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2-1: Caicedo, Baptistao and a Saint
The Ecuadorian and the Brazilian score the goals and Diego Lopez, once again, spectacular
Things are changing. It looks like it is. ‘Espanyolismo’ continues to suffer, yes, but in another way, with another spirit. The white and blue obtained the ninth day without losing thanks to the goals of Caicedo and Leo Baptistao and Diego López, who avoided the tie to one in the move before the Brazilian striker's sentence. Duje’s Cop goal of lack reminded us never to be trusted, but, fortunately, it was something anecdotal.
Without one of his more outstanding players as Pablo Piatti, the white and blue coach, Quique Sánchez Flores, was forced to make changes in the starting lineup. Finally, the manager opted to give the opportunity to Felipe Caicedo, who was placed in the attack with Gerard Moreno, and place Hernán Pérez and Leo Baptistao on the wings. However, his idea lasted only 20 minutes: Hernán, who was injured after a jump, had to be replaced by Alvaro Vazquez, who returned to play after several weeks of absence due to injuries and some technical decisions.
Far from the tactical rigor of the last games, both contenders offered a showy match. In three minutes, two good shots by gate -Gerard and Douglas- and two teams that seemed ready to look for the opposite goal with continuity. So much impetus caused many inaccuracies and bad passes to the despair of the coaches who asked for more calm from their respective technical areas. It is true that Espanyol was seen more comfortable with the ball and without the burdens of previous encounters; one of the aspects that Quique considers primordial in the evolution of his project. Therefore, the team didn’t have the calm to finish the offensive plays.
The misfortune returned to act of presence in the form of injury. Hernán Pérez, who fell ill in a dispute, was replaced by Alvaro Vazquez, who reappeared after several weeks. His entrance in the field coincided with the best opportunity of the premises: a tremendous shot of Gerard that came licking the goal of the goal defended by Cuéllar. However, Espanyol did not have much continuity in attack and hardly disturbed the visitors, who were applied to the maximum in defense. In fact, the white and blue team ended up suffering in the first half and Carmona was very close to scoring in a contra after loss of Jurado in the zone of creation.
The star of Espanyol after the break was spectacular. The team felt comfortable and Javi Fuego and David Lopez already put Cuéllar in serious trouble. Álvaro, on th left wing, also began to appear with two good actions that were near finishing in goal. Sporting could not find a way to stop the locals who finally achieved their goal and, again, thanks to the strategy. Caicedo, free of the mark and after a bad exit Cuéllar, took profit a measured service of Víctor Sánchez. It was a minute of maximum joy because Diego Lopez surpassed the 550 minutes without receiving a goal overtaking another great of the goal as Carlos Kameni.
With the best version of Caicedo of the season, the players of Quique Sánchez Flores continued to carry danger in all their attacks. In fact, the Ecuadorian striker scored in a curious play after a Cuéllar clearance but Del Cerro Grande understood that there was hand of the '10' local. Diop and Roca entered the field to give a little more muscle to the midfield and try to endure the result. It was able to sent Espanyol to the counter, but it was Diego López again the hero to avoid the goal of the tie. In the next play, Leo Baptistao scored the second and final of both the locals. The visiting goal only served to spoil the record of the Galician and give a little excitement in the final seconds. Great victory!