“This year in Europe and the next champion,” Cornella sang after the final whistle. Espanyol struggled to overcome a vertically superior Sevilla for almost the entire match. Sevilla had everything they could to make an impact. … But he always met Dmitrovich. The suffering the hurricane parrots endured makes this victory seem like an affirmation, one that gives its people license to dream of what the chorus says: Europe. We have seen since August that this is a different team, but at a club that has struggled so much in recent years, a few gray weeks are enough to start doubting.
Manolo Gonzalez decides to select his players with the same character with which in the press room he asks Tebas for “common sense” regarding league tables because, among other things, “in winter at nine o’clock at night it is very confusing.” Paul Lozano was one of the best players, but he was on the bench for Terraces. Riedel was the revelation, but the coach brought on Calero. No one is safe here. Above all, your judgement, even if they tell you that you are inventing too much. However, his attempt to play Doc Brown in Back to the Future, a masterpiece that recently turned 40, certainly did not go as he expected, and in the first half Sevilla ate his team: Calero, who was overshadowed by Adams; About the terrats, again there is nothing to highlight; Mila failed what is considered a subjective sentence in Primera, even though the balance is positive because of her subsequent goal.
Until now, Mr Perico has had the support of his tribe, and that, in a football team, as in a political party or a community of neighbours, is essential to being able to do things and undo them without erupting in revolution. But it also happens that in football, nothing matters more than winning – because it’s only like a match – and as long as that was the case at Espanyol, Manolo could invent without fear of being taken to the guillotine.
The locals came out with a massive attack, but destroyed it themselves. Pere Milla could have passed it to Tirats to score his first goal like a parrot, but he decided to shoot it himself and made a mistake. Almeida realized the damage the Spanish pressure was doing to his team and ordered Pique to occupy a more central position, then it was another Sevilla. Specifically, the post and Dimitrovic who at this point had already frightened away all Joan Garcia nostalgia, thwarted two shots from the former Racing player and the score remained 0-0. Vargas and Januzaj joined Pique’s side and Sevilla were an arrow on the counter-attack. The Swiss called for a penalty for falling in the penalty area after leaving opponents behind like someone dodging tourists when the lights are turned on on Paseo de Gracia. Sevilla’s ferocity, combined with their lack of shooting, was at its peak, and Dmitrovic, the better of the first half, produced another miracle when he appeared to be beaten from close range by Suazo.
Espanyol weathered the Seville storm and made their resistance effective via Père Milla. The man did not forgive Ellerda for the second time and sent a wonderful cross from Dolan into the net. The Parrots’ strength increased in the second half, but Sevilla continued its cross and dropped Ijoke Romero to the ground and did not score due to the rebound. Almeida included Alexis, Godelig, and Alfon. The Andalusians did not provide a pass without meaning or direction, and Espanyol tried to defend themselves with great determination and pressure. Dmitrovich stopped the enemy, this time Alfon.
Roberto scored the goal every kid tries to do in the schoolyard: an open shot into the top corner. But nothing has ever been quiet in Espanyol, and no matter how 125 years pass, nothing will change. Cabrera made it 2-1 with an own goal five minutes before the end of the match. Marcao had to hold his breath. The suffering of this troubled slum who was born in Sarria but moved to Montjuïc and now resides in Cornella. A classic, which, despite its threat, has never been able to defeat this anti-cardiovascular club.
Match sheet
Espanyol: Dmitrovic, Omar, Calero, Cabrera, Romero, Urco, Terras (61′ Lozano), Exposito (61′ Roberto), Dolan (87′ Roca), Milla (74′ Joffre), Kiki (74′ Bickel).
Sevilla: Vlachodimos, Sanchez, Andres, Marcao, Suazo, Mendy (71′ Gudelli), Su (71′ Ajoumi), Pique (71′ Alexis), Januzaj (34′ Ijok), Vargas (54′ Alfon), Adams.
Goals: 1-0 Milla (48), Roberto 2-0 (85).
Referee: Miguel Sesma (Riojano). Ander Exposito (50), Milla (71), Andres (90+4).