Espanyol goalkeeper Diego Lopez. (Photo : Getty Images)
Middling club RCD Espanyol (8-5-8, 32 points) is set to face contending team Real Sociedad (12-7-2, 38 points) at their home field of Cornella-El Prat Stadium on Friday, Feb. 10 as round 22 of the 2016-2017 La Liga season commences.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:45 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Espanyol is on a roll right now with three straight wins following three consecutive winless performances in their previous matches. The team is eighth in the Spanish top flight table at the moment, only three points behind sixth-place squad Villarreal and the final Europa League qualifying berth for next season.
Los Periquitos are coming off a tough 1-0 victory over lowly side Malaga on the road at the La Rosaleda Stadium last Saturday, as per Sofa Score.
Argentine winger Pablo Piatti netted the winning goal for head coach Quique Sánchez Flores' side in the 17th minute with a left-footed shot from outside of the box with the assist coming from Spanish midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad was able to hold back cellar-dwellers Osasuna, 3-2, in their most recent La Liga game last Sunday at their home ground of Anoeta Stadium, Goal reported.
Osasuna forward Kenan Kodro broke the game's deadlock in the 25th minute as the newly-promoted club had a one-point advantage at the halftime break.
Head coach Eusebio Sacristán's side then scored the first three goals of the second half, courtesy of Raul Navas, Carlos Vela, and Juanmi in the 62nd, 72nd, and 77th minutes, to take control of the match.
Osasuna striker Sergio Leon then netted another goal for Los Rojillos in the 79th, but Sociedad denied them the equalizer as time expired.
It was the third win in four games for La Real as the team remained in the fifth spot in the overall standings, only one point behind fourth-running team Atletico Madrid and the final Champions League qualifying berth for next season.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a close 2-1 win by Espanyol.
Espanyol starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Diego Lopez; Navarro, David Lopez, D. Reyes, Martin; Fuego, Jurado; Gullon, J. Reyes, Piatti; Gerard
Real Sociedad starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Rulli; Odriozola, Elustondo, Navas, Berchiche; Prieto, Illarramendi, Granero; Vela, Jose, Oyarzabal
