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2-0: Defeat in Gijón
RCD Espanyol are beaten on the road by Sporting de Gijón on their 123rd birthday
RCD Espanyol fell to a 2-0 defeat to Sporting de Gijón on Saturday evening.
The Saturday night clash coincided with Espanyol’s 123rd birthday as Luis García’s side looked to celebrate with three points. Jofre Carreras had a great early chance which was saved by Rubén Yáñez, and the keeper was later forced into another top save when Javi Puado tried – and came so close – to score from the halfway line.
In a largely uneventful opening half hour, it was Sporting who would find the breakthrough and strike first through Juan Otero. Behind at the break, García brought on veteran centre-back Víctor Ruiz for his second debut in the second half.
Espanyol could not lay their mark on a game where Sporting were spurred on by the home fans and clearly in control. They would double their advantage midway through the second period, as former perico Víctor Campuzano scored from a corner.
Now trailing by two goals with just over 20 minutes left on the clock, the Mágico needed some birthday luck and seemed to have got some when they were awarded a penalty. But Martin Braithwaite’s spot kick was saved by Yáñez to his bottom right corner. In an evening where nothing went their way, Espanyol were beaten on the road on Saturday.