Small play on Espanyol DNB @ -146 away at Alcorcon...
Never comfortable betting on Espanyol away from home, but I think they should have enough to get at least a draw tonight against an Alcorcon side that don't score many goals. I'm keeping it small due to the fact that Espanyol's away record in the Copa Del Rey has been pretty woeful over past few years winning just 1 out of their last 12 away fixtures in the competition, and they did only manage to draw 2-2 away at Jaen in the last round of the Copa Del Rey (although they were already 2-0 up from 1st leg so didnt need to win the game). Espanyol also have a game against Real Madrid coming up so will have one eye on that, and is why a few regulars like Colotto (13 apps), Simao (15 apps), and Stuani (16 apps, 4 goals) haven't traveled. Young keeper German will also start in goal ahead of Casilla (18 apps), but other than that they will still have a strong side with likes of Victor Sanchez (14 apps, 4 goals), Lanzarote (11 apps), Bifouma (11 apps, 3 goals), Pizzi (12 apps), and top-scorer Sergio Garcia expected to start (Sergio Garcia will definitely start as he is suspended for upcoming Real Madrid game).
Alcorcon are currently in 16th position in Segunda and haven't been doing as well compared to last season when they impressively finished 5th in the play-off spots. The problem this season is that they lost their top-scorer Oriol Riera who contributed 18 goals last season, along with midfielder Nieto (22 apps, 5 goals) and Kike Lopez (29 apps, 4 goals), and consequently have struggled to score goals (lowest in league with 17 and only 8 of those at home). Before their 2-2 draw at home to Barca B this past weekend, Alcorcon had gone 5 home games without scoring, which is in sharp contrast to their away form where they are unbeaten in last 5 games and scored 9 goals. In the last round of the Cup they were beaten 2-0 at home by Granada then pulled off a miracle by beating them 2-0 away in the return leg and then won on penalties so again showed that they are stronger on their travels at moment than at home.
Ultimately, Alcorcon will most likely be the more motivated side as aside from playing at home and wanting to impress against a Primera club, a trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid awaits the winner in the next round.
Never comfortable betting on Espanyol away from home, but I think they should have enough to get at least a draw tonight against an Alcorcon side that don't score many goals. I'm keeping it small due to the fact that Espanyol's away record in the Copa Del Rey has been pretty woeful over past few years winning just 1 out of their last 12 away fixtures in the competition, and they did only manage to draw 2-2 away at Jaen in the last round of the Copa Del Rey (although they were already 2-0 up from 1st leg so didnt need to win the game). Espanyol also have a game against Real Madrid coming up so will have one eye on that, and is why a few regulars like Colotto (13 apps), Simao (15 apps), and Stuani (16 apps, 4 goals) haven't traveled. Young keeper German will also start in goal ahead of Casilla (18 apps), but other than that they will still have a strong side with likes of Victor Sanchez (14 apps, 4 goals), Lanzarote (11 apps), Bifouma (11 apps, 3 goals), Pizzi (12 apps), and top-scorer Sergio Garcia expected to start (Sergio Garcia will definitely start as he is suspended for upcoming Real Madrid game).
Alcorcon are currently in 16th position in Segunda and haven't been doing as well compared to last season when they impressively finished 5th in the play-off spots. The problem this season is that they lost their top-scorer Oriol Riera who contributed 18 goals last season, along with midfielder Nieto (22 apps, 5 goals) and Kike Lopez (29 apps, 4 goals), and consequently have struggled to score goals (lowest in league with 17 and only 8 of those at home). Before their 2-2 draw at home to Barca B this past weekend, Alcorcon had gone 5 home games without scoring, which is in sharp contrast to their away form where they are unbeaten in last 5 games and scored 9 goals. In the last round of the Cup they were beaten 2-0 at home by Granada then pulled off a miracle by beating them 2-0 away in the return leg and then won on penalties so again showed that they are stronger on their travels at moment than at home.
Ultimately, Alcorcon will most likely be the more motivated side as aside from playing at home and wanting to impress against a Primera club, a trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid awaits the winner in the next round.