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3-3: End-to-end stalemate

RCD Espanyol fought out a high-scoring draw with Burgos CF to see out 2023

RCD Espanyol drew 3-3 with Burgos CF in the final match of the year on Tuesday night.

Off the back of the draw in Andorra, Luis Miguel Ramis’ side returned to the Stage Front Stadium to conclude 2023 in front of the white-and-blue faithful. But it would be a rough start for Espanyol, who fell behind inside 12 minutes when Kevin Appin lashed it in from the edge of the box to put Burgos ahead.

Trailing from the first chance of the night, the hosts were not going to let it stay that way. A loose ball from Burgos was pounced on by Martin Braithwaite, who made his way in on goal and slotted it past the goalkeeper for the equaliser.

In an end-to-end first half, Burgos were pushing right until the end and were denied by a crucial block from captain Sergi Gómez. However, they would get their goal from the resulting corner deep into additional time, which meant that Espanyol trailed at the break on home soil.

The start to the second half was cagey for Ramis’ men, who were fazed by Burgos’ pressing game and having to survive a few defensive mishaps. Yet it was the defenders who did the job up the other end as the equaliser came from Gómez, picking out the bottom corner to bring the Mágico back into the game with over half an hour left.

If anyone thought the game would calm down from here, they were wrong. In the space of six minutes, Burgos went in front again at one end from a header, then Espanyol responded with a third equalising goal as Javi Puado smashed home his rebound from close range to make it 3-3.

Both sides were fighting for the three points until the final whistle with chances at either end in the search for a winner. After a breathless 90 minutes plus stoppage time, nothing could separate the two sides as Espanyol ended the year with a point at the Stage Front Stadium.