threatening.

The home team would be under quite some pressure and would be hoping that the big players like Tamudo and Garcia can finally fire and bring in the three points or else the club might slip even further and their chances of making it to the European competition next season might as well diminish. Their last win was against Getafe in an away tie nearly a month ago and if the home team can get a similar result at home the crowd would be delighted.

Valencia on the other hand enter this match after a draw against Recreativo last week in a home tie, they are covering up for the terrible time they had in the middle of the season and a timely victory here could lift up them to a position of some respect. They would also  be satisfied with a point from this tie but definitely would not like to lose this one.

Prediction: 1-0, Espa nyol win

Deportivo La Coruna vs Espanyol

24/2- Deportivo La Coruna are having a shocker of a season, the side was never expected to win the Spanish title but no one would have thought of the side being relegated but due to a highly disappointing season Deportivo find themselves on the 18^th position and also face the threat of being relegated. In an attempt to survive and continue their run in the top division they play hosts to Espanyol this week. Both teams are in equally bad form and enter this match after losing their last week matches. Espanyol are on the 5^th spot and the biggest reason for such a high spot is their performance in the beginning of the season which was absolutely great. Both teams had met earlier this season and Espanyol won the match while playing at home. But a look at the overall record between both the sides suggests a different story and Deportivo are the dominant side by far but the football they have displayed this season is way off their potential and hence the record might be just the glory of the past and might not have any impact on the match.

Both teams are desperately searching for points and that would make the contest even more interesting. Espanyol lost the last match they played against Sevilla at home and that would have dented their confidence to an extent but the strong point of their game this season has been their performance away from home and that is something they would like to capitalize on in this match.

Deportivo on the other hand have been the worst performing team when it comes to the performance at home this season and the fans would be hoping that their team can do something to change that this time.

Prediction: 0-2, Espanyol win

Espanyol vs Sevilla

16/2- Espanyol are on a tipsy-topsy ride in terms of their point table fluctuations, they have been in the top half of the table since the season began but they have not been able to live up to the expectations from their matches. They are currently placed at the 5^th spot and are in a rat race for the third spot in the league. After a shocking home defeat last week they prepare to play hosts to Sevilla this week. Sevilla are placed 7^th on the points table but they are a side that has scored consistently and heavily against all opponents. Earlier this season when both the teams faced off, Sevilla had lost 2-3 to Espanyol playing at home and this would add to the confidence of Espanyol while playing at home.

Espanyol have won 4, lost 4 and drawn 2 in the last 10 matches which shows that their form is poor as compared to their opponents Sevilla who have won 6 of the last 10 matches while lost just 2 matches. Espanyol would want to get some points after the loss last week against Reacreativo Huelva and the fans would be looking at their leading striker Tamudo, who has scored 10 goals this season, to deliver for the side. Luis Garcia is another player who could bring the side out of trouble. The biggest boost for the home side is that their opponents are having a terrible season away from home and they have been able to win just a couple of matches away from home.

Sevilla on the other hand have drawn their last match while playing at home against Barccelona and that would be a great positive factor for the side. With Fabiano and Kanoute they have two wonderfully good strikers but what would count this time is their ability to score away from home.

Prediction: 1-1, draw

Espanyol vs Recreativo Huelva

10/2- While Real Madrid and Barcelona would be the teams fighting it out for the top honours in La liga Espanyol have worked their way up to the third position on the points table. After a great start to the season Espanyol were going through a rough patch nearly a couple of weeks ago as they slipped to three consecutive losses before they managed to defeat Getafe in an away tie last week which would have also given a boost to their confidence. Recreativo on the other hand are second from the bottom and are under a serious threat of being eliminated from the top flight. The visitors come to Espanyol after having lost the last two matches and with no victories in the last 7 matches. The only advantage that Recreativo will have would be psychological as they had managed to beat Espanyol earlier this season. Also looking at the history between the two sides it appears to be even as both sides have won 2 matches each.

Espanyol are the home side and would enjoy the home support and hence they have a strong chance of winning the match, another advantage for them is the dismal performance of Recreativo away from home as the second last team has managed to win just a couple of games away from home. Espanyol also have a strong strike force and in Tamudo and Garcia they have the potential striking power and can outscore their opponents any day.

Recreativo Huelva on the other hand would be under dual pressure, on the first count they would have to defend the third best team in the competition and secondly they would have the load of the pressure of getting eliminated from the top zone. The team has not found a genuine striker to perform consistently and that can work against then while playing a team like Espanyol.

Prediction: 2-0, Espanyol win

Espanyol vs Real Betis

27/1- Espanyol was one team to beware of in the first half of this season and all of a sudden there has been a change of fortunes for them. The team has lost its last two matches and also some grip on the challenge it posed to the front runners. But the noticeable point is that even after losing two matches they still are not out of contention of the top 3 places in the league. They would be hoping that they get back to their old form when they take on the 16^th placed Real Betis. Real Betis have been were consistently featuring in the relegation zone for a good part of the season but their performance in recent times has lifted them out of the bottom three. But all their points have come playing at home and hence Espanyol would want to capitalise on the fact that their opponents have won only a single game while playing 10 games away from home this season and lost 5.

Espanyol enter this match after losing 2-1 to Valladolid in their last match and this would make their urge for a victory even stronger. Playing at home Espanyol would be looking at a good home support so that they can reverse their fortunes and get back in the race for a top 3 finish. A lot would be expected from Tamudo, the leading goal scorer for Espanyol this season, who has managed 10 goals this season. Also Luis Garcia is expected to play an important role as the playmaker in the side. Espanyol have enough potential but they would have to convert it into results.

Real Betis on the other hand would be riding on the form they have gained in the past weeks. They were held to a 1-1 draw in a home draw against Reacreativo Huelva last week and even a point here would be fine as it could possibly help them maintain the distance from the relegation zone.

Prediction: 3-0, Espanyol win

Espanyol vs Villareal

5/1- The second match of the new year and a certain cracker of a match, with Barcelona struggling in the weeks before the break, the fight for the second position has heated up with Espanyol and Villareal joining in. As the second placed Barca play the first match of the second half of the season Villareal go to Take on Espanyol in an away tie. Both the teams are separated by a point and a position. While Espanyol lie in the third spot, Villareal are placed fourth. The home team had been terrific before the close of the season for the break and won 2 back to back matches, in the last match played the defeated a strong Athletico Madrid in an away tie. Villareal were however producing mixed bag performances and the last match they played against Recreativo Huelva was a tame draw.

 

The history between the clubs suggests that nearly 50% of the matches played have been draws while playing at Espanyol, Villareal hold a stronger record but just marginally. Villareal would be taking the field without two defenders, while Rodriguez remains absent due to injury, Fuentes is out due to suspension. The performances can be expected from Nihat and Rossi, the two most prolific strikers for the club this season. They would not be looking at a loss at all as it could possibly trigger a 4 point gap and put them virtually out of contention for the second spot as for now.

 

Espanyol have been the team to watch out for all this season and have looked dominant in most of the games they have played. With their entire squad intact and the striking power of Tamudo and Garcia, they would be a force to reckon with, more so with the crowd backing them up. The home team would be looking at a good home win and probably a jump to the second position if Barca ness it up.

 

Prediction: 2-0, Espanyol win

 

Athletico Madrid vs Espanyol

23/12- A top half clash takes place when the 5th placed Espanyol travel to the surprise 3rd place at this stage of the tournament, Athletico Madrid. Athletico enter the field with the backing of the home crowd and a record of 3 wins and 2 draws in the last 5 matches played with the last one being a draw in an away tie against Recreativo Huelva. Espanyol on the other hand have not been defeated in the last 10 encounters and possess a record of 5 wins and 5 draws, they enter this match after a 1-0 home win against Levante last week. Looking at the past record out of the 22 matches played between these clubs 8 have been draws while Espanyol have managed 8 wins while Athletico claiming the remaining 6 matches.

The home team will be hoping that their in form strikers Aguero and Forlan would convert the chances and get home the total points. With the top two teams pitted against each other a win would be a great opportunity for Athletico to device a strategy to try and possibly threat the league leaders and be a third runner in the title race. Athletico may also start without their second half wonder Radriguez as the striker has scored all his goals this season in the second half and he can be used as a replacement in the second part adding fresh legs for attack.

Espanyol have been in great form as well and defeating them would be very difficult and unlikely. The visitors would hope that Tamudo and Luis Garcia can showcase their best game as a win here could probably help them atleast one position on the points table if not more. The match would be a nail biter and might be decided by the difference of a goal.

Prediction: 1-1

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