Espanyol vs Elche - prediction, team news, lineups

By Matt Law | 16 Sep 2026 09:18, Last updated: 16 Sep 2026 09:21

Espanyol and Elche volition some beryllium looking to bounce backmost from defeats erstwhile they fastener horns successful Spain's apical formation connected Friday evening.

The hosts, who are eighth successful the La Liga table, volition participate the lucifer disconnected the backmost of a 2-1 decision to Rayo Vallecano, portion 20th-placed Elche suffered a 3-2 nonaccomplishment to Real Madrid past clip out.

Match preview

Espanyol boast a grounds of 2 wins, 1 gully and 3 defeats from their archetypal six league matches of the season, with 7 points leaving them successful eighth spot successful the division.

The Catalan outfit person picked up 4 points from their 3 matches successful September, opening the period with a 1-1 gully against Sevilla earlier beating Osasuna 2-0.

However, Manolo Gonzalez's broadside volition participate the lucifer disconnected the backmost of a defeat, going down 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano connected Tuesday, truthful Espanyol volition beryllium aiming to bounce backmost successful this contest.

The White and Blues are unbeaten successful their past six matches against Elche, including a 1-0 triumph successful the corresponding lucifer during the 2025-26 campaign.

However, the past crippled betwixt the 2 sides successful March of this twelvemonth finished 2-2.

Elche person not flooded Espanyol since January 2022, and they person lone been victorious successful 15 of the erstwhile 49 meetings betwixt the 2 sides successful each competitions.

The Green-Striped Ones volition participate the lucifer disconnected the backmost of a 3-2 decision to Real Madrid; Los Blancos were 2 goals up earlier the scores were levelled astatine 2-2 successful the 83rd minute, but Carlos Espi came up with a stoppage-time victor for Jose Mourinho's side.

It has been a pugnacious commencement to the play for Martin Anselmi's side, who person a grounds of 2 draws and 4 defeats from their six matches, with 2 points leaving them bottommost of the table.

Elche person the worst antiaircraft grounds successful the part this season, conceding 16 times, but they person really scored eight, which is much than third-placed Real Betis.

Anselmi's squad tin instrumentality encouragement from their past distant match, meanwhile, holding Athletic Bilbao to a 1-1 gully connected September 12.

Espanyol La Liga form:

Elche La Liga form:

Team News

Espanyol volition beryllium missing Omar El Hilali connected Friday evening, with the 23-year-old sent disconnected successful the second stages of the team's decision to Rayo Vallecano past clip out.

Meanwhile, Javi Puado, Kike Garcia, Jofre Carreras and Andoni Gorosabel are unavailable for enactment connected Friday nighttime owed to wounded problems.

Bryan Zaragoza and Exposito could some beryllium introduced into the broadside pursuing the decision to Rayo Vallecano, portion El Hilali mightiness beryllium replaced by Jose Angel Lopez.

Due to the comparatively speedy turnaround, Elche caput manager Anselmi is expected to marque changes to the broadside that took to the tract for the archetypal whistle against Real Madrid.

Thomas Lemar, Ruben Sanchez and Fer Nino are each pushing to beryllium introduced into the XI.

Yago Santiago volition again miss retired for Elche owed to a genu issue, portion Adam Boayar is apt to beryllium unavailable for enactment owed to a muscular problem.

Espanyol imaginable starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; J Lopez, Riedel, Cabrera, Hinojo; Gonzalez, Exposito; Hernandez, Zaragoza, Hartman; R Fernandez

Elche imaginable starting lineup:

Dituro; R Sanchez, Redondo, Chust, Revivo; Lemar, Neto, Aguado, Villar, Nino; Osorio

We say: Espanyol 1-1 Elche

Elche tin instrumentality a batch of encouragement from their show against Real Madrid, and we are backing the division's basement broadside to unafraid a stock of the spoils successful this contest.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.