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1-1: Granero rescues a point
A great goal by the midfielder in the final stages allows Espanyol to get a draw
Espanyol managed to save a point in the final minutes of their game against Villarreal thanks to a direct goal by Esteban Granero. The team from Castellón, that still has not lost at the RCDE Stadium, went ahead in the first half and could even sentence, but the geniality of the Madrilenian allowed the parakeet to rescue a point. The joy could have been greater if Baptistao, Sergio and Gerard had been successful in the last action of the game.
Quique Sánchez Flores decided to make changes in his starting eleven to face Villarreal that came after two defeats in LaLiga and another in the Europa League. Víctor Sánchez returned to the right side, Darder regained his position in the centre of the field and Granero, after serving a penalty, also returned to eleven. The manager also bet on the front Sergio Garcia and Gerard with Leo Baptistao on the wing. Many changes with the aim of achieving a necessary victory to continue to aspire to the noble zone of the classification.
Villarreal started dominating, that soon had a good opportunity to get ahead on the scoreboard. The post prevented Fornals from reaching the first of the afternoon. Espanyol was timidly trying to do so, but their was not comfortable or generating games in the dangerous area of the field. Instead, visitors continued to send balls to Ünal who worked hard for the benefit of their peers. Precisely, an action by the Turk ended at the feet of Rodrigo to inaugurate the score. The blow could be worse because again Ünal had a good opportunity. Fortunately, his shot crashed on the side of the net.
Espanyol tried to come back to the match, but did not find the formula to do it. The team did not finish attacking correctly and the few options of danger were cleared by the ex-white and blue Álvaro and Víctor Ruiz. Sergio Garcia, with a header forced, and Granero, with a distant shot, tried but without success. The espanyolistas needed something more to have options against a rival that showed no fissures.
Sanchez Flores did not think about it and at the break ordered a tactical change: Marc Navarro entered the field to replace Darder. This trade-off caused Víctor Sánchez to move to the centre next to Carlos Sánchez. The player burst with force and put two good centers to create certain doubts to the central visitors. However, the initial impetus had no continuity and Villarreal returned to put the pace that suited him. Calleja’s had their options in a Cherysev shot and another Mario Gaspar. The situation invited to risk and Sánchez flowers did it with the entrance of Piatti by Naldo. In the game of chess, Calleja thought it was Bacca's moment. The first of the Colombian did not end in miracle goal, because between David and Victor avoided it.
Espanyol began to pull of pride. The Blue and Whites, little by little, came closer with more danger to the visiting area. Gerard tried it with an acrobatic finish that Asenjo caught without problems. It cost to generate game, but, this time, Granero appeared to equalize the contest with a masterful free kick. The emotion continued until the end and in the last second of the match Leo Baptisto sent a shot to the crossbar. Neither Sergio Garcia nor Gerard could take advantage of the rejection that would have given the victory to the parrots. A shame!