A very hard crab hit Espanyol in their duel against Celta. A reality check of those that make all the alarms sound. In the most awake afternoon perhaps of the parakeets in the first half, on the day that Joselu celebrated his call with the National Team. It did not matter that the sensations were better than in previous weeks, because Diego Martínez’s team found themselves a miura in front, a team in clear growth that seems to have made a pact with the witches and that, in addition, was much better in the areas . Espanyol lost again at the RCDE Stadium: 13 points out of 39 have been added at home by this team, which continues to make merits to suffer the worst of finals. A new crucial game to get away from relegation and another blur. The situation is complicated for Diego Martínez, who is running out of excuses before the break.
The duel was presided over by the call with the Selection of Joselu in Espanyol and Aspas in Celta. Two war veterans whom De la Fuente recruited after seasons of great numbers from both. But a boy of only 20 years old soon took away the leading role from both of 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 that he treasures in the form of a goal.
Until then, Espanyol had understood the game very well. With high pressure he had tied the intention of the people from Vigo to play from behind. Martínez’s team was capable of easily recovering in the opposite field and from there launching dangerous counterattacks. The daring of the people from Vigo gave space and that gave wings to the blue and whites. But it is in round-trip games when the parakeet defense suffers the most. A run through the middle by Carles Pérez ended with the ball at Veiga’s feet inside the area. The man from O Porriño put the ball in the opposite squad with a great strike. He has nine goals in his first full season.
The goal did not affect Espanyol, who continued to minimize their rival’s claims and began to hang around their area more. However, Joselu and Braithwaite, well defended, found no finishing positions. That last precise pass was missing, a bit of clarity in three quarters of the field. But only a shot from Denis Suárez, who was facing his former team, disturbed the people from Vigo.
The game was resolved before the break. Once again Carles Pérez on the run. He again won the back of a Cabrera with less confidence every day. The Uruguayan tried to compose himself, but clumsily brought down the winger inside the box. Diego Martínez replaced him, and perhaps sentenced him, at halftime. The penalty was converted by Aspas, who this time won the game over countryman Joselu.
But if this Espanyol has something, it is faith. He did not give in to discouragement and in the second half he looked for a comeback as on so many other occasions before adverse results. But the proposal was so predictable that Celta barely suffered. The clearest thing was a chance for Joselu at an empty goal that the Galician missed in an incomprehensible way. There the team’s faith in being able to achieve something positive was dynamited. And near the end Carles Pérez made the third, with which the stands asked for the resignation of the board once again. Gragera closed the gap, but the game was already sentenced.
For the first time in the entire season, a small part of the crowd called for the resignation of Diego Martínez. The situation of the coach is in danger because the team continues without responding despite the new signings and could even fall into relegation this day. The situation is extreme for a team that does not react.
1 – Spanish RCDE: Pacheco; Óscar Gil, Montes, Sergi Gómez (Expósito, min.72), Cabrera (Puado, min.46), Rubén Sanchez (Aleix Vidal, min.72); Vini (Gragera, min.54), Darder; Denis Suárez (Nico Melamed, min.64), Braithwaite and Joselu.
3 – Celtic: Iván Villar; Hugo Mallo, Aidoo, Unai Nuñez, Galán; Carles Pérez (Solari, min.88), Fran Beltrán, Gabri Veiga (Tapia, min.69), Luca de la Torre (Cervi, min.69); Iago Aspas (Patience, min.88) and Seferovic (Strand Larsen, min.60).
Goals: 0-1, min.26: Gabri Veiga; 0-2, min.45: Iago Aspas, from a penalty; 0-3, min.82: Carles Pérez; 1-3, min.86: Gragera.
Referee: Cuadra Fernández (Balearic Committee). He warned Darder (min.31), Javi Galán (min.61) and Stand Larsen (min.90).
Incidents: match corresponding to the twenty-sixth day of LaLiga Santander played at the RCDE Stadium in front of 26,231 spectators.
