Espanyol vs. Sevilla - prediction, team news, lineups

Preview

Espanyol will entertain Sevilla at the RCDE Stadium on Friday evening in their second La Liga match of the new campaign.

Espanyol opened their 2022-23 campaign with a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo on the road last weekend, while Sevilla suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Osasuna.

Team News

Espanyol will again be without the services of Adrià Pedrosa, Keidi Bare, and Gori for the clash with Sevilla, but the Catalan outfit are not expected to have any fresh injury concerns.

Head coach Diego Martinez is likely to make changes from the side that started against Celta, with Joselu and Martin Braithwaite potentially coming into the XI.

As for Sevilla, Yassine Bounou, Karim Rekik, Marcos Acuna, Tecatito Corona, Erik Lamela, and Thomas Delaney are all out through injury.

Jesus Navas is also unlikely to be available for the trip to Catalonia, but Ivan Rakitic could return to the starting lineup after featuring as a substitute against Osasuna.

Lineups

Espanyol possible starting lineup: Alvaro; Gil, Gomez, Cabrera, Olivan; Darder, Souza, Exposito; Puado, Joselu, Braithwaite Sevilla possible starting lineup: Dmitrovic; Montiel, Nianzou, Gudelj, Telles; Jordan, Fernando, Rakitic; Suso, En-Nesyri, Mir

Prediction

Espanyol performed well in their opener against Celta and will fancy their chances of picking up a positive result in front of their own supporters on Friday.

However, Sevilla will be desperate to bounce back from their defeat to Osasuna, and they have a strong squad despite their injury problems.

We fancy Sevilla to edge a close contest, with the visitors potentially winning 2-1 at the RCDE Stadium.