Five games have been enough for Espanyol to present its candidacy for promotion to the First Division. After a draw, four victories. The last one, a rout yesterday in one of those fields where winning means much more than three points. They resolved Nico Melamed, a player for whom this category is too small and who scored two goals, and Puado, who scored another two goals but missed a much clearer one.
Levante succumbed to the offensive excesses of the parakeet team, unleashed in the Ciutat de Valencia when they needed it. In addition to producing many more dangerous actions, Luis García's men took a tactical step forward to tie up their rival for many minutes to the point of unhinging him. Edu Expósito entered the eleven for Keidi Bare and the team improved in general, but especially in transitions.
Not even 40 seconds had passed when Puado wasted the clearest chance of the game. Jofre put in a good cross but the striker was unable to hit the goalmouth. That scare contributed to the pressure from the parakeets being very effective at the beginning. And with each recovery came more and more danger. Before the quarter-hour mark, Melamed scored his first goal in the category with a sharp shot from the edge of the area.
Espanyol felt superior both with the ball and without it. Levante did not intimidate Pacheco and the chances kept coming. Joan Femenías, local goalkeeper, avoided the second on a double chance by Melamed and Expósito. But it was Levante that found a reward on its first and only occasion after half an hour. Bouildini finished off a cross from Andrés García with his chest, which broke past Ramón Ramos on the right. The Brazilian full-back once again neglected his wing as happened in his debut.
The goal spurred Espanyol, who soon took the lead again. Before the intermission Puado put a ball into the top corner from the far post after a touch from Jofre with his head. Effectiveness reappeared at the right time.
After the restart, Levante tried to be the protagonist, but the one who sentenced it was Melamed in a counterattack (57). The youth player left alone from his own field and from inside the area he shot powerfully at the short post. In the last minutes the Portuguese Vezo was sent off and shortly after the fourth came, the work of Puado after a counterattack led by Milla.
This important result is a clear message for the rest of the teams. This Espanyol, which is already the provisional leader, wants to be considered the most serious contender for promotion in the Hypermotion League.
