Elche vs Espanyol: Prediction, Team News, Lineups Revealed
Espanyol will aim for their first victory of 2026 on Sunday as they face Elche at Estadio Martinez Valero. Both teams are struggling, with Espanyol currently in seventh place and Elche at 17th, just one point above the relegation zone.
Match Preview: Elche vs Espanyol
Elche is precariously positioned near the bottom of the La Liga table. After a disappointing season, they managed to secure promotion back to the top flight by finishing second in the Segunda Division last year. However, they have struggled this season, recently losing 2-1 to Athletic Bilbao. Their last league victory came on December 21, when they beat Rayo Vallecano 4-0.
Despite their troubles, Elche has proven difficult to defeat at home, having lost just two of their 13 matches at Estadio Martinez Valero. This should provide them with some confidence as they prepare to face the Catalan side.
Current Form
- Elche’s La Liga Form: DLLLDL
- Espanyol’s La Liga Form: LLLLDL
Espanyol, on the other hand, has seen a decline in their performance. Once strong contenders, they now sit two points behind sixth-placed Celta Vigo. Their last win was on December 22 against Athletic Bilbao, and they have only accumulated two points in eight league matches this year.
Head-to-Head
Historical data shows that Espanyol has a favorable record against Elche, winning 20 of their last 48 encounters. They achieved a 1-0 victory in their previous matchup this season and remain unbeaten in their last eight league games against Elche.
Team News
For Elche, key defender Hector Fort is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Alvaro Rodriguez’s participation is uncertain, and Yago Santiago is suspended due to a red card. Rafa Mir, who replaced Rodriguez in the last game, may take the lead with Andre Silva in the attack.
On Espanyol’s side, Javi Puado is out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury. Coach Manolo Gonzalez will likely start Edu Exposito, who performed well off the bench in the previous match against Atletico Madrid. A potential substitution may see Roberto Fernandez in place of Kike Garcia.
Possible Starting Lineups
- Elche: Dituro; Chust, Affengruber, Bigas; Morente, Cepeda, Febas, Aguado, Valera; Mir, Silva
- Espanyol: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Lozano, Zarate; Dolan, Exposito, Carreras; Fernandez
In anticipation of the match, there is a sense that Espanyol must rally to secure a crucial win against a similarly struggling Elche side. A draw is possible, but many expect the visitors to find their way back to winning form.
Prediction
We predict a closely contested match with Espanyol edging out Elche, finishing 2-1.
