Three Numantine points. A triumph supported by a defensive exercise not suitable for the faint of heart and full of suffering. Espanyol returned from La Romareda with a victory in Manolo González's debut, encouraging news for its consequences, although not so much for the way it happened. The parakeet team begins a new stage with more luck than continuity in its football, although despite all the difficulties it did show an indomitable competitiveness on which to build promotion.
Puado had scored one goal in the last eleven games with Ramis, none in 2024 (8 scored with Luis García), a symptom blamed for weeks on the Tarragona coach's lack of ambition. The forward only needed eight minutes in González's debut to once again demonstrate his great relationship with the goal. This early goal, facilitated by Brian Oliván, recovered for the cause, was a first indication that this Espanyol intends to be something different from what was previously seen.
On his first day, González did not hesitate when it came to modifying the system and the idea of the game. He removed the line of three center backs and replaced forwards with midfielders to give prominence to a trivote in which Aguado was the reference. The immediate result was better occupation of spaces, more calm with the ball and greater precision in counterattacks.
The turnaround in football was evident by the team's non-negotiable desire to come out with the ball played from behind, but the confidence of the parakeet team did not last long, as as the minutes passed it was minimized by the task of Zaragoza's pressure.
Like the coach of Folgoso do Courel, Víctor Fernández began his fourth stage on the bench of the Maño team, in dangerous positions after five games without a win. He does not want Espanyol to look in the mirror of Zaragoza, a club that seems to be haunted by a curse after twelve seasons in the Second Division.
Espanyol's start was encouraging because of the goal and the brave proposal. Puado scored his eleventh goal of the season, which he did not celebrate because he had played in Zaragoza in the past. But little by little González's team began to be subdued by the local team and by La Romareda, which was attended by more than 2,000 parakeet fans. The clearest chance for the hands, already in the second act, was a Chilean from Bakis that went high by very little. The bad news was reproduced with the injuries of Rubén Sánchez, Braithwaite and Oliván.
Zaragoza increased the pressure in the opposite field and Espanyol suffocated. Even Aguado made mistakes in simple passes and Melamed, who returned to play five months later, was not able to be decisive. Alejandro Francés, with a shot inside the small area, almost equalized, which his team deserved in the final stretch.
Zaragoza got tired of failing and Espanyol resisted. The best news for a club that wants to shoot towards First Division from this new lurch. For now, he must achieve greater continuity in his game, which will help him try to return to the positions
0– Real Zaragoza: Edgar Badía; Mouriño, Jair, Francés, Lecoeuche (Fran Gámez, min. 91); Francho (Marc Aguado, min. 86), Germán Valera (Manu Vallejo, min. 86), Toni Moya, Maikel Mesa, Mollejo (Liso, min. 65); Bakis (Azón, min. 65).
1 – RCD Espanyol: Joan Garcia; Omar El Hilali, Oliván (Óscar Gil, min. 78), Víctor Ruiz (Sergi Gómez, min. 71), Cabrera; Aguado (Nico Melamed, min. 71), Rubén (Jofre, min. 27), Gragera, Bare; Handful, Braithwaite (Mile, min. 45).
Goals: 0-1, M.07: Handful.
Referee: Arcediano Monescillo (Castilla-La Mancha Committee). He showed yellow cards to Espanyol's Olivan (31), Victor Ruiz (37), Joan Garcia (58) and El Hilali (69).
Incidents: Match corresponding to the thirty-first day of LaLiga Hypermotion, played at the La Romareda municipal stadium before 29,468 spectators.
