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1-1: All square

RCD Espanyol forced to settle with a point at home to CD Tenerife

RCD Espanyol were held to a 1-1 draw at home by CD Tenerife on Saturday.

Manolo González’s first home game in charge was the visit of Tenerife to the Stage Front Stadium, and the Mágico were hungry from the first minute to strike first. Álvaro Aguado tried to catch the keeper out from the halfway line, while Keita Balde was leading the attack with his aggressive pressing but with no breakthrough.  

Espanyol had a huge double chance from a corner, as first Sergi Gómez’s header was saved before Javi Puado fired it over the bar. Puado did come much closer towards the end of the half, cutting inside and curling it goalbound but denied by Juan Soriano, as they went into the break goalless.

For all of their first half dominance, Espanyol would have to compete with a Tenerife side now coming out to attack. The arrival of Nico Melamed gave the Mágico a breath of fresh air to attack, and the number 21 was making a difference with the team threat.

After much persistence, Espanyol broke the deadlock with six minutes from a corner which Víctor Ruiz knocked on to José Gragera to stab home and send the stadium into delirium. But the joy would not last long as Tenerife equalised in the 90^th minute, which Espanyol could not respond to as they were forced to settle for just the point.