At the edge of the abyss

Espanyol took a very hard hit in the match against Celta.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
19 March 2023 Sunday 04:57
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At the edge of the abyss

Espanyol took a very hard hit in the match against Celta. A shock of reality that sets off all the alarms. In the afternoon perhaps the most awake of the parakeets in the first half, the day Joselu celebrated the call with the selection. So much so that the sensations were better than in previous weeks, because in front of Diego Martínez's team was a miura, a team in clear growth that seems to have made a pact with the meigas and that, in addition, be much better in the areas. Espanyol lost again at the RCDE Stadium: 13 points out of 39, this team has added as a home team, which continues to make merit for suffering the worst of the finals. Another crucial game to avoid relegation and another collapse. The situation gets complicated for Diego Martínez, who runs out of excuses before the international break.

The match was presided over by the call-up with the selection of Joselu at Espanyol and Aspas at Celta. Two war veterans that De la Fuente recruited after seasons of big numbers from both. But a youngster of only 20 years soon took the limelight from them. Gabri Veiga is a player called to do important things in the coming years and in Cornellà he left one of the many resources he treasures in the form of a goal.

Up to that point, Espanyol had understood the game very well. With high pressure he had tied the hands of Vigo's intention to come out playing from the back. Martínez's team was able to recover easily in the opposite field and from there launch dangerous counterattacks. The audacity of Vigo allowed spaces and this gave wings to the white-and-blues. But it is in back-and-forth games when the Perica defense suffers the most. A pass through the middle by Carles Pérez ended with the ball at the feet of Veiga in the area. The one from O Porriño put the ball in the opposite corner with a great shot. He has nine goals in his first full season.

The goal did not affect Espanyol, who continued to minimize their rival's pretensions and began to roam the opposing area more. However, Joselu and Braithwaite, well defended, could not find finishing positions. That last precise pass was missing, a bit of clarity in three quarters of the field. But only a shot by Denis Suárez, who was facing his former team, worried Vigo.

The match was settled before the break. Once again Carles Pérez in the race. He won back a Cabrera every day with less confidence. The Uruguayan tried to compose himself, but he brought the winger down in the area. Diego Martínez replaced him, and perhaps sentenced him, at half-time. The penalty was converted by Aspas, who this time won the game for Joselu.

But if this Spaniard has anything, it is faith. He did not fall into discouragement and in the second half looked for a comeback as on so many other occasions in the face of adverse results. But the proposal was so predictable that Celta barely suffered. The clearest was an opportunity from Joselu in an empty net that the Galician missed in an incomprehensible way. There the faith of the team was boosted, which could not achieve anything positive. And already close to the end Carles Pérez scored the third, with which the stands called for the resignation of the board once again. Gragera cut distances, but the game was already doomed.

For the first time in the entire season, a small part of the stands called for the resignation of Diego Martínez. The coach's situation is in danger because the team continues without responding despite the new signings and could even be relegated this day. The situation is borderline for a team that does not react.