On Tuesday night, Espanyol and Celta Vigo take a break from La Liga’s relegation battle as the pair clash in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey.
Fresh from a hard-earned 1-1 draw at city-rivals Barcelona at the weekend, Espanyol takes a break from battling for points at the wrong end of the Spanish top-flight table. The Catalonia outfit is just a point outside the relegation zone after a winless run of six games in La Liga.
Preparados para lo que viene 💪 pic.twitter.com/ZatOI4XI5l— RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol) January 2, 2023
Preparados para lo que viene 💪 pic.twitter.com/ZatOI4XI5l
The Copa del Rey has actually brought some cheer to everybody involved with Espanyol of late, as they have won their last two games in the competition without conceding a goal at Rincon and Atletico Paso.
In fact, Espanyol has been difficult to beat in the competition, as they have lost just once in their previous six matches in the Copa del Rey.
They have an inconsistent recent home record in the Copa, though, as they have won three, lost two and drawn one of their previous six home games in the competition.
Like their hosts, Celta’s main priority this season is to avoid relegation to the Segunda after another poor start to a season in the Spanish top flight.
Celta are currently level on points with Espanyol in the table and perilously close to the drop zone, just a point above 18th place Sevilla in the Spanish top-flight table.
Celta has a decent recent record in the Copa del Rey, winning three of their last five games in the competition over 90 minutes and another in extra time.
On their travels, the visitors have scored at least two goals in three of their last five matches in the Spanish top flight.
With little between the two teams in La Liga, it is of little surprise that Forebet predicts that the game will produce a low-scoring draw after 90 minutes.