Manolo González, the head coach of RCD Espanyol, has confirmed the starting lineup for today’s match against Alavés, set to kick off at 16:15 hours. Espanyol, currently fifth in the league standings with 18 points, will face off against the thirteenth-placed Alavés, who are trailing by six points.
In the lead-up to the match, González emphasized the importance of avoiding costly mistakes, stating that “errors against Alavés will be very expensive.” He has made two significant changes to the team that secured a 1-0 victory over Elche last Saturday. Notably, Antoniu Roca will make his first start of the season, while Kike García will return to Vitoria, taking Roberto Fernández’s place on the bench. Charles Pickel has also been dropped, allowing Jofre Carreras to maintain his position.
The expected formation for Espanyol is a 4-2-3-1, comprising Dmitrovic in goal; a defense featuring Rubén Sánchez, Riedel, Cabrera, and Carlos Romero; a midfield duo of Pol Lozano and Edu Expósito; and an attacking line including Jofre Carreras, Pere Milla, Antoniu Roca, and Kike García, who previously scored a double against Atlètic Lleida.
On the side of Alavés, the starting players will include Sivera; Jonny, Tenaglia, Parada, and Youssef in defense; Antonio Blanco in midfield; and an attacking front consisting of Calebe, Denis Suárez, Aleñá, Lucas Boyé, and Toni Martínez, with Carlos Vicente starting on the bench.
Fans are eager to see how both teams perform in this clash, with Espanyol looking to secure their position in the upper half of the table while Alavés aims to climb closer to mid-table safety. The outcome of this match could play a crucial role in shaping the trajectories of both teams moving forward in the season.