Why Espanyol and Elche are LaLiga's surprise packages

After 11 games in the current LaLiga season, both Espanyol and Elche have secured positions in the top 10, marking a significant improvement. Espanyol sits in sixth place with 18 points, while newly promoted Elche holds ninth place with 14 points, representing a turnaround from the previous season where Espanyol narrowly avoided relegation by just two points and finished 14th, only securing safety in the final game.

The transformation for Espanyol is largely attributed to manager Jose Manuel 'Manolo' Gonzalez Alvarez, who has implemented a flexible team structure that makes them difficult to defeat. This approach was evident from the first matchday, where their pressing style and adaptability in changing team shapes caught opponents like Atletico Madrid off guard, showcasing their in-game versatility.

Espanyol's success is driven by tactical formations tailored to different phases of play: they use an attacking 3-2-4-1 formation to overload defenses and maintain possession, while switching to a 4-2-3-1 when out of possession to emphasize solid defense and quick build-ups from the back. This has resulted in only three losses this season, with defeats against Real Madrid, Alaves, and a resurgent Real Betis, the latter made more challenging by the loss of their top goalkeeper Joan Garcia to rivals Barcelona.

Key players have contributed to Espanyol's performance, including young Englishman Tyrhys Dolan, who impresses with his work rate despite limited assists, as well as standouts Javi Puado and Pere Milla in the 2025/26 season. For Elche, their respectable position is no surprise as they focus on an entertaining, possession-based style under Eder Sarabia, influenced by his time as Quique Setien's assistant, aiming to engage fans while competing effectively in the top flight.