Espanyol are hunting momentum and survival in equal measure as they eye a third consecutive La Liga victory when Getafe roll into town on Friday night. The RCDE Stadium will be bouncing, and the home side — perched nervously in 15th place — know that another win could put real distance between themselves and the relegation scrap.
Fresh from a commanding 2-0 triumph over Celta Vigo, Espanyol are beginning to show signs of life at just the right moment. Confidence is creeping back, and with the crowd behind them, the Catalans will fancy their chances of continuing their late-season surge.
Getafe, meanwhile, arrive licking their wounds after being outclassed 3-1 at home by Las Palmas — a result that halted their push for a top-half finish. They’ve been inconsistent on the road, and their form has begun to falter just when it matters most.
History, however, doesn't offer Espanyol a free pass. In their last six clashes across all competitions, Getafe have claimed three wins — a reminder that this is no easy fixture, even for a team on the rise.
Espanyol find themselves finally breathing easier, six points clear of the drop zone with 35 on the board — a position that seemed far out of reach just a few short weeks ago. Getafe, meanwhile, are sitting a little prettier on 39 points, just four behind seventh place and still dreaming of a surprise push for European qualification.
After spending most of the season staring into the abyss, Espanyol have clawed their way back into contention with a gritty revival. Their latest triumph — a confident 2-0 win away at Celta Vigo — marked their second La Liga win in a row and solidified a sense of belief that had been missing for far too long.
Since Manolo González stepped up from the B team to replace Luis García, who departed for Qatar last summer, it’s been a slow and often painful rebuild. But now, under González’s no-nonsense guidance, the Catalan outfit have started to show resilience, discipline, and the kind of fight that survival demands.
They'll have to navigate Friday night’s test without a few key names. Jose Gragera and Brian Oliván are both sidelined through injury, while influential wide man Javi Puado misses out through suspension after picking up a costly yellow card against Celta.
Even so, the core of the side that got the job done last weekend is expected to remain intact — with one likely tweak. Alex Král could be drafted in to fill Puado’s shoes out wide, as Espanyol look to maintain their shape and momentum.
And all eyes will be on Roberto Fernández, the on-loan forward from Braga, who has been a revelation in attack. With five goals in just 11 appearances — including a deadly double last time out — the 22-year-old is fast becoming the hero Espanyol didn’t know they needed. Expect him to lead the charge again, in what could be another defining night in their late-season turnaround.
ESPANYOL predicted lineup vs GETAFE: J Garcia (GK); El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Gonzalez, Lozano; Roca, Exposito, Kral; Fernandez.
Getafe’s European dream is still flickering — just — and seven wins from 13 league matches in 2025 shows that José Bordalás’ side has found a gear many didn’t expect. But just as momentum was building, Las Palmas arrived last weekend and flipped the script with a shock 3-1 win in the capital, halting Getafe’s charge and serving up a painful reminder that consistency is everything in the final stretch.
Still, all is far from lost. Getafe’s away form has been nothing short of phenomenal, with six wins from their last seven road trips in La Liga — a record that would make even the league's heavyweights take notice. If they can shake off the Las Palmas stumble and tap back into their travelling magic, the push for Europe remains firmly on.
Under the fierce and tactical mind of Bordalás, Getafe continue to defy expectations — scrappy, aggressive, and incredibly difficult to break down. The squad may be light on depth, but it’s high on discipline and bite, making them one of the more frustrating sides to play against in Spain’s top flight.
They’ll be without Diego Rico this Friday after his red card in last weekend’s defeat, but otherwise the squad is in good health. Changes are expected, though. Defensive warrior Djené Dakonam is in line for a return and could slot in at right-back, pushing Juan Iglesias across to the left. Juan Bernat is likely to make way, and there could also be a shakeup further forward, with the dynamic duo of Coba and Borja Mayoral ready to be unleashed.
Mayoral, in particular, has been a beacon for Getafe in attack this season — a player who can pop up at any moment and tilt the game in his side’s favour. And with Getafe’s European hopes hanging in the balance, don’t expect this gritty team to go quietly.
GETAFE predicted lineup vs ESPANYOL: Soria (GK); Dakonam, Duarte, Alderete, Iglesias; Terrats, Milla, Arambarri, Coba; Mayoral, Uche.
Getafe's away form has been outstanding, with six wins from their last seven league trips, and they’ll fancy their chances of another big result on Friday. But Espanyol are resurgent under Manolo González, with back-to-back wins and growing confidence.
Both teams have won three of their last six in La Liga, and with plenty on the line — survival for one, Europe for the other — this should be a tight, tense clash. A draw feels likely, but neither side will settle for it easily.
Prediction: Draw.
