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1-1: Evenly-matched test
Melendo scored the first goal of the Vicente Moreno era against a serious Huesca
This preseason has been so atypical, still marked by the current health situation, that the first game, usually against a very inferior team to have some group contact and get things started, this year was against SD Huesca, the Second Division champion, which is clearly worthy of the promotion.
The game, in any case, was entertaining because of the alternatives, but difficult to play. The two teams showed more enthusiasm than skill, and made it clear that they are in the middle of the preseason but that they want to please.
Rafa Mir shot spectacularly over the crossbar and Nico Melamed responded with a personal move that ended up slightly off the mark. It was the prelude to the blue and white goal. Dídac chased a ball to the baseline, managed to steal it and cede it to the centre of the area, and Melendo pushed it to the back of the net.
The home advantage was short-lived because Pulido took advantage of an extension by Rafa Mir in a corner to score the equaliser shortly before the break.
The second half, marked by the usual merry-go-round of changes, had more or less the same symptoms as the first. The game continued to show alternatives and runs from one area to another. Espanyol did not seem to have problems controlling, and even had a couple of clear chances. In the first, an acrobatic shot by Campuzano, the ball went slightly high and in the second, a free kick by Embarba was cleared with problems by Gasca.
Towards the end, Campuzano came up with a spectacular shot that almost took the Huesca goal by surprise. None of his teammates were able to take advantage of his short rebound. The final minutes were tarnished by Pedrosa's injury.