This is the first time Espanyol has won five matches in a row in the 21st century. Something unthinkable for anyone a few months ago and never seen by the youngest parakeets. Neither such a score on December 22, nor such defensive solidity, nor such intelligence … above. Everything is calibrated on the equipment Manolo. Another knock on Europe’s door, this time with a strong comeback, and there is total disbelief.
Espanyol did everything they could, they spared no one despite several of their key men being one warning away from missing the derby. And Valverde, with the infirmary like the cabin of the Marx Brothers, had to go out with a patch defense and Iñaki Williams as attacker.
Match between direct rivals that Espanyol started with seven points ahead of Athleticzales and ended with ten. Manolo’s team was very solid from the start, in defense and pressure. The calmer everything was, the better for the Parakeets, since the danger of the tandem formed by Nico Williams on the wing and Sancet in the center is difficult to mitigate when they play with spaces.
After ten minutes, Valverde was already swearing because he saw his team uncomfortable. Cabrera wanted to go on an adventure in his own region and without Dmitrovic and his knee, the Uruguayan’s false start would have meant 1-0. The Serbian’s first miracle. Espanyol, as always, gave the ball to their rival. He only trusts his defense and maintained the seriousness with which he won at Getafe to neutralize Athletic’s attempts. HAS Cabrera The initial error seemed to mark him and he was very doubtful. The first clear round of the match, after several warnings, was From Galarretafar ahead of the precision of Espanyol behind.
Athletic’s danger grew. It’s one thing to drop the ball and wait for the opportunity, but it’s another to submit and shout long live the caenas. Dolan He also wanted to organize his own expedition and was trying to get away from three rivals very close to his area. Ingenuity obviously failed and, this time with even more power, Dmitrovic had to do something about it. Impose anger from Serbian to English with clear gestures so that he does not get complicated and sends him to the estuary when he is pressured. Anyway, this Espanyol is a teacher in knowing how to suffer.
When a team gets as far as Athletic, the goal is usually just a matter of time. Berenguer marked him. A little ugly, on the rebound, but that exposed Omar, who came to fight with the winger to tickle him.
The San Mamés triumph leaves little to savor. Rosemary He collected a rebound from his home in Torrent and put it on the goal side. Unassailable, the lottery jackpota superb goal which shattered, as half-time approached, the athletic spirit when it was at its highest level.
The second half continued with remarkable vigor from the Basques and Perica resistance, but it seemed that the more they attacked Manolo’s men, the worse the punishment they handed out. Dolan was more of a crook than Adamawon the game and then played it with perfect effect so that Mile I just had to push him. The man from Ilerda has already signed his top scorer of the season.
Valverde didn’t change his plan even though the momentum wasn’t working for his team. What a bitter feeling to give everything and not find any reward. The Basques’ game was becoming more and more desperate and Espanyol fled after stealing with the energy deficits that a constant and intense defensive deployment can leave available.
Manolo replaced Milla and Lozano, two of the players in danger for the derby. Kike came in for the ’10’, an offensive change when the most obvious thing seemed to be the elimination of Roberto, tired of fighting aerial balls and chasing ghosts under pressure.
The athletic push persisted, with increasing drama, because the less time there is to go until the end, the scarier it is to lose what is precious. But the Spartan combat parrots behind was always effective.
With five minutes to go, Manolo made a triple defensive change, a recurring strategy of the coach that has always worked well this season. Exceptional game from Urko, powerful in the center of the field and with very valuable actions in defense. The addition was a Basque storm which once again had Dmitrovic as the anticyclone. Terrible Rego’s forgiveness in the last room. This Espanyol has no ceiling.
MATCH SHEET
ATHLETIC: Unai Simón, Gorosabel (75′ Areso), Paredes, Lekue, Adama (75′ Unai G.), De Galarreta (59′ Rego), Jaureguizar, Nico (59′ Guruzeta), Sancet, Berenguer, Iñaki (80′ Navarro).
ESPANYOL: Dmitrovic, Omar, Calero, Cabrera, Romero (83′ Riedel), Urko, Pol (72′ Kike), Expósito (83′ Rubén), Dolan (83′ Salinas), Milla (59′ Jofre), Roberto.
GOALS: 1-0 Berenguer (38′), 1-1 Romero (45′), 1-2 (53′).
REFEREE: Busquets Ferrer (Balearic Islands). He warned De Galarreta (28′), Nico (32′), Gorosabel (45+1′), Urko (79′), Rego (80′), Riedel (85′).
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