🔊 Can the "Palms" prevent the Catalan side from securing their spot in La Liga? The clash between Espanyol and Las Palmas is a must-watch. The fate of the "Parakeets" remains uncertain—a loss could see them relegated to the Segunda Division. For the Canary Islands club, there's nothing to lose—a win in the final round would merely boost fan morale. Let's take a look at the bookmakers' odds: Espanyol to win at 1.35, Las Palmas victory at 9. Our editorial team offers you an insightful prediction, taking into account various statistical trends.

Head-to-Head

📊 Interestingly, neither side holds a clear advantage in their head-to-head matchups. Looking at the last 10 encounters: Espanyol have secured 3 wins, 4 matches ended in draws, and Las Palmas claimed victory 3 times. In the first round of the current La Liga season, Las Palmas triumphed at the "Gran Canaria" with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a decisive strike from Sandro Ramirez.

Espanyol Barcelona Team Overview

🔴 A run of five consecutive defeats has plunged Espanyol back into the relegation battle. Currently, the "Parakeets" sit just 2 points above the danger zone. In their last La Liga outing, Manolo Gonzalez's side suffered a setback at El Sadar (0-2), failing to create enough threats in the opposition's box. With an xG of 0.89, the Catalans didn't even muster a goal. However, at Cornella-El Prat, Espanyol have been fairly solid, collecting 27 points from 18 games, ranking them 10th in the league.

❗ Javier Puado is Espanyol's indispensable and most dangerous player. This season, the 26-year-old forward has scored 11 goals and provided 3 assists. He is also among the most frequent shooters in his team, averaging 2.12 shots per game. Let's note his personal xG and xA stats: 11.12/2.42. Even with a five-match streak without goal contributions, Puado remains an effective spearhead in their attack.

Las Palmas Team Overview

🟡 Las Palmas have officially lost any chance of survival, making the final round of La Liga a mere formality. They've suffered five consecutive defeats, highlighting their defensive struggles—conceding an average of 1.59 goals per match, ranking them 19th in the league. Their away performance hasn't been much better, with just 15 points from 18 games, placing them 15th in the league.

❗ Sandro Ramirez has been exceptional this season. He poses the greatest threat in the upcoming match. The 29-year-old forward has scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists in 32 league appearances. Interestingly, his expected goals tally is significantly lower at 4.3. Nonetheless, Ramirez stands out as one of the team's leaders in average shots per game, with 2.32 attempts.

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Espanyol Barcelona

🎙 After yet another setback at El Sadar, Manolo Gonzalez commented on the situation: "The players are deeply affected by the loss, but they have the mentality to win the final match, just as we did last year. Against all odds. We are in control of our destiny, and that's what matters most. We've shown we can win any game because the team gives everything on the pitch, both physically and emotionally. There are times when things don't go your way, and today was one of those days. Football is about efficiency. You need to succeed, and today we didn't. Now it's time to prepare for the most crucial match of the season."

📝 The upcoming transfer window will see fierce competition for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. The Spaniard has been a true revelation this season, leading the league with an average of 3.84 saves per game. Many top European clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, are interested in the services of the 24-year-old keeper.

❌ One of the key losses for the Parakeets will be the absence of Marash Kumbulla due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Meanwhile, José Catalá (knee injury) and Brian Oliván (calf injury) remain sidelined.

Las Palmas

🎙 Diego Martinez after the 0-1 loss to Leganes: "It's tough to break down a game like this. We started off fairly well, but after conceding the goal, things quickly unraveled, and we couldn't play the way we wanted. We tried. The past few days have been hard on our spirits. We always aim to win when we step onto the pitch, but conceding early makes it emotionally challenging. We have great respect for our opponents, and we'll certainly fight for victory on Sunday. The debuts of Sergio Viera and Diego Martin are rewards for the hard work they've put in throughout the year."

📝 This summer, Las Palmas will undoubtedly lose Fabio Silva, their top scorer this season. There have been persistent rumors about the 22-year-old forward's move to Atletico Madrid. Allegedly, Diego Simeone sees the Portuguese player as a replacement for the departing Angel Correa. The "Rojiblancos" will reportedly need to shell out at least €20 million for the potential transfer.

❌ Las Palmas currently have Fabio Silva (hamstring injury) and Kirian Rodriguez (illness) sidelined. Additionally, Jose Campana is set to miss the next match due to suspension.

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

Interestingly, Las Palmas have frequently resorted to rough play this season, averaging around 2.9 fouls per game. In comparison, Espanyol's figure stands at 2.3. In their head-to-head encounters, Las Palmas also hold a significant advantage in this aspect, with 3.3 against 2.5. We lean towards Las Palmas claiming victory in the yellow card count.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Both clubs have struggled with scoring efficiency this season: Espanyol average 1 goal per game, while Las Palmas notch 1.1. Their head-to-head clashes are not known for high scoring either, with around 2.3 goals per match. Notably, in 6 of Espanyol's last 8 games this season, there have been no more than 2 goals. A similar trend is observed in 5 of Las Palmas' last 6 matches. We suggest betting on under 3 total goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Las Palmas typically outperform Espanyol in corner kicks during their head-to-head matchups, with a ratio of 4:5 compared to 3.9. This season, the Canary Islands team also enjoys more corners, averaging 4.2 against Espanyol's 3.8. Based on these insights, a reasonable bet is Las Palmas to win on corners with a (+3.5) handicap.

For Espanyol, this is a survival match, and given their current form, they will do everything to play cautiously and secure crucial points. Most of the recent matches involving the Catalans have been low-scoring affairs, and the same can be said for Las Palmas. Our primary pick is under 3 goals total.