Espanyol welcomes Valencia as the surprise fourth-placed team in the table, and the Catalans could underline their impressive early form with a win. With ten points from five games, they are just one point behind Villarreal, while Valencia are in mixed form, sitting eleventh with seven points. The Bats have shown two completely different sides: while they have taken seven out of a possible nine points at Mestalla, they have conceded seven goals without scoring any themselves away from home. It is worth noting that the series of direct duels has ended in a draw in each of the last five encounters, most recently in April with a 1-1 draw in Valencia. This statistic could well continue, especially as both teams are in different phases but appear to be evenly matched.
- Venue: RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat
- Date and time: 09/23/2025, 7:00 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 6)
Espanyol form & record check
The Catalans are currently in fourth place in the table with ten points from five games, level on points with Villarreal and just one point ahead of Elche. No one would have expected this record before the start of the season. However, their recent away game at Real Madrid revealed the limits of their upswing: In the 2-0 defeat at the Bernabéu, the offense was largely toothless, with Carlos Romero having to be treated for a bleeding head wound after a rough challenge from Mastantuono. Espanyol had previously shown their class in a spectacular 3-2 win over Mallorca. Despite Pere Milla’s red card in the first half, the team fought back and secured the victory with Kike García’s penalty kick. This mentality characterizes the new Espanyol under Manolo González, who has established a much more aggressive style of play. The team has scored in four of its last five games and conceded just as many goals, with Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández standing out as the most prolific players.
Espanyol are likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, which Manolo González has used successfully recently. As expected, Dmitrovic will be in goal, having made several crucial saves against Mallorca. El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, and Carlos Romero could form the back four, with Romero appearing fit to play despite his head injury against Real Madrid. Urko González de Zárate and Pol Lozano are likely to occupy the central midfield. In the attacking trio, Dolan could continue his strong form after his assist for the 2-0 goal against Mallorca, accompanied by Edu Expósito and Puado behind striker Roberto Fernández.
Valencia Form & Record Check
Valencia is going through a period of extremes: after the bitter 6-0 defeat at FC Barcelona, confidence seemed to be at rock bottom, but the 2-0 home win against Athletic Club showed a different side to the Bats. In their last five league games, the team has recorded two wins, one draw, and two defeats, which is typical for a team in a transitional phase. Their dependence on Mestalla is particularly striking: Valencia has picked up seven out of a possible nine points at home, but has failed to score a single point away from home. Against Athletic, the first half was one to forget, with the fans booing their own team. It was only Daniel Vivian’s red card in the 61st minute that turned the tide, with Baptiste Santamaría and Hugo Duro taking full advantage of the numerical superiority. With seven points, Valencia are in 11th place in the table, level on points with Alavés and just one point ahead of Atlético Madrid. This position is by no means what was expected, but it also shows that the gap to the top is not yet dramatic.
Valencia are likely to line up in their usual 4-4-2 system, which Carlos Corberán has favored in recent weeks. Agirrezabala is set to return in goal despite the heavy defeat at Camp Nou and can play without restrictions against his former club Athletic, as no such clause was included in the loan agreement. In defense, Corberán could rely on the tried-and-tested back four of Foulquier, Tárrega, Diakhaby, and Gayà. In midfield, Diego López and Santamaría are likely to form the central pairing, supported by Javi Guerra and Luis Rioja on the wings, with Santamaría gaining confidence after his goal against Athletic. Up front, Hugo Duro is expected to partner Danjuma.
H2H Espanyol – Valencia Head-to-head & statistics
The record between Espanyol and Valencia is remarkably balanced: the last five encounters have all ended in draws. Both in April 2025 and December 2024, the games ended 1-1, and in all five matches, at least two goals were scored. This series of five consecutive draws is quite extraordinary, with both teams scoring regularly but also conceding goals just as reliably. In four of the five games, at least one goal had already been scored by halftime. The highest-scoring matches were in 2023 and 2022, both ending in 2-2 draws, with Valencia often coming back stronger in the second half, while Espanyol frequently took an early lead. This balance makes it particularly difficult to predict the outcome of the upcoming match.
Under 1.5 goals in the first half looks promising, as Valencia has had quiet first halves in all five league games and Espanyol has conceded only one goal before the break in its last three home games. Both coaches rely on compact defensive blocks in the early stages, with 72% of goals coming after the break. The Catalans’ home win looks solid, especially with Pere Milla returning from suspension and Espanyol winning three of their last four home games. Valencia remain without a goal away from home and have conceded seven goals in two away games. Milla is a riskier option as a goalscorer: the striker has scored twice in his last three appearances and is likely to sense another opportunity against Valencia’s shaky defense.
