Espanyol competes again in the Primera Division. The white-and-blues scratched a point at Sadar (0-0) in the match that meant their return to the top flight after a year in Second. In a very contested and relentless match, Espanyol wanted to show that it is back to the elite willing not to repeat the mistakes that condemned it to its fifth relegation.
Vicente Moreno surprised by betting on Óscar Gil, who formed from the start without having participated in any of the five pre-season friendlies. With only four training sessions with the rest of the group, the brand new silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics went ahead of Miguelón and Víctor Gómez.
The white-and-blues missed creativity inside the sanctioned Darder. Without Artà, the only way to hurt Osasuna was direct play at the two ends, Raúl de Tomás and Wu Lei, a resource that too often proved ineffective. The Navarrese neutralized quite well this route, that was on the verge of giving yield in a dangerous closing of Embarba frustrated by Herrera.
Much more is expected in attack from a Spaniard who spent much of the match trying to resist the onslaught of an Osasuna with the clearest ideas. The Navarrese advanced many meters with few vertical passes that always made sense. Kike García, in charge, had the clearest of the premises, a set with great centerers and better finishers. The white-and-blues suffered, protected in their own area, but they knew how to solve efficiently the numerous lateral centers of Osasuna, which fortunately for Spanish interests was quite wrong in the final shots. The Navarrese had many attempts, but failed to direct any of the three sticks.
Dimata, revulsive
Although the clearest chances were for Espanyol, it was Arrasate who transmitted the most sense of constant danger, pushed by the nearly 7,000 spectators who brought Sadar back to life a year and a half later. The return of Chimy Avila, after overcoming two serious knee injuries, was an added incentive for an Osasuna who did not find a way to break the white-and-blue wall.
Lost the battle in the middle of the field, Vicente Moreno knew how to find his particular revulsion with the entry of Dimata, a striker who almost always brings different records to the Spanish attack. The tip, unbalanced in several transitions, generated two good opportunities that neither Embarba nor RdT knew how to take advantage of. The inaugural curse at the home of a Spaniard who adds a good starting point remains.
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