Sporting Gijon will welcome Espanyol to Estadio El Molinon on Sunday evening for the first leg of their Segunda Division playoff semi-final.
There has not much between them during the regular season, with Espanyol finishing fourth in the table, four points above fifth-placed Sporting Gijon, with the two sides now locking horns for a spot in the playoff final.
Match preview
Sporting Gijon have been absent from Spain's top flight since the 2016-17 campaign, and they actually finished 17th in the Segunda Division in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
However, a solid campaign this time around left them in fifth spot in the table, boasting a record of 18 wins, 11 draws and 13 defeats from 42 matches to collect 65 points.
Miguel Angel Ramirez's side ended the regular season in strong form, winning three of their final four matches, including their last two against Eibar and Eldense.
Sporting Gijon have been relatively solid at home this season, picking up 42 points from their 21 matches, but they will be welcoming an Espanyol outfit with the third-best away record in the division.
The Red and Whites beat Espanyol 2-0 when the pair met at Estadio El Molinon earlier this season, and they have only lost one of their last four matches with the Catalan outfit.
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Espanyol's relegation from La Liga last season came as a surprise, but it has been a tricky few years for the club, as they also dropped out of the top flight in 2019-20 before securing an automatic return the following campaign by winning the second tier.
The Catalan club are now bidding to bounce straight back once again, picking up 69 points from their 42 league matches to finish fourth in the table, just three points off second-placed Real Valladolid.
Manolo Gonzalez's side will bring a 16-game unbeaten run into this match, with their last defeat proving to be a 2-0 reverse to Racing Santander towards the start of February.
Too many draws ultimately cost them automatic promotion, but they only lost seven of their 42 league matches in 2023-24, with six of those defeats coming on their travels.
Espanyol will certainly be the favourites to navigate their way through this two-legged semi-final to set up a final appearance against either Eibar and Real Oviedo.
Team News
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Sporting Gijon are likely to be without the services of midfielder Nacho Mendez due to a muscular problem, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape heading into this contest.
Gaspar Campos and Juan Otero have scored 20 times between them this season, and the pair will both feature in attacking positions for the home side on Sunday night.
Uros Durdevic has only managed four goals from the centre-forward spot this term, but he has been a hugely important player, making 39 appearances, and the 30-year-old should again lead the line.
As for Espanyol, Edu Exposito remains on the sidelines due to a ligament problem, while a hamstring issue should again see Omar Sadik miss out this weekend.
Nico Melamed's goal off the bench against FC Cartagena last time out could see the Spaniard come into the XI here, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the final game of the regular season.
Martin Braithwaite has scored 22 times during an excellent campaign, and the 33-year-old is set to lead the line, while there will also be a spot in the side for 14-goal winger Javi Puado.
Sporting Gijon possible starting lineup:
Yanez; Rosas, Insua, Sanchez, Cote; Villalba, Martin, Pier, Campos; Otero, Durdevic
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
J Garcia; Gil, Calero, Cabrera, Milla; Bare, Aguado; S Sanchez, Melamed, Puado; Braithwaite
We say: Sporting Gijon 1-2 Espanyol
Sporting Gijon surely need a positive result on Sunday if they are to stand a chance in the second leg, but we are struggling to look past a very talented Espanyol outfit, backing the visitors to secure a first-leg advantage in this contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
