Espanyol vs Alaves 6/13/20 - La Liga Soccer Picks & Predictions

The top-flight league in Spain La Liga returns to action this week following a lengthy break for covid 19 with matchday 28 ready to kickoff.

On Saturday, last place Espanyol hosts 14th place Alaves, as the Periquitos attempt to battle their way out of the relegation zone upon returning to action. Last season Espanyol qualified for Europa League play but this season won just two matches in La Liga play prior to Christmas and manager Pablo Machin was let go just prior to the new year. The change in managers ignited Espanyol as they won two matches and earned draws against Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona yet remain six points adrift of the first place outside of the relegation zone with just 11 matches remaining. Raul de Tomas is the leading goal scorer for Espanyol with four.

Alaves was playing well when La Liga was suspended in March having gone unbeaten in three consecutive matches prior to the break and were seven points clear of the drop zone. Alvaes may have been playing well prior to the break but has had trouble playing at RCDE Stadium having failed to win since 2002. Alaves will have a slight advantage as the number one keeper for Espanyol Diego Lopez will not play after receiving a red card in the final match before the season was suspended. Lucas Perez leads Alaves in scoring with 11 goals while Joselu has scored nine goals but will not play due to being suspended after receiving a red card last time out.

The two sides have played very evenly against one another as Espanyol has seven wins,  Alaves has 7 wins and there have been seven draws inthe 21 matches played between the two. In the most recent match earlier this season the two clubs played to a 0-0 draw at Alaves.