Sabasports Match Preview
La Liga: Espanyol vs Alavés
Kickoff Time: 2026-01-31 04:00 (HKT)
Last season, Espanyol narrowly escaped relegation with a two-point advantage, and this season they have become a “dark horse” in the league. Currently, with a record of 10 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses, they sit fifth in the league standings and have become strong contenders for European competition qualification next season. Espanyol’s impressive performance is bolstered by the support of their new major investor, Velocity Sports Limited. Since their new owner, Alan Pace, is also the chairman of Premier League club Burnley, he has brought in some high-level executives from Burnley to Espanyol. With stable management and resource integration, they are rebuilding Espanyol using the management model and experience of the Premier League. Under the new team’s transformation, Espanyol has abandoned ineffective possession play and established an efficient, quick, and precise counter-attacking system. The team’s counter-attacks are not merely simple long passes; they combine tight defensive organization, quick transitions between attack and defense, and the advantage of speed on the flanks. Experience from veteran players is crucial in Espanyol’s tactics. This season, 36-year-old striker Kike García has experienced a resurgence, contributing 3 goals and 1 assist. Meanwhile, 33-year-old winger Pere Milla has become the team’s top scorer with 6 goals. Both players leverage their extensive match experience to find the right moments and positions to score.
This year marks Alavés’s third season in La Liga, but the club has limited financial resources and has not invested heavily in new signings. After the winter transfer window opened, the team even sold their main winger, Carlos Vicente. This season, Vicente accumulated 1,253 minutes of playing time in the league, scoring against traditional powerhouses like Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid CF, totaling 5 league goals and becoming the team’s top scorer. To strengthen the squad, they brought in Ángel Pérez, who had been playing in the Segunda División. However, Pérez’s performance this season has been mediocre, with only 1 goal and 1 assist in the Segunda. Compared to Vicente, Pérez’s goal-scoring efficiency is notably lower. Thus, after the winter transfer window, Alavés’s overall strength has declined, making them one of the favorites for relegation in La Liga. Currently, among the 20 teams in La Liga, Alavés has a player valuation of only €69.5 million, placing them second from the bottom in the league.
Alavés has struggled with poor away performance, only earning 4 points away from home this season—the lowest points rate in the league. They are currently mired in a 7-match losing streak on the road. Moreover, after selling a core player, team morale has suffered, and the new additions are yet to adapt to the team’s strategies and tactics, making Alavés’s away competitiveness very limited. Facing an Espanyol team that is stronger overall, Alavés is likely to face defeat.
Espanyol’s Last 5 Games: LLDLW
26-01-24 Valencia 3-2 Espanyol
26-01-17 Espanyol 0-2 Girona
26-01-11 Levante 1-1 Espanyol
26-01-04 Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona
25-12-23 Athletic Club 1-2 Espanyol
Alavés’s Last 5 Games: WLWLD
26-01-26 Alavés 2-1 Real Betis
26-01-18 Atlético Madrid 1-0 Alavés
26-01-15 Alavés 2-0 Rayo Vallecano
26-01-10 Villarreal 3-1 Alavés
26-01-05 Alavés 1-1 Real Oviedo
Head-to-Head Record:
25-11-02 Alavés 2-1 Espanyol
25-02-22 Alavés 0-1 Espanyol
24-09-14 Espanyol 3-2 Alavés
22-05-12 Alavés 2-1 Espanyol
21-09-23 Espanyol 1-0 Alavés
Prediction: Espanyol wins at home