La Liga Preview: Espanyol - Getafe

Espanyol face Getafe on Sunday for the third time this season. The hosts have yet to defeat Los Azulones, but will that change this weekend?

Nov 21, 2009 12:29:28 PM

More On :  Espanyol, Getafe, Raúl Tamudo Montero, Roberto Soldado, Espanyol vs Getafe
Roberto Soldado, Getafe-Athletic (Marca)
Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 November 2009, 17:00 CET - Estadi Cornella-El Prat, Catalonia

Out Of The Cup And Into The Fire

Heading down in the league and most certainly out of the Spanish cup, Espanyol have a crisis on their hands. Just as the Periquitos started to gain some momentum after a poor start to the season, they have failed to record a win in their last five games.
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Sitting ninth in La Liga, the Barcelona-based club are struggling to find the net, meaning Mauricio Pochettino, who finds his team in a state of free-fall, has the unenviable task of getting to the core of his side's problems and fixing them before they find themselves fighting to stay in the top-flight.

That said, Getafe were the perpetrators behind Espanyol's exit from the cup and, with this being the third time the teams have met this season coupled with a home advantage, the Catalonian fans will hope that their side is now well equipped enough to finally see off El Geta and get things moving again.

Flying High

Putting aside a recent surprise defeat at home to Deportivo La Coruna, things are looking good for Getafe. Brushing aside Espanyol to progress in the Copa del Rey, Michel's men have only 20th placed La Liga side Malaga to square up to in the next stage - a challenge in which los Azulones are sure to prevail.

Always striving for a bit of positive continuity, Getafe coach Michel seems to be doing the best he can with the tools at hand. Slowly but surely taking his team up the table with some great home results, and looking forward to what should be a good run in the Copa del Rey, confidence in the Geta camp will be riding high.

With a positive aura in the dressing room, Sunday's visitors will feel that they are the favourites to come out on top as they take to the pitch at Estadi Cornella-El Prat. Facing a poorly performing Espanyol side that they have recently defeated over two legs, fans will hope that Michel can use this match as an opportunity to build on their team's away results.

FORM GUIDE

Espanyol

Nov 11 Espanyol 1-1 Getafe (Copa del Rey)

Nov 08 Sporting Gijon 1-0 Espanyol (Primera Division)

Nov 01 Espanyol 1-1 Real Valladolid (Primera Division)

Oct 28 Getafe 2-0 Espanyol (Copa del Rey)

Oct 24 Sevilla 0-0 Espanyol (Primera Division)

Getafe

Nov 11 Espanyol 1-1 Getafe (Copa del Rey)

Nov 07 Getafe 0-2 Deportivo La Coruna (Primera Division)

Oct 31 Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe (Primera Division)

Oct 28 Getafe 2-0 Espanyol (Copa del Rey)

Oct 25 Getafe 2-0 Athletic Bilbao (Primera Division)

TEAM NEWS

Espanyol

A casualty from the first Copa del Rey clas with Geta, Fernando Marques' hamstring injury continues to prevent him from being available for selection. Marques will not be alone though, as Coro's injury crisis continues.

Probable Starting XI: Alvarez - Garcia, Pareja, Roncaglia, Pillud - Nakamura, I. de la Pena, Moises Hurtado, Garcia - Raul Tamudo, Alonso

Getafe

Jordi Cordina, Manu del Moral and Fabio Celestini joined David Cortes in training this on Friday morning, three of the four players hopeful that they will be included in Michel's starting line up on Sunday. Celestini, however, is rumoured to have aggravated his right ankle problem during the previous game in the Copa del Rey and may need more time to recover.

Probable Starting XI: Ustari - Mane, Cata Diaz, Mario, Torres - Galivan, Boateng, Parejo, Pedro Leon - Soldado, Albin

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Espanyol

Taking over from the untimely death of Dani Jarque, former captain Raul Tamudo's recent spats with club chairman Sanchez Llibre have become the new focus of the club's media attention. The 32-year-old's supposed unrest has sparked interest from clubs such as Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur amongst others, leaving the striker with everything to prove before the season is out.

Getafe

Linking up beautifully with 'keeper Jordi Codina during the last game to bag his fifth goal of the season in all competitions, Roberto Soldado seems to have found his feet once more. Impressively chasing down the goalie's punt whilst shrugging off two defending Periquitos before coolly shooting past Alvares, fans are hoping there's plenty more where that came from regarding the former Real Madrid man.

PREDICTION

Regardless of Espanyol's poor recent performances, the Catalonians are always a threat and Getafe will be all to aware of that fact. With both teams playing for their own reasons, the Periquitos need to get back on the horse and El Geta need to work on their away performances, there might not be enough weight on either side to tip the scales in their favour.

Espanyol 1-1 Getafe
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