Espanyol vs Elche — Tips & Analysis

Elche +0.75: Espanyol have lost their attack for this one. Puado is out with a knee problem, Kike Garcia with a hamstring, Jofre with a groin, and El Hilali is suspended after his red card at Rayo. That is a lot of the forward line gone. Espanyol were already quiet at home, scoring just over a goal a game there and letting in less than one. Only 1 of their last 14 games has produced more than three goals, and they have won 4, tied 3 and lost 7 in that run. This is a side that grinds out low scores, not one that wins big. Elche sit bottom, but the table flatters nobody here. Their six league games came against Real Madrid, Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Athletic Club, Racing Santander and Deportivo. They came away with ties at Athletic and at Deportivo. On the road they keep things close, and they have lost by 2 or more in only 2 of their last 15 games. The meetings back that up, with 5 ties in the last 12. A 1-1 is the likely finish, and Elche have a head start on top of that. The risk is that Elche have been opened up lately, including three let in at Racing Santander. A hurting Espanyol side at home could take that apart. We will still take Elche to stay close.