Why Espanyol and Elche are LaLiga's surprise packages

After 11 games in the current LaLiga season, Espanyol and Elche are both positioned in the top 10. Espanyol holds sixth place with 18 points, while newly promoted Elche is ninth with 14 points, marking a significant turnaround from the previous season where Espanyol narrowly avoided relegation by just two points and finished 14th, remaining in danger until the final match.

The improvement for Espanyol is attributed to manager Jose Manuel 'Manolo' Gonzalez Alvarez, who has implemented a flexible team structure that makes them hard to beat. They demonstrated this adaptability from the first matchday, surprising Atletico Madrid with their pressing and ability to switch formations. Espanyol primarily uses an attacking 3-2-4-1 formation to overload defenses and maintain possession, but can shift to a defensive back five when needed. Out of possession, they employ a 4-2-3-1 with a solid defensive line and quick build-up play, resulting in only three losses this season, including defeats to Real Madrid, Alaves, and Real Betis, despite losing their top goalkeeper Joan Garcia to Barcelona.

Key players contributing to Espanyol's success include young Englishman Tyrhys Dolan, noted for his work rate and one assist, as well as Javi Puado and Pere Milla, who have been standout performers in the 2025/26 season.

Meanwhile, Elche's strong performance is driven by an entertaining, possession-based style under Eder Sarabia, influenced by his time as Quique Setien's assistant, which has helped them secure a respectable position in the league.