Espanyol vs Deportivo Alaves prediction 30.01.2026 | La Liga

Espanyol’s return to the top flight in 2023-24 feels further back than it really is. Last season was about scraping by, finishing just two points clear of trouble.

This year has been a different story. Manolo González has them fifth and looking organised, if not always fluent. The recent run has been hard to ignore.

Four games without a win, three defeats, and a back line that has now leaked goals in five straight outings. That 3–2 loss at Valencia felt like the tipping point. Too loose at the back, especially when the game was there to be managed.

Home, however, has a way of settling Espanyol down. Four of their last five wins over Alavés have come at the RCDE Stadium, and this ground has often been where momentum is rebuilt.

Pere Milla, already on six league goals, should line up again with Roberto Fernández, who keeps chipping in without much fuss. Javi Puado is still a long way from returning, but at least González does not have any suspensions to juggle.

Alavés have been living on the edge for a while now. Promotion in 2023 was followed by a respectable tenth place finish, yet last season’s slide to 15th felt like a warning.

Eduardo Coudet’s side sit there again, 22 points from 21 games.

The 2-1 win over Betis last weekend halted a worrying slide, but the road form still tells a grim story. Seven straight away defeats. No goals in four of those. Recent trips to Barcelona have not helped either.

Toni Martínez and Lucas Boyé are expected to continue together up front, both sitting on four league goals. With no fresh injuries picked up last time out, Coudet is likely to keep faith in the same eleven.