Do the Periquitos bring their home strength to the pitch?
As a promoted team, Espanyol Barcelona first had to find their feet in La Liga, which the Catalans have done impressively so far. The Periquitos earned 26 points in the first half of the season, which puts them in a secure mid-table position. The gap to the first relegation spot, currently occupied by today’s guests from Elche, is already ten points.
It would be important for the visitors from the autonomous region of Valencia to get something to show for their efforts in Catalonia after three league games in a row without a win. The bookmakers, at least, think that the Franjiverdes have only a slim chance of doing so. In the run-up to the match between Espanyol Barcelona and Elche, the odds are clearly leaning in the direction of the home side.
The momentum of both clubs is also important. Espanyol have won six of their last seven home games, while the visitors from Elche have had little to show for their efforts away from home. The Franjiverdes have lost seven of their ten away games in La Liga so far.
Accordingly, the favourite bet can be played in this match, which is why we recommend tip 1 for Espanyol Barcelona against Elche. An interesting option is to place this bet as a free bet using a voucher, in order to minimise the risk considerably.
Espanyol Barcelona – Statistics & current form
Between 1994 and 2020, the Spanish traditional club Espanyol Barcelona was consistently represented in La Liga. As sixth in the eternal table of the country’s highest division, however, they then went into the second division, from which the Periquitos were able to free themselves directly in the first year.
With the second division championship title, RCDE immediately returned to La Liga, where the club would like to stabilise itself in its first year of transition. At least the first half of the season brought few problems to light in this mission.
Won six of the last seven home games
With 26 points from the first 19 league games, the first international starting place is currently much closer than the first relegation place. Vicente Moreno’s team can go into the next matchday with the confidence of Elche, a club that is in acute danger of relegation.
The Periquitos will also be looking to build on their recent home record. The Catalans won six of their last seven home games in league play before bidding farewell to a thoroughly successful 2021 with a 2-1 away win at Valencia on 31 December.
Only scored more than one own goal in five of their last 18 league home games
One possible reason for the current success is certainly to be found in the generally stable defence, which has conceded just 22 goals in 19 league games. On the other hand, there is still room for improvement in the offensive, which has only scored 22 goals of its own.
Although the Periquitos go into the first league home game of the new year with a basic home strength, RCDE have actually scored more than one goal of their own in only five of the last 18 games at the RCDE Stadium. In addition to tip 1, betting on a not too high-scoring match at Espanyol Barcelona against Elche is therefore also under a favourable star.
Predicted line-up of Espanyol Barcelona:
López – Pedrosa – Cabrera – Gómez – Vidal – Melamed – Darder – Bare – de Tomas – Embarba – Morón
Last matches played by Espanyol Barcelona:
LaLiga
01/10 2022 – Espanyol 1 – 2 Elche
Copa del Rey
01/04 2022 – Ponferradina 1, 1 – 1, 3 Espanyol
LaLiga
12/31 2021 – Valencia 1 – 2 Espanyol
12/17 2021 – Celta Vigo 3 – 1 Espanyol
Copa del Rey
12/14 2021 – CD Palencia Cristo Atletico 1 – 2 Espanyol
Elche – Statistics & current form
Elche Club de Fútbol just barely held on to 17th place in the final table in the summer of 2021, securing the right to compete in La Liga for the second year in a row. Overall, this is the 23rd season of the team from the autonomous region of Valencia in Spain’s top flight.
However, the men from Spain’s east coast are currently in acute danger of relegation. After 19 games, the Franjiverdes are only in 18th position and are just below the bottom of the table.
The second most away defeats in La Liga
The final tally will only be made after another 19 matchdays. However, it is already clear that the East Spaniards will have to improve considerably, as they have only managed to win three times in league play so far. In the last three league games alone, only one of nine possible points was scored.
The potential for improvement, especially away from home, is enormous. In ten games away from home, there have already been seven defeats for the Franjiverdes, who have not yet been able to find their feet under coach Francisco Rodríguez, who was appointed at the end of November. Only Levante have lost more away games so far in the 2021/22 season.
Averaging not one goal scored per league game
The main reason for the lack of success of the players from Spain’s east coast can also be found in their lack of offensive penetration. With only 18 goals from 19 league games, the average is not even one goal per game. Top scorer Lucas Boyé has only scored a disappointing five goals.
Because of their weakness away from home, coupled with their lack of goalscoring talent, the Franjiverdes will travel as underdogs.
Predicted line-up of Elche:
Badia – Mojica – Bigas – Roco – Palacios – Fidel – Gumbau – Mascarell – Morente – Pastore – Carrillo
Last matches played by Elche:
LaLiga
01/10 2022 – Espanyol 1 – 2 Elche
Copa del Rey
01/06 2022 – Almeria 1 – 2 Elche
LaLiga
01/02 2022 – Elche 0 – 0 Granada
12/18 2021 – Barcelona 3 – 2 Elche
Copa del Rey
12/15 2021 – Unionistas de Salamanca 0 – 1 Elche
Espanyol Barcelona – Elche Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 17 – 11 – 14
There have been a total of 42 meetings between the two teams so far and Espanyol Barcelona lead the head-to-head comparison with 17 wins. Recently, however, things have not gone so well for the Catalans against the Franjiverdes. Elche have remained unbeaten in their last three encounters and also managed to hold the Periquitos to a 2-2 draw in their first-round match on 23 October 2021.
Espanyol Barcelona – Elche Tip
For Espanyol Barcelona against Elche, the prediction has to take into account that the Catalans have become a real power, especially at home. The promoted team has won six of its last seven home games in La Liga and has been very stable, especially defensively. The home side are therefore the clear favourites against the offensively ineffective East Spaniards.
After all, the visitors from Elche have only won one of their ten league games away from home and have suffered the second most away defeats in La Liga, so tip 1 is very coherent overall.
Espanyol Barcelona vs Elche betting odds of 1.90 are available for a home win for the Catalans.
