After three defeats in last four games, Espanyol will be eager to end the barren run when they host bottom-placed Cordoba on Friday.

Los Blanquiverdes have lost last five league fixtures and they have no choice but to try and record a much needed win at Cornella El Prat.

Over the years, Espanyol established themselves as a genuine mid table side and they have stayed true to their style this season.

Los Periquitos were unable to join the chase for European positions in La Liga, while they clearly have too much quality to go down, although the latest run of results could see them slip in the danger zone.

Espanyol have slipped to ninth in the league standings having lost three of last four matches, and they currently sit just seven points above the bottom three.

The only positive has been their Copa del Rey campaign, where they are in a good position to make it to the final having held Athletic to 1-1 draw in the semi-final first leg at San Mames.

Coach Sergio has received some great news as key attacker Sergio Garcia fully recovered from a knee problem and he is set to start against Cordoba.

And with Espanyol winning four straight home games ahead of the 2-1 loss to Valencia, bear in mind that home win pays 1.62 (5/8).

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Casilla – Javi Lopez, Colotto, Moreno, Duarte – Vazquez, Canas, Sanchez, Montanes – Sergio Garcia, Caicedo.

Almost two thirds into the La Liga campaign, Cordoba sit at rock bottom, five points adrift of safety and there are no doubts that alarm bells are on.

Los Blanquiverdes showed some promise at the start of Miroslav Djukic’s reign, but have been utterly disappointing of late, losing last five league fixtures.

The team face serious problems up front as it has now been over 450 minutes since they scored from an open play, with Nabil Ghilas scoring from the penalty spot at the weekend.

There have been more problems for the relegation strugglers as the likes of Ghilas, Bebe, Krhin and Rossi went on a nigh out after the Valencia defeat and they are now set to be fined by the club.

However, with all four of them starting the last week’s clash, it is not as if coach Miroslav Djukic can afford to leave them out of the Espanyol game.

The visitors are still without midfielder Patrick Ekeng, who serves the final match of his two-game ban, whilst Iago Bouzon is out injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Saizar – Campabadal, Pantic, Crespo, Edimar – Krhin, Rossi – Bebe, Gomez, Heldon – Ghilas.