Both Espanyol and Celta Vigo will be looking to return to winning ways when they lock horns in Spain's top flight on Sunday afternoon.

Espanyol will enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad on April 4, while Celta suffered a 2-1 home loss to Real Madrid two days earlier.

Match preview

Espanyol saw a three-game unbeaten run in La Liga come to an end on Monday evening when they lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad, with Alexander Isak netting the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 96th minute.

Having secured a return to La Liga by winning the Segunda Division last term, consolidating back at this level was always going to be the club's number one priority, and they are in no relegation trouble at this stage of the season, currently sitting 12th in the table on 36 points.

The Catalan outfit have won nine, drawn nine and lost 12 of their 30 league games this term, and they have been strong in front of their own supporters, picking up 28 points from 15 matches, recording eight wins in the process.

Vicente Moreno's side suffered a 3-1 loss to Celta in the reverse match earlier this season, though, and they have not actually beaten the Sky Blues in Spain's top flight since September 2017.

Espanyol are only actually two points behind 10th-placed Osasuna, so a top-half finish is certainly achievable, and they would move above Celta with a victory on Sunday afternoon.

Celta, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, with Karim Benzema scoring a brace for the visitors in Vigo.

The result left the Sky Blues in 11th position in the table, boasting the same record as Espanyol, and they will be bidding to make it a league double over Sunday's opponents, having won 3-1 earlier this season.

Celta finished eighth in La Liga last season, but they are eight points off eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao at this stage, so it is difficult to imagine them matching their impressive finish from last term.

Eduardo Coudet's side have picked up 17 points from their 14 away league matches this season, which is the ninth-best record in the league, but they have lost their last two on their travels against Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.

Celta have not actually scored an away league goal since the 2-2 draw with Sevilla on January 22, but their recent record against Espanyol is strong, going unbeaten in their last six games at this level.

Team News

Espanyol will again be without the services of leading goalscorer Raul de Tomas due to a shoulder problem, which should mean that Loren Moron leads the line for the Catalan side.

Manu Morlanes will be available once again following a suspension, though, and there is also expected to be a return between the sticks for Diego Lopez, who was injured last time out.

Morlanes could earn a starting spot in midfield, while Sergi Darder is likely to operate as the number 10, with Javi Puado and Adri Embarba featuring in the wide positions.

As for Celta, Hugo Mallo remains on the sidelines with a knee injury, meaning that Kevin Vazquez is expected to start at right-back for the visitors.

There could also be a change in the final third of the field, with Santi Mina expected to replace Thiago Galhardo, but Iago Aspas is certain to keep his spot in attack.

Celta could otherwise be unchanged from the side that started against Real Madrid, with Nolito, who was on the scoresheet in the clash with Los Blancos, keeping out Franco Cervi.

Espanyol possible starting lineup:
Diego Lopez; Gil, Calero, Cabrera, Pedrosa; Embarba, Morlanes, Herrera, Puado; Darder; Moron

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Dituro; Vazquez, Aidoo, Murillo, Galan; Beltran; Mendez, D Suarez, Nolito; Mina, Aspas

We say: Espanyol 1-1 Celta Vigo

Five of the last six La Liga matches between these two sides have finished level, and we are finding it difficult to separate them once again. Espanyol will again be missing their leading goalscorer, but the home side have enough quality to claim a point against Celta this weekend.

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