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1-3: Good preseason
Espanyol closes the preseason offering a great feeling against Borussia Mönchengladbach
Espanyol closed the preseason against the most powerful team of the summer. It was not an illusion or a mirage. Borussia Mönchengladbach is one of the historical Bundesliga teams and it is still one of the most recognized and supported in his country.
Comfortable on the counter and looking continuously for the backs of the opposing defense, the Gladbach players offered for many minutes what they are: a team that is comfortable in the fast attacks. No taboos. And without dissimulation. That is his strength.
It cost the Catalans to find accommodation. They did not get the game fluidity of other afternoons, but they did not pass defensive troubles either. Duarte and Mario Hermoso closed the center of the defense and Marc Roca became the first passer in attack. Borja Iglesias, playing with his back to the goal and Baptistao and Piatti, on the wings, were in charge of calibrating the local defense. The chances were slow to arrive, but, starting in the last third of the first half, they were repeated over Sommer's goal. Baptistao, for example, crashed the ball into the body of the Swiss goalkeeper in a pass from Borja Iglesias. Shortly after, the goalkeeper of Gladbach was shining sending a kick from Piatti and even Darder had a comfortable ball in the front of the area, but his shot went too high.
The first half came to the break when Javi Lopez pressed Herrmann's attempt to leave. The German gave way to his goalkeeper but Sommer hesitated and stumbled at once. The ball passed meekly by his side and Piatti, who followed the play, finished at the empty door. 0-1.
However, from a fault to Baptistao far from the big area was born the second white and blue goal. Piatti served for Baptistao and his pass inside the area was completed by Borja Iglesias. Strategy. 0-2.
Espanyol controlled the match, led the rhythm and Borussia could not find the necessary gaps. A poor clearance on the edge of the area caused the ball to end at the feet of Drmic who shot Diego Lopez midway through the second half. With the 1-2, Borussia was not going to relent in his effort to corner Espanyol, but the white and blues had to throw away their trade and keep moving the ball because every time they did they dislodged a team that caught oxygen with the changes of the second half. A double chance of Puado and Víctor Sánchez was the prelude to a shot from penalty point of Marc Roca after a corner. The 1-3 again put distance and effectiveness to the game of Espanyol. The set of Rubi closed the preseason leaving a great feeling.