LEAGUE: SPANISH LA LIGA
VENUE: Cornella - El Prat (RCDE STADIUM)
KICK OFF : 2245HRS GMT+ 3
This is expected to be a fierce clash between the two Spanish sides.
Las Palmas are one of the most impressive teams to watch play in La Liga.
They play good football; they score plenty of goals.Away from home, they are poor defensively, and Espanyol should be able to exploit that fully to their good.
Las Palmas has conceded 2.25 goals per game on average away from home this season. Thus losing 67%of their matches on the road.
They seem to have adopted a certain single style of play and even when they were leading 3-1 at the Bernabeu last week; they continued to send their players forward to look for more goals.They eventually ended up paying the price by drawing 3-3 in a match where they could have defended their lead and won.
Osasuna, the bottom club, scored two goals against them at the weekend and missed a chance for scoring the 3rd goal, so it’s clear that defensively they have issues which are yet to be fixed.
Espanyol is enjoying a good season.They carry an attacking threat enough to exploit Las Palmas problems. They’ve scored 1.62 goals per game on average at home and have scored three goals in 3 of their last four home games in La Liga. That includes a win over a strong Sevilla side, so they have no reason to fear a team which has a poor away record like Las Palmas.
Espanyol has several players who could be a threat for Las Palmas. Pablo Piatti is a real danger.He scores and creates plenty of chances, but their biggest goal threat is likely to Gerard Moreno. He is in fine form with double figures for the season now and has netted in 4 of his last ten league appearances.
Las Palmas have conceded two or more goals in many of their away matches in all competitions this season. Given Espanyol are quite high at home, I am backing Espanyol to score over 1.5 goals
HEAD TO HEAD.
Espanyol has won their last three home games against Las Palmas.
STATS
Las Palmas have not ket a clean sheet in 18 matches on the road Espanyol has scored exactly three goals in thirty one percent of their home matches this season.
TEAM NEWS
ESPANYOL.
Marc Navarro and Victor Sanchez are injured.
LAS PALMAS
Roque Mesa and Marko Livaja are suspended. Few changes are expected.
PREDICTIONS
Espanyol Over 1.5 Team Goals @ 1.30
Espanyol to win @ 2.30
Halftime draw is also a good bet @ 2.20
RESULTS
ESPANYOL 4-3 LAS PALMAS
2/3 WON
