Both looking to book their place in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey, Espanyol and top-tier Getafe will meet at Stage Front Stadium on Saturday evening.
The hosts have endured a peculiar run of draws in their league matters of late, while Getafe's form has stumbled following a winning streak.
Match preview
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Espanyol ended the calendar of 2023 by sharing the points at the conclusion of a six-goal thriller against Burgos at Stage Front Stadium in La Liga 2 on December 19, with Sergi Gomez, Javi Puado and former Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite bagging the decisive strikes.
Saturday's hosts have now drawn their last three matches in the league, with their most recent victory coming in the Copa del Rey against fellow second-tier outfit Real Valladolid on December 5, when a brilliant Jofre Carreras brace and Paudo's 96th-minute strike ensured a 3-1 success.
Luis Ramis's side currently sit fifth in the La Liga 2 standings after collecting 34 points from their opening 21 league matches, sitting just three points behind Racing Club de Ferrol in second place.
Apart from playoff rivals Racing Santander, Espanyol have netted the most goals in the second tier so far this campaign, with Puado, Dane Braithwaite and Pere Milla combining for 23 league goals already this term.
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Getafe's four-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on Tuesday night, when Rayo Vallecano arrived in Madrid and escaped with a 2-0 win courtesy of goals either of the half-time whistle from Sergio Camello, who netted his maiden goals of the La Liga term.
Pepe Bordalas's men gave themselves a mountain to climb in the final stages of the contest as they chased down a two-goal deficit, with Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood, Damian Suarez and Juanmi Latasa all receiving their marching orders, meaning the hosts played the last 20 minutes with just eight men.
After finishing 15th in La Liga for three-straight campaigns, Getafe are on course for a better standing this time around, currently lying ninth in the Spanish top flight, a healthy 11 points away from 18th-placed Cadiz and just six points from sixth-placed Real Sociedad, who meet Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League next month.
Getafe have been able to make their Estadio Coliseum a real fortress this season - collecting 18 points from nine home matches - but Saturday's visitors have fared less favourably on their travels, winning just one of their 10 league outings since the start of the campaign.
Team News
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Espanyol could be without the services of Nico Ribaudo on Saturday evening, with the 22-year-old struggling with a shoulder injury sustained in November.
Centre-back Victor Ruiz has only featured in two league matches this term due to a troublesome hamstring issue, and the former Valencia man is a doubt for this weekend's Copa del Rey clash.
Leandro Cabrera has been a stalwart for Espanyol at the heart of the backline this season but could miss out on Saturday due to physical discomfort.
A player who will definitely miss the contest is Getafe's Mauro Arambarri, who is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign because of a cruciate ligament injury.
With Greenwood, Latasa and Suarez all suspended for this match, the likes of Jose Angel Carmona and Turkey international Enes Unal will be pushing for starts.
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
Pacheco; El Hilali, Gomez, Calero, Olivan; Exposito, Aguado, Bare, Puado; Milla, Braithwaite
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Alderete, Djene, Alvarez, Rico; Mata, Milla, Maksimovic, Alena; Unal, Mayoral
We say: Espanyol 1-2 Getafe
Espanyol have been able to pick consistent results in the last few matches, but they will need more than a draw to advance into the next round of the competition.
Getafe had a disastrous match against Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday to kick off 2024, but the visitors should have enough to book their place in the last 16 on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
