Manolo González does not want to know anything when he is asked in press conferences about the possibility of him fighting to play in European competitions next season. The coach of the parakeet team knows what this is about and knows perfectly well the suffering of an entity with continuous relegations and promotions in its recent history. For this reason, despite occupying it with 33 points, it will not allow anyone to talk about anything other than salvation. Of course, his players, with performances like this Monday’s, are still determined to give him reasons to start changing his discourse.
1
Unai Simón, Adama Boiro (Unai Gómez, min. 75), Andoni Gorosabel (Jesús Areso, min. 75), Aitor Paredes, Íñigo Lekue, Mikel Jauregizar, Oihan Sancet, Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta (Alejandro Rego, min. 56), Alex Berenguer, Nico Williams (Gorka Cruzeta, min. 56) and Iñaki Williams (Robert Navarro, min. 78).
2
Marko Dmitrovic, Leandro Cabrera, Fernando Calero, Omar El Hilali, Carlos Romero (Clemens Riedel, min. 83), Tyrhys Dolan (José Salinas, min. 82), Pol Lozano (Kike García, min. 71), Pere Milla (Jofre Carreras, min. 56), Edu Expósito (Rubén Sánchez, min. 83), Urko González de Zárate and Roberto Fernandez
Goals
1-0 min. 37: Berenguer. 1-1 min. 43: Carlos Romero. 1-2 min. 51: Pere Milla
Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer
yellow cards
Ruiz de Galarreta (min. 27), Nico Williams (min. 32), Gorosabel (min. 45), Urko Gonzalez (min. 76), Alejandro Rego (min. 79), Clemens Riedel (min. 85), Lekue (min. 94)
The one achieved in Bilbao is one of those victories that, in addition to the three points, gives prestige because in San Mamés very few teams do it. In fact, Luis Enrique’s PSG, current Champions League champion, could not go beyond a 0-0 draw. Athletic Club arrived, once again, plagued by casualties, especially in defense, where Ernesto Valverde was unable to use props such as Yuri Berchiche, Aymeric Laporte and Dani Vivián. The Txingurri had to use their ingenuity to form a guarantee defense and face one of the sensations of this League such as Manolo González’s Espanyol. As if the burden of the absences were not enough, the red and white team ran into another wall in the form of Marko Dmitrovic, the goalkeeper who arrived at Cornellà-El Prat this summer with the most complicated mission of all: replacing the best goalkeeper of last season, .
And the numbers say that the Serbian was a success. Seven clean sheets, the second least fitting goalkeeper in the League and infinite security between the sticks. In San Mamés, only Alex Berenguer was able to beat him and his was an act of faith to not lose sight of a ball that was left loose in the area. Others, like Andoni Gorosabel or Athletic’s own Navarrese attacker, before savoring the goal were left wanting thanks to two outstanding saves from the Serbian.
But Espanyol is much more than a great goalkeeper. In fact, the parakeet team is scoring an average of points that would lead them to qualify for a European competition at the end of the season. Although the objective of the season is salvation, the great start to the championship has awakened enthusiasm in the Perica fans, who vibrate with the performance of a team that is no longer a surprise. Nor did the fact of being behind on the scoreboard make the parakeet team give up. Quite the opposite. They came back with a great goal from Carlos Romero and another from Pere Milla. This Espanyol is very serious.
