2023-12-09 00:01:35
TECHNICAL FILE OF THE MATCH Spanish: Pacheco; Óscar Gil (Omar, 46′), Calero, Cabrera, Brian Oliván; Jofre (Milla, 46′), Gragera (Lozano, 46′), Expósito (Keidi Bare, 62′), Aguado (Sergi Gómez, 63′); Puado and Braithwaite. Coach: Luis Miguel Ramis Zaragoza: Rebollo; Fran Gámez, Mouriño, Jair (Bermejo, 69′), French; Moya, Marc Aguado (Jaume, 86′), Francho; German, Mollejo (Manu Vallejo, 72′) and Maikel Mesa (Enrich, 69′). Coach: Julio Velázquez Goals: 1-0 Expósito (54′), 1-1 Manu Vallejo (74′) Referee: Arcediano Monescillo (Castilian-Mancheque Committee) Yellow cards: Óscar Gil (28′), Lozano (52′), Jair (62′), Marc Aguado (85′), Moya (96′) Red cards: Calero (57′) Stadium: Stage Front Stadium, 21,993 spectators
Espanyol agrees to complicate life. The white-and-blues ended up conceding a draw (1-1) against a Zaragoza side that was reborn just after conceding a goal thanks to a concession from the white-and-blues: the expulsion of Calero for a completely unnecessary foul in midfield. An insufficient point in a night that had started and that invited a spectacular show, when it comes to two historic teams in the League with the imperative need to go up, but which ended with more intensity than opportunities.
Neither Pacheco nor Rebollo, in fact, had work until well into the second half. It wasn’t until the second half, in fact, that both teams showed that they are two historical figures in Spanish football who have great urgency to return to their natural place. In the case of the Aragonese, in fact, the journey through hell has now been extended to eleven consecutive seasons. An endless path that Espanyol does not want to repeat, which knows that it is important to return to First at the first attempt, as it did in the previous five relegations.
The way out of Segona is a tricky route, full of obstacles and where you have to chew sand almost every week. Aware of this reality, the Aragonese tried to bring Espanyol to their ground, setting up a match more suitable for lovers of interruptions and set pieces than for those who prefer continuity. And it is that the white-and-blues, without ideas, precision or daring inside, did not find the verticality and imbalance necessary to give fluidity to the game.
An approach that is bothering Espanyol this season, who yesterday could not find a way to progress in the rival field. Ramis tried to correct it at the break with a triple change that changed the face of his team. Espanyol came out with more momentum in the second half, a change in attitude that was contagious to Brian Oliván and Expósito, who went from being fed up with inaccuracies in the first half to creating the play for the goal. A cross from the side and a header from the midfielder, who made his debut as a goalscorer this season.
From the expulsion to the tie, in three minutes
The tranquility, however, does not last very long for Espanyol, an expert like few when it comes to complicating life. Just three minutes after making it 1-0, and with the fans still pumping their pulses in celebration, Calero misjudged a free kick in midfield that hit an opponent on the hip. Arcediano Monescillo did not hesitate and showed him the straight red. A totally unnecessary entry. The expulsion forced Ramis to use up the two changes he had left at game time. If the first three were to encourage the team to attack, the entry of Keidi Bare and Sergi Gómez sought just the opposite: to protect themselves. An accordion effect in less than a quarter of an hour.
With one less and commanding the scoreboard, Espanyol lost the initiative. And Zaragoza, who added more fuel to the fire, took advantage of it. Both teams, in fact, scored on their first shot between the three posts. When he had only been on the pitch for a minute, Manu Vallejo scored the equaliser, unleashing euphoria among the more than 2,000 Aragonese supporters who had traveled to Cornellà. The tie, which at the time seemed like a stalemate, ended up becoming a sweeter than sour prize for Espanyol, who ended the match suffering and resisting. And still thanks to the post, first, and Pacheco, then, avoiding the Aragonese’s second with ten minutes to go.
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