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0-2: Without success
After a great first and many opportunities, Espanyol lost to an effective Valencia
The goal marks the differences and, on this occasion, Valencia had more than Espanyol. The team managed by Quique Sánchez Flores completed a great first time with repeated opportunities, two shots on the post and being far superior to the second classified in LaLiga. However, Marcelino's shot of effectiveness and success to take the three points of the RCDE Stadium. With very little, the visitors managed to extend their good streak of results.
Quique Sánchez Flores made a couple of changes in his line-up to face Valencia. One, forced by the absence of Mario Hermoso who transferred his position to Naldo. The second, tactical. The coach put Sergio García with Gerard on the attacking point and moved Leo Baptistao to the right side to the detriment of Jurado. However, the bet lasted little because the Brazilian had to ask for the change to the few minutes due to injury. Jurado was chosen by the technician to take Baptistao's leave.
Espanyol came out a little cautious against a rival that appeared in the RCDE Stadium with very interesting numbers. After a tough season, Valencia, by Marcelino García, is again a competitive team that seems ready to fight for the first places. The visitors came out with great intensity and printed a lot of force in all their actions. The white and blue seemed uncomfortable against a rival that dominated but without creating danger.
After the first minutes, Espanyol began to approach with danger to the visiting goal. Piatti was the first to try it with an auction that went out and, shortly after, Neto avoided the goal of David López with a stop of much merit. Sergio García, playing in the front, had a good individual action but his shot ended in the hands of the visiting goalkeeper. The locals continued to press and believing in their options. Gerard, after a spectacular control, crashed his shot on the post with defeated Neto. Darder, in the penultimate action before the break, could score but again the wood avoided the goal. The offensive recital of the locals earned a greater prize against a rival that, miraculously, arrive to the half time with goal to zero.
Espanyol did not lower its intensity after the resumption and continued looking for the opposite goal with regularity. Sergio García was a real scumbag for the visiting defender. The one of Bon Pastor was perfectly understood with Gerard who also had his options although he found himself with Neto insurance. The local goal seemed a matter of minutes, but at the most unexpected moment one of the maximums of soccer was fulfilled: the one who pardons, ends up paying. The visitors came forward on the scoreboard thanks to a shot from Kondogbia from outside the area that surprised Pau. The goalkeeper immediately avoided the second visiting goal with a spectacular hand after a shot from Rodrigo. Obviously, the goal made Valencia feel that, with very little, he had achieved his goal.
Quique wanted another march with the entrance of Hernán Pérez. However, the possibility of turning the marker ended in a defensive failure that allowed Santi Mina to achieve the second and condemn an Espanyol that paid a lot for his lack of success in the final meters.