The former are in sixth place on 18 points, whilst the latter, newly promoted from the Segunda Division, find themselves in ninth on a respectable 14 points.
Quite the turnaround
It's quite the turnaround for both clubs since last season with Espanyol only surviving the drop by two points.
A 14th place finish for them last season looks reasonable enough on paper, but the truth is they weren't out of the woods for the vast majority of the 2024/25 campaign, and weren't safe until the final game.
So what's changed?
Manager, Jose Manuel 'Manolo' Gonzalez Alvarez, has finally got his side playing in a manner that allows for variance within a specific team structure and which has often made them difficult to beat.
For example, on matchday one of the current season, it was immediately obvious that Atletico Madrid weren't prepared for Espanyol's pressing style or their in-game adapatability to adopt different team shapes as desired.
Espanyol's attacking 3-2-4-1 formation
The Catalans have garnered most success with an attacking 3-2-4-1 formation, which overloads the opposition defence and allows for a possession-based game, but still enables them to have enough players sat in behind to switch to a back five should they be forced to defend a counter press.
Out of possession Gonzalez has preferred a 4-2-3-1, with an emphasis on a solid defensive line and the ability to be able to build quickly from the back if an opposition's attack breaks down.
When teams have triumphed against them they've had to do so by working extra hard for the three points, and that can be seen by the fact that Espanyol have only lost three games so far this season.
Given that they've only beaten Real Madrid three times since 2010, losing to Los Blancos wasn't a surprise, though a defeat to Alaves last time out was regrettable.
The only other reverse they've suffered came against a resurgent Real Betis side and, lest we forget, the club did lose statistically LaLiga's best keeper last season in Joan Garcia to arch rivals Barcelona, which makes Espanyol's transformation this season all the more remarkable.
Though he's only provided one assist in the campaign so far, young Englishman Tyrhys Dolan continues to impress with his work rate and willingness.
Javi Puado and Pere Milla have also been standouts for Los Pericos in 25/26.
Elche are the entertainers
For Elche, it really shouldn't be a surprise that they are clearly playing to entertain.
After all, Eder Sarabia's possession-based game clearly comes from his time spent as Quique Setien's assistant.
They first worked together at Las Palmas, then more successfully at Real Betis, and less so at Barcelona, where it appeared both he and Setien, despite initially appearing to be the perfect managerial duo for the Catalan giants, were quickly out of their depth managing the likes of Lionel Messi and Co.
That's all in the past for Sarabia, however, as he continues to restore his reputation.
Losses at Alaves and Espanyol preceded Elche's visit to Barcelona, and where Sarabia and his team deserve great credit is in the fact that they weren't willing to change their style against arguably one of the best attacking teams in the division.
Sarabia wants his team to be brave
Come what may, Sarabia is content for his team to take the game to any opponent, and that bravery has actually served Elche well in the campaign so far.
Until the Alaves defeat, they were unbeaten, having earned creditable draws away at Sevilla and Osasuna, not to mention holding Athletic Club at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
By not cowering to supposedly superior opponents, Elche have therefore become dangerous themselves.
Opposition teams understand that they will have chances against a side that effectively play with wanton abandon, but it is just that 'freedom' that Sarabia encourages, which makes Elche unpredictable and intoxicating to watch.
Inaki Pena key to Elche's build-up play
When one considers their last season in the Spanish top-flight saw them take 20 games to win a match and then finished 12 points adrift of every other team, it's some turnaround from Sarabia and his backroom team.
Much of their play begins with on-loan Barca keeper, Inaki Pena, playing out from the back.
Particularly adept at the shorter passing game, he can consider himself unlucky that Hansi Flick considered him surplus to requirements after he filled in well when Marc-Andre ter Stegen was injured.
Pena's ability to pick out colleagues either centrally or out wide has been second to none, allowing Elche the option to get up the pitch quickly, moving the ball around incisively and with directness.
A breath of fresh air for LaLiga
As the team push further up, Sarabia encourages a higher defensive line to hem in the opposition and put pressure upon them from all areas. Against Levante, for example, Elche had over 95% possession in the opening 20 minutes.
They play without any fear whatsoever; centre-back David Affengruber often provides the impetus for the likes of the more skilful Aleix Febas to go about his work in the best possible way.
For both Elche and Espanyol, this could be their best season in results terms for a while.
There's a long way to go, of course, but as long as they refuse to bow to the pressure of playing any other way, their supporters will stick with them, win, lose or draw.
What a breath of fresh air for LaLiga.
