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Match Report: Fernández brace earns away win against Celta Vigo
The striker finds the net twice in a 0-2 triumph
RCD Espanyol secured their second consecutive away win, besting Celta Vigo with a Roberto Fernández brace. The 0-2 result takes Los Pericos further clear of the relegation zone in LaLiga.
Balaídos hosted a match between two teams in good form and eager to get closer to their respective aims. Manolo González named an unchanged lineup to that which had earned a brilliant 0-4 win over Rayo Vallecano the previous weekend, as he looked for consistency.
RCD Espanyol started somewhat timidly, albeit solid in defence, lacking a little dynamism with which to threaten the hosts. Celta Vigo were forced to make an early substitution due to an injury to Carl Starfelt, whilst their back line faced half chances from Antoniu Roca and for Fernández.
Celta seemed to have some degree of control over the match, although they were fairly harmless in attack. However, in the tactical battle, Espanyol struck the first serious blow. A one-two between Romero and Javi Puado ended with the forward playing through to Fernández, who tapped the ball past the goalkeeper after outmuscling defender Marcos Alonso. It meant the striker had scored for a second consecutive week, and made it 0-1 before the half-hour.
Los Pericos then enjoyed their best minutes, and Edu Expósito missed out on a second goal after a great move by El Hilali when his effort was blocked.
Lele Cabrera sent a header just wide of the far post before the first half came to an end.
Král replaced the booked Pol Lozano at the start of the second half, although the game plan remained largely the same. Espanyol knew their opponents would have possession, make passes, and try to pin them back into their own box, and adapted accordingly.
When Celta threatened, Joan García made a series of stunning saves from the likes of Iago Aspas.
The second goal of the match arrived off a long ball from Cabrera that was misread by the defence, with Fernández getting the better of both Jailson and Carlos Dominguez, then slotting his shot past Guaita.
Celta went all out in the closing minutes, but a solid Espanyol, and the crossbar, managed to maintain the result and secure their second consecutive away win.