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0-1: Heart and soul

Espanyol achieves their first away win thanks to a goal by Sergi Darder

2018 has not been able to start better for Espanyol in LaLiga. The blue and white team achieved against Malaga the first away victory thanks to a goal from Sergi Darder that culminated a good action between Javi López and Sergio García. After several draws of merit (Sevilla, Villarreal or San Sebastian), the Catalan team won all three points in a match worked and in which he returned to be solid and supportive in defence. Second consecutive victory and another match with a clean sheet.

Quique claimed on the eve that the team was concentrated because the game of La Rosaleda was presumed intense and courageous. He also remembered that last year Piatti scored early and the team had to defend the rent with some teeth. And so it was intuited that it would be this time.

A long ball for Sergio García left him with the striker on the edge of the area and Darder, as he did on more than one occasion when he was a Málaga player, placed it next to the post making it impossible for Roberto. The 0-1 rewarded the Catalans, that could play with more serenity from there. Sergio tried to extend the advantage soon after with a shot from the edge of the area and Javi Lopez also tried with a distant kick.

What I expected in the second half was a little more of the same. Málaga accelerated at the start and Gerard had a similar one to Darder's, but his shot crashed into a defender. From there, Michel put more powder in the field and Quique had to resort to Dídac Vilà while Víctor Sánchez left with injured.

Espanyol, who began to create more danger by the mobility of Sergio Garcia and Gerard, knew how to read perfectly the final minutes of the game in which he did not have too much trouble to defend the local attacks. Second consecutive victory in LaLiga and a good injection of confidence for this week of strong emotions.