Middlesbrough vs Espanyol - prediction, team news, lineups

Middlesbrough and Espanyol volition proceed their preparations for their caller campaigns erstwhile they fastener horns successful a pre-season affable connected Saturday.

Boro's 2026-27 play starts successful the EFL Cup against Wrexham connected August 7, portion Espanyol volition instrumentality connected Levante successful their La Liga opener connected August 16.

Match preview

Middlesbrough person taken to the tract doubly during pre-season, drafting 1-1 with Celtic connected July 18 earlier suffering a 3-1 decision to Huddersfield Town connected July 25.

Boro are present preparing to play their last affable of the summertime connected Saturday, with the squad opening their 2026-27 run against Wrexham successful the EFL Cup connected August 7.

Kim Hellberg's broadside volition past big Lincoln City successful their archetypal crippled of their caller Championship play connected August 15, and the club's supporters volition beryllium expecting different promotion propulsion this term.

Middlesbrough finished 5th successful the Championship past play to marque the playoffs, but they mislaid 1-0 to Hull City successful the last and are truthful preparing for different run successful the 2nd tier.

Boro person made 5 signings this summer, with the biggest of those being Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur, and a batch is expected from the 21-year-old adjacent season.

Espanyol, meanwhile, person already played 4 pre-season friendlies, beating Olot and Pau FC successful their archetypal 2 matches earlier drafting 1-1 with Sabadell and 2-2 with Burnley past clip out.

The Catalan outfit finished 11th successful Spain's apical formation past season, but their signifier successful the 2nd fractional of the run outgo them a imaginable European finish.

Manolo Gonzalez's broadside volition look Middlesbrough and Coventry City successful their last 2 friendlies of the summertime earlier opening their caller La Liga run against Levante connected August 16.

Espanyol person made 3 signings this summer, with Alex Calatrava, Quilindschy Hartman and Gabriel Moscardo making the determination to the club.

There person besides been 9 first-team departures, portion 3 indebtedness players person returned to their genitor clubs, truthful determination are expected to much incomings earlier the model closes.

Middlesbrough pre-season form:

DL

Espanyol pre-season form:

WWDD

Team News

Lankshear made his debut for Boro successful the clash with Huddersfield past clip out, and the summertime accomplishment is again expected to diagnostic against Espanyol.

Morgan Whittaker was connected the scoresheet past clip retired and should besides beryllium successful the XI, with caput manager Hellberg perchance making wholesale changes connected the hr mark.

There could besides beryllium immoderate minutes for Sebastian Berhalter pursuing his accomplishment from Vancouver Whitecaps.

Espanyol's squad is apt to beryllium akin to the 1 that took to the tract for the archetypal whistle against Burnley past clip out, with Roberto Fernandez acceptable to beryllium among the starters.

There could beryllium an instauration successful the last 3rd of the tract for Kike Garcia, though, with the experienced striker scoring disconnected the seat against the Championship team.

The highly-rated Omar El Hilali should besides beryllium included successful the archetypal XI.

Middlesbrough imaginable starting lineup:

Dieng; Brittain, Edmundson, Jones, Munroe; McGree, Morris, Castledine; Whittaker, Lankshear, Hansen

Espanyol imaginable starting lineup:

Fortuno; El Hilali, Cabrera, Hartman, Riedel; Milla, Exposito, Gonzalez; Jofre, K Garcia, Fernandez

We say: Middlesbrough 2-2 Espanyol

We are expecting an unfastened and entertaining lucifer connected Saturday betwixt 2 teams with a batch of quality, and the spoils could beryllium shared successful a high-scoring draw.

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