Soccer January 30, 2026

This is exactly the kind of match that defines a La Liga season for clubs at the wrong end of the table. Espanyol (10-4-6, 34 points) welcome Alaves (5-4-11, 19 points) to RCDE Stadium in what amounts to a six-pointer for the Catalan side's survival hopes. The Periquitos find themselves in an unusual position, sitting comfortably in mid-table after years of flirting with relegation, but a run of poor form has suddenly made their situation feel less secure than the standings might suggest. Back-to-back defeats, including a cruel 3-2 loss to Valencia last time out, have the home fans nervous heading into February.

Here's what makes this interesting from a betting perspective: Espanyol own a dominant 5-2 record against Alaves in their last seven meetings, yet they're coming off consecutive losses while Alaves have actually won two of their last three. The Basque visitors arrive in Barcelona with something resembling confidence for the first time all season, even if their overall record screams relegation fodder. Their away form has been catastrophic, with seven consecutive road defeats painting a picture of a team that simply cannot compete outside of Mendizorroza. That's the fundamental tension in this match, an in-form but away-allergic Alaves against a struggling but historically dominant Espanyol.

The -132 moneyline on Espanyol feels about right given the circumstances. The home side desperately need three points to avoid getting sucked into a dogfight they thought they'd escaped, and RCDE Stadium should provide the necessary atmosphere to drag a performance out of a squad that's looked mentally fragile in recent weeks. Alaves manager Luis Garcia Plaza knows his side can play, they've shown that in flashes at home, but translating that to the road has been virtually impossible. The Babazorros have scored just 7 goals in 10 away matches this season, a number that tells you everything about their attacking limitations when the crowd isn't behind them.

The total of 3.0 goals feels appropriately conservative for a relegation-level encounter where both teams will be tight and neither can afford to take risks. Espanyol's home matches have averaged 2.4 goals this season, and while they've been involved in some open affairs, the pressure of this situation likely keeps things cagey early. Look for Espanyol to control possession without creating clear chances, while Alaves sit deep and hope to catch something on the break. If the home side can't find an early goal, this could easily turn into a frustrating afternoon where the draw becomes the most likely outcome. That said, Espanyol's quality should tell eventually, their squad is simply better than what Alaves can muster away from home.