Two teams in the relegation mix in La Liga will lock horns on Saturday afternoon, with Alaves welcoming Espanyol.

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Alaves finished 10th in La Liga last season and have now spent seven of their last eight campaigns in Spain's top flight, with the Basque outfit managing to consolidate at this level of football.

El Glorioso have found it a lot more difficult this term, though, with a total of five wins, seven draws and 12 defeats from 24 matches bringing them 22 points, which is only enough for 19th position in the table.

It is not time to hit the panic button, with Eduardo Coudet's side only one point behind 17th-placed Las Palmas, but they have only picked up two points from their last four league matches, including a 3-3 draw with Leganes last time out.

Alaves have struggled at home this season, picking up just 13 points from 11 matches, but they did record a 2-1 victory over Espanyol when the two teams locked horns in the corresponding match during the 2021-22 campaign.

Earlier this season, Espanyol, who were promoted back to La Liga through the 2023-24 Segunda Division playoffs, ran out 3-2 winners, and the Catalan side have three victories from their last four La Liga matches against Alaves.

Espanyol will enter this match off the back of an impressive result, having held Athletic Bilbao to a 1-1 draw last weekend; Roberto Fernandez made the breakthrough in the 62nd minute, before Oihan Sancet levelled for the top-four hopefuls 15 minutes later.

Manolo Gonzalez's side have 24 points to show from their 24 league matches this season, and they are only one point clear of 18th-placed Valencia, with six teams currently involved in a battle at the bottom.

Espanyol have only actually lost one of their last six in the league, but their away form is a concern, picking up only a point from their last nine fixtures on their travels, with that draw coming away to Sevilla on January 25.

The White and Blues have spent two of their last four seasons in the Segunda Division, so it is a difficult period in their history, and it would be a huge blow if the team suffered yet another relegation this term, having worked so hard to return to the top flight.

Alaves possible starting lineup:

Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Diarra, M Sanchez; Blanco, Jordan; Vicente, Guridi, Alena; Kike Garcia

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

J Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Lozano, Gonzalez; Carreras, Kral, Puado; Fernandez