Back

1-0: Another step forward

Espanyol added three points against Alavés in a match in which they had to squeeze to the maximum

Espanyol was looking for a new victory. The team wanted to leave in oblivion as soon as possible the stumbling of San Mamés and return to the path that began against the Betis seven days ago. Two triumphs, against the white and green and the Alavés, leaves them very comfortable in the table and waiting to be able to approach even more to the positions of head.

Too many similarities. Too many alike. Two teams built to race this summer, with more than a dozen new faces in each of them. Two similar styles. More effective than groomed. That was the first impression of what could be expected at RCDE Stadium. Because, regardless of the sensations with which they arrived, a more global image, of everything they have done so far, offered almost, almost, almost identical numbers. 43 by 40 points (since this noon, 46/40). One more victory the Espanyol (in the end, two). One more defeat the Alavés (two, too). The same draws. Better percentage of goal for the locals, better numbers outside of house for the Victorians (curiously, next to Osasuna, are the only teams that add more points far than in his stadium). Equality. That's why, even if it did not seem like it, the party was cheating. Much to gain and much to lose. Points against sensations.

And that was done from the first quarter of an hour. Gerard signed the first kick between the three clubs. And then came the deflected shots of Marc Roca, Aaron and Caicedo, like a chronometer, every three minutes. They recovered the breath both teams in the half hour by the intense heat that began to tighten of the beautiful thing. A header from Piatti, after an exquisite center Jurado, escaped outside by inches and finished the first half with a kick from Jurado that brushed the crossbar. Before that, Camarasa wanted to do the same thing but his pitch was much more deflected.

The rest was good for the locals. It started with more spark in the second half, put another march and stayed for many minutes near the visiting goal. Gerard threw out a shot from close range and shortly after, that pressure left him with a lack in the front that the Espanyol converted in goal after a good movement of strategy. David López surrounded the entire barrier of the Alavés and put the body just so that the ball fell, meek, at the feet of Piatti, who did not forgive in the small area. The goal rewarded the white and blue and opened a game that was felt stuck.

The next good news was the return of Leo Baptistao, absent due to injury since December 11. A few seconds from being in the field was tried with a good shot from outside the area that put Pacheco in trouble. And then he tried again in another hand to hand against the goalkeeper of the Alavés, as well as Gerard that was a continuous discomfort for the visiting defense. The slightest advantage held some tension until the end, especially because of the chances that they failed to close the marker much earlier.