Espanyol vs Wolverhampton Predictions

• Wolves have only lost 1 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
• Espanyol have only won 1 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
• A draw would be enough for Wolves to progress through to the next round.
• Espanyol need to win 4-0 to take the match into extra time and by 5 clear goals to win in ninety minutes, a task they have only achieved once this season against Ludogorets.

Wolves have set themselves up for a place in the next round after a dominating 1st leg display

A Diogo Joya hattrick helped Wolves on their way to a 4-0 home win against Espanyol last week, effectively putting one foot in the next round for the Premier League club, and now the visitors can play much more conservative in the 2nd leg. Espanyol find themselves bottom of the La Liga table following yet another defeat at the weekend, so survival in the league must take priority over their European adventure.

Wolves head into the 2nd leg as the clear form favourites having won three, drawn two, and lost one of their last six matches, while Espanyol have suffered three defeats, two draws, and only picked up one win during that same period of matches. The hosts have only won once in their own backyard in La Liga so far this season but have drawn four times, while Wolves have only suffered three defeats on the road where they have played out six stalemates.

Espanyol average 0.58 points per home game and Wolves average 1.38 points per away game, so you can see why we have backed a draw between the pair on Thursday. The hosts have drawn 33% of their home games while the visitors have drawn 46% of their trips on the road, which suggests that there is a good chance the pair will play out a draw on Thursday.

Espanyol have picked up four times as many draws at home than wins

The hosts score an average of just 0.92 goals per home game while the visitors score an average of 1.31 goals per away game, and we have backed under 2.5 goals to be scored in Thursday’s clash and for the final scoreline to end 1-1. Under 2.5 goals have been scored in 50% of Espanyol’s home games as well as 54% of Wolves away trips, while both teams have scored in 58% of the hosts’ home matches and 69% of the visitors’ away games.

Espanyol have only kept clean sheets in 8% of their home league games while Wolves have managed to keep their opponents out in 23% of their away trips. Exactly 2-goals have been scored in 33% of Espanyol’s home matches this season, as well as in 31% of Wolves’ away games, adding further weight to our prediction for a 1-1 draw between the pair this Thursday.

We’re confident that under 2.5 goals will be scored in Thursday’s 2nd leg and we have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1 between the pair. Wolves don’t lose many games on the rod and Espanyol certainly don’t win many in their own backyard, and with the Premier League club doing all of the hard work in the 1st leg we expect a more conservative approach from Wolves in Spain as they look to see their way through to the next round with minimal effort and hopefully no injuries or suspensions.