Espanyol has learned with Diego Martínez that surrender is not an option. The white-and-blues were about to lift a game that they were losing 0-3 just before the break against a Sevilla that had to suffer bravely to resurrect Cornellà-El Prat (2-3). Julen Lopetegui breathes at the expense of a Spanish team that has come close to scraping a point in what is surely Leandro Cabrera’s worst game as a Spanish player. The Uruguayan has been involved in two of the three away goals in an afternoon to forget in which he has not stopped making mistakes.
After becoming an impregnable bunker in San Mamés, Espanyol showed its most tender version in the first half in which it resurrected a Sevilla that arrived with many doubts. The Andalusians have found in Espanyol’s Uruguayan central defender a very valuable ally to add the first victory of the season after five setbacks. First, it was a bad rejection in the middle of the field that allowed Sevilla to take the lead when only 44 seconds had passed. Cabrera didn’t come out unscathed either from the photo of the second away goal, a very badly defended corner in which Álvaro Fernández blocked En-Nesyri’s first attempt, but which no defense refused. Carmona has not wasted it. The young Sevilla defender has also been attentive to the rude mistake made by Cabrera in the area. The central defender failed to clear a ball that he had under control and left Álvaro Fernández in front of Carmona. Undoubtedly, the worst afternoon as a Spaniard for the first white-and-blue captain, a much-discussed figure at the start of the season who, in addition, has just signed the renewal until 2026.
The lack of forcefulness of the Uruguayan is not a new headache for a Spaniard who tried, without success, to incorporate a hierarchical central before the closing of the market. A problem that has remained unresolved this summer and that the sports management would do well to solve in the next three months, before the winter market. Money, the main obstacle to bringing César Montes a couple of weeks ago, will no longer be an impediment in January for a Spaniard who will soon be able to count on the amount that Rayo will pay for RDT (about 12 million euros), in addition of the generous fee that will release the striker. The Madrid player, who has been the object of Sevilla’s desire throughout the summer, spent the afternoon in Vallecas cheering on what will be his new team.
Half-hearted reaction
Diego Martínez has repeated almost the same eleven that he put forward against Athletic, with the only novelty being Sergi Gómez in Calero’s place. But Sevilla have won the game for the white-and-blues in the middle of the field. Isco, Óliver Torres, Jordán and Lamela played thrillers hiding the ball in front of a Spaniard forced to swim against the current. The Andalusians have tried to waste time and defend with the ball against a Spaniard who has been overtaken in the middle of the field.
When everything seemed lost, with a resounding 0-3 on the scoreboard, Espanyol decided that it was not the time to lose faith. Just before the break, Puado caused a penalty at the hands of Acuña that Joselu did not waste. Espanyol went to the dressing room hurt, but not dead. Diego Martínez has added a fourth striker, in desperation, and Espanyol have found the second. Braithwaite, ready to become the new idol of the white-and-blue fans, spurred Cornellà-El Prat to score 2-3. The game, suddenly, had changed its sign.
Espanyol have set the pace to look for the third, forcing a nervous Sevilla to take steps back. The Andalusians have tried to cool the match with long possessions to punish the tired legs of the white-and-blues. The expulsion of Lamela for a tackle on Brian Oliván a few minutes from the end allowed Espanyol to finish the game by encircling Lopetegui’s team. Cabrera had the last goal of the game, a header from a corner in the 100th minute that narrowly missed the target. The Uruguayan could not redeem himself from his sins against a Sevilla that did not breathe until the final whistle.
