Bottom three relegation squad RCD Espanyol (1-3-2, 5 points) will clash with fourth-running team Villarreal CF (3-0-3, 12 points) in a 2016-2017 La Liga season match on Oct. 2, Sunday at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 12:30 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Espanyol is currently at the 18th place of the 20-team Spanish top flight table after six rounds of competitions. They have lost three games, drawn two, and won just once as head coach Quique Flores's team had struggled on the defensive end of the pitch. Their only win so far came from cellar-dwellers Osasuna, 2-1, during their fifth fixture this term.
Los Periquitos dropped a 0-2 game to middling club Celta Vigo also at their home stadium last Sunday for their second loss in their last three matches, as per SkySports.
The game was scoreless for the whole 90 minutes until Celta Vigo unleashed two late goals with strikes from forward Giuseppe Rossi and midfielder Pione Sisto at the first and third minutes of injury time.
Meanwhile, Villarreal pulled off a 3-1 victory over Osasuna last Sunday at their home ground of Estadio El Madrigal to keep themselves undefeated, SB Nation reported.
Newly-acquired Alexandre Pato, who was coming off an unsuccessful loan spell at Chelsea in the English Premier League, scored the opening goal for head coach Fran Escribá's men right at the fifth minute of the contest with a close-range header.
The lead was quickly doubled by team captain Bruno with a spot kick at the 24th before Italian forward Nicola Sansone made it a 3-0 advantage with a right-footed shot from center box off an assist by teammate Samu Castillejo.
Osasuna was able to score a consolation goal in the first half stoppage time via a penalty kick from midfielder Roberto Torres to enter the halftime break down, 1-3.
Both teams went scoreless in the second half as the it proved to be the final count.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is another 3-1 romp for Villarreal.
Espanyol starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Diego Lopez; Rios, David Lopez, Duarte, Sanchez; Diop, Fuego, Roca; Reyes, Gerard, Baptistao
Villarreal starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Asenjo; Mario, Alvaro, Ruiz, Costa; Castillejo, Trigueros, Bruno, Soriano; Sansone, Pato
Head To Head
Villarreal have lost just 1 of their last 15 games against Espanyol. This fixture was a 2-2 draw last season with Villarreal winning 3-1 at El Madrigal.
Stats
Both teams have scored in all of Villarreal's last 5 games and in 5 of Espanyol's last 7.
Team News
Oscar Duarte is an injury doubt so Diego Reyes could start at centre-back. Leo Baptistao is still struggling with a knock so top scorer Gerard Moreno will continue up front.
Alexandre Pato should partner in-form Nicola Sansone in attack. Cedric Bakambu could feature from the bench though so competition for places up front will increase but this game has come too soon for Roberto Soldado. Few other changes are expected with Villarreal in good form.
