Espanyol have a record of four wins, four draws and 11 defeats from their 19 league matches this season, which has left them in 18th spot in the division, one point behind 17th-placed Alaves and one point ahead of 19th-placed Real Valladolid.

Manolo Gonzalez's side have the joint-second worst defensive record in the league this season, conceding 31 times in their 19 matches, and that will need to improve in order to stand a chance of avoiding relegation in 2024-25.

The Catalan outfit have actually drawn three of their last four league games, including a 1-1 with Leganes last time out, but they have not been victorious since a 3-1 home success over Celta Vigo at the end of November.

The White and Blues have also lost their last two La Liga matches against Real Valladolid, including a 1-0 reverse earlier this season, but they beat Friday's opponents 2-0 in the corresponding clash in the Segunda Division during the 2023-24 campaign.

Real Valladolid have won four of the last five La Liga meetings between the two teams, although their last top-flight encounter in Barcelona, which occurred in October 2022, was won 1-0 by the home side.

The White and Violets have had a difficult campaign, with a record of four wins, three draws and 12 defeats from 19 matches seeing them collect 15 points, which is only enough for 19th, two points above basement side Valencia.

However, Diego Cocca's team has triumphed in two of their last three league fixtures. In their most recent two home matches, they defeated Valencia and Real Betis by a 1 - 0 scoreline each. This successful run has enabled them to climb out of the bottom position in the league standings.

Real Valladolid have the worst defensive record in the league this season, conceding 37 times in their 19 matches, but it is incredibly encouraging that successive clean sheets have been kept in La Liga games on home soil.

The team's away form this season is a concern, tough, losing eight of their nine league games away from their own stadium, scoring six times and conceding 25, so it is not difficult to work out where their major problems are occurring this season.

Espanyol will once again be without the services of Jose Gragera due to a thigh problem, while Pablo Ramon and Salvi Sanchez will both need to be assessed before it is determined whether they can be involved.

Head coach Gonzalez could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Leganes last time out, with Jofre Carreras and Antoniu Roca likely to continue in the wide areas.

Javi Puado is Espanyol's leading goalscorer this season, finding the back of the net on six occasions in Spain's top flight, and the 26-year-old is set to feature as the centre-forward on Friday night.

As for Real Valladolid, Juanmi Latasa is available again after a suspension, and with no injuries being reported, it is possible that the visitors could have a fully-fit squad to the contest.

Marcos Andre is likely to lead the line, with Raul Moro and Anuar Tuhami featuring in the wide positions, which would leave Mamadou Sylla as an option off the bench for the team currently in 19th spot.

Juma Bah had to be substituted at the interval of the team's clash with Real Betis last time out, but the highly-rated teenager is expected to be available for selection on Friday night.

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

J Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Olivan; Roca, Tejero, Lozano, Kral, Carreras; Puado

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:

Hein; Perez, Bah, Sanchez, Rosa; Perez, Juric, Martin; Tuhami, Andre, Moro