RCD Espanyol are looking to get back on track after their latest defeat and find a perfect opportunity to do so against bottom-placed Elche this Friday at the RCDE Stadium. The match, corresponding to the seventh round of La Liga, kicks off at 21:00 local time following an inconsistent start to the season for the pericos.
With seven points from a possible eighteen, the white-and-blue side sit eighth in the table. Their recent run clearly reflects that inconsistency: a win over Osasuna, a draw with Sevilla and three defeats, the most recent being last Sunday's 2-1 loss at Rayo Vallecano. In that match, Espanyol's only goal came from the boots of Roberto Fernández, who, with six goals in six games, is the team's top scorer this campaign.
Previewing a tricky opponent
Elche arrive at Cornellà-El Prat rooted to the bottom of the table with just one point. However, their last outing, a narrow 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid, shows they will not be a pushover. The Espanyol manager will have to cope with the confirmed absence of Jofre Carreras, but can rely on an attacking unit that, led by Fernández, has shown a sharp edge by scoring nine goals in six matchdays. The defence, which has conceded seven, will be looking for greater solidity.
This clash represents a key chance for Espanyol to pick up three points at home and cement their position in the upper-mid section of the standings. A win would allow them to pull away from the relegation spots and move closer to the European places, an objective that seems attainable if they maintain the scoring efficiency shown in Pamplona. The immediate schedule, which you can review on our fixtures page, looks demanding, making points against Elche almost mandatory.
