Espanyol – Alaves

Espanyol host Alavés in what promises to be a decisive clash in the top half of the table, with the Catalans sitting eighth on seven points after two wins, a draw and two defeats, and a modest 8‑5 goal tally. Alavés arrive in the city in third place, boasting ten points from three victories, a draw and a single loss, and a superior 11‑5 record that underlines their attacking edge. The gap between the sides is narrow enough that a win could propel Espanyol back into the European race, while Alavés will look to consolidate their position and keep the pressure on the leaders. Both teams will be keen to improve their head‑to‑head record this season, turning a routine league fixture into a potential turning point for their campaigns.