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1-0: Victory with class
Sergio García, with a sensational shot, gives the three points to the blue and white team
Espanyol got a deserved victory against Levante thanks to a goal from Sergio García. The Catalan overcame Oier with a right that went through the squad. It was the prize for a new good match for the blue and whites. The team of Joan Francesc Ferrer, Rubi, dominated his rival, had opportunities and connected with the supporters that, beyond the result, enjoy the game and the bet of the coach.
Bet Rubi start by the same eleven of the last days. The blue and white coach wanted to give continuity to the players who have performed so well in this start of LaLiga. In fact, the main novelties had to be looked for in the bench as both Naldo and Rosales, the latest signing of the summer.
Levante wanted to play the ball to Espanyol from the start and it is true that the locals had more control of the ball during the early stages but without incidence. The blue and whites, once placed on the pitch, began to carburize. Rubi's proposal is attractive. The matches have pace, opportunity, intensity, in short, they are entertaining. The locals began to create danger with good arrivals by band or with some distant shots by Marc Roca, Granero, Hermoso or Baptistao. However, the clearest opportunity was a double shot by Borja Iglesias. The striker was found with a successful Oier, which prevented the goal of 'The Panda'. When Espanyol attacked more, the break came to hydrate. Levante thanked it because they needed to refresh themselves in every way. The pause allowed the 'granotas' to correct some aspects. Morales, tied in short by Dídac, changed the band to test Javi López with the same result. Levante found some air against without a happy ending, while Espanyol returned to squeeze with a centre from Didac that did not end in a goal by very little. The score, at rest, continued to reflect a deceptive goalless draw.
After a fairly quiet first half, Diego López had to intervene in a couple of visiting approaches. First, to stop a shot from Morales inside the area and then flew to send a free kick from Bardhi to corner. Levante gave a feeling of having another attitude. However, Espanyol did not break down and continued with the opposite goal in mind. Thus, in a good pressure of Granero, arrived the first goal of the afternoon. The '23' recovered a ball in the front and assisted to Sergio Garcia, with a huge right, beat Oier.
As it was already before Valencia, Espanyol was not going to speculate on the result. Levante tried to take a step forward with the entrance of Mayoral in search of a draw. However, the clearest opportunities were for the blue and whites. Sergio Garcia had the second in his boots after a rejection of Oier previous auction of Baptistao. Once again, the Basque goalkeeper saved his team with a double save after two shots by Borja Iglesias and Piatti. Víctor Sánchez, who came out on the final straight, also tried it from outside the area on a couple of occasions. Of course, there is no match without suffering and in the final minutes it was necessary to throw the rest in defence to add the second home win of the season.