On Saturday night, Espanyol and Tenerife go head-to-had at the RCDE Stadium in what could be a vital Segunda Division game in the fight for promotion to La Liga.
Espanyol looking to boost automatic promotion hopesThe Catalan team currently sits in third place in the Segunda standings, just a point outside the automatic promotion spots in the Spanish second tier.
A 1-0 win at Real Zaragoza, following two straight draws in the Segunda, extended Espanyol’s unbeaten league run to five games.
The game continued a run of relatively low-scoring outings for Manolo Gonzalez’s team, as their last three Segunda games have produced under 2.5 goals.
The Blanquiazules have been tough to beat of late in the Spanish second tier on home soil, as they are unbeaten in nine league outings at the RCDE, having recorded three wins in their last four home matches.
Espanyol have also been prolific in attack in front of their own supporters, scoring at least two goals in seven of the last nine home league games.
Tenerife’s inconsistency could cost them a play-off spotThe Islanders’ recent inconsistency has seen them drop to 13th place in the table, eight adrift of the promotion play-off spots.
A goalless draw against Huesca last time out means that Asier Garitano’s team has now won just two of their previous 12 outings in the Segunda.
On the other hand, the visitors have been relatively hard to beat in the league, having lost just one of their last five matches.
Tenerife has not travelled well of late, as they are winless in six away games in the Segunda, having picked up just three draws and suffered three defeats.
What am I backing?Both teams are relatively difficult to beat in the Segunda. Espanyol's recent record at the RCDE Stadium tips my prediction in favour of the home win, and I believe the Catalans will come out on top in this encounter.