Espanyol will welcome Real Valladolid to Estadi Cornellà-El Prat in La Liga on Friday. The hosts are in 18th place in the league table with 16 points, one more than 19th-placed Valladolid.
Periquitos are winless in their last four games across all competitions, playing out three draws. They hosted Leganes in their first league match of the year last week and were held to a 1-1 draw. Leandro Cabrera broke the deadlock in the second minute and Seydouba Cissé pulled Leganes level in the 14th minute.
The visitors suffered a 3-2 loss in the Copa del Rey round of 16 to third-tier side Ourense in their first match of 2025 earlier this month. They bounced back with a win in their league meeting against Real Betis last week, as Kike Pérez's second-half strike helped them to a 1-0 home triumph.
Periquitos have seen a drop in form and are winless in their last six games, failing to score in four. Nonetheless, they have suffered just one loss in their last six La Liga home games. They are on a three-game winning streak at home in this fixture, keeping two clean sheets.
Edu Expósito has started from the bench in the last two league games following a lengthy injury spell and is in line to make his first start of the season. Roberto Fernández has completed a loan move from Braga and is likely to start from the bench.
Pucelanos have seen conclusive results in their last nine games, with four wins and five losses. They have won two of their last three games, though both wins were registered at home.
Eray Cömert was injured against Betis last week and will miss the trip to Barcelona. César de la Hoz is likely to secure a move away from the bench and won't feature here.
Both teams have been in poor touch recently and this match should end in a low-scoring draw.
Prediction: Espanyol 1-1 Real Valladolid
Tip 1: Result - Draw
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Both teams to score - Yes