Leganes host Granada in a relegation six-pointer to kick off Saturday’s action in La Liga Week 26 as Fran Escriba faces former mentor Quique Sanchez Flores.
Three wins in five games have fired Granada to within just a point of safety and two of Leganes, but they have yet to triumph away from home this season.
The Madrid minnows’ last victory at Butarque was a 4-0 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna, that led to Gaizka Garitano losing his job.
However, Lega had not won in 13 matches before that and were beaten 1-0 by Valencia in the midweek round.
Granada will be without injured trio Artem Kravets – their joint-top goalscorer – Dimitri Foulquier and Mathieu Saunier, plus the suspended Gaston Silva and Uche Agbo.
Leganes, for their part, are missing Jon Serantes, Mamadou Kone, Omar Ramos, Robert Ibanez and David Timor.
La Ceramica, meanwhile, sees former colleagues Escriba and Sanchez Flores lock horns.
Escriba was Sanchez Flores’ assistant in the latter’s first spell at Getafe, plus at Valencia, Benfica and Atletico Madrid.
Villarreal have regained their form after two wins and a draw, but so have Espanyol, who have picked up four points out of a possible six.
The Yellow Submarine won’t be able to call on any of Adrian Lopez, Denis Cheryshev, Jose Angel and Sergio Asenjo, whereas Leo Baptistao, Marc Navarro, Roberto Jimenez and Victor Sanchez are all absent for the Catalans.
Leganes v Granada (12:00 GMT/13:00 CET)
Leganes (probable): Herrerin; Diaz, Insua, Mantovani, Rico; Perez, Moran, Ruben; El Zhar, Gabriel, Szymanowski; Guerrero
Granada (probable): Ochoa; Cuenca, Vezo, Ingason, Hongla, Hector; Carcela, Samper, Wakaso, Pereira; Adrian Ramos
Referee: Martinez Munuera
Form guides: Leganes (L W L L L) Granada (W L W L W)
Previous meeting: Granada 0-1 Leganes
Villarreal v Espanyol (17:30 GMT/18:30 CET)
Villarreal (probable): Fernandez; Mario, Alvaro, Ruiz, Costa; Castillejo, Trigueros, Bruno, Soriano; Soldado, Borre
Espanyol (probable): Diego Lopez, J Lopez, D Reyes, O Duarte, Aaron; Hernan, Jurado, David Lopez, Piatti; Gerard, Caicedo
Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea
Form guides: Villarreal (W L W D D) Espanyol (D W L L W)
Previous meeting: Espanyol 0-0 Villarreal
