It couldn’t be. RCD Espanyol, in search of its third consecutive victory in front of its fans, gave up against a huge Ayoze Pérez, author of the two goals for a Villarreal forced to overcome Jofre Carreras’ initial goal to take the three points from Cornellà-El Prat ( 1-2), a stage always favorable for ‘groguets’ interests.
The first ovation of the afternoon went to José María Calzón, delegate of the first team for more than 40 years and honored by the club just a week ago. On the green, news on both sides. Brian Oliván and Alejo Veliz entered for the parrot, leaving out Carlos Romero and Walid Cheddira, and for the ‘groguet’ Raúl Albiol, Ilias Akhomach, Pape Gueye and Tierno Barry, a tough nut to crack (1.95m.) for Marash Kumbulla and Lele Cabrera, the first to put the ‘oops’ in the fans’ bodies.
One of his own, when he finished off an Ilias cross against his own goal after six minutes. Between Joan Garcia, feline, and the crossbar they avoided disaster. Brilliant start to a first act with more interruptions than opportunities, at least until the final moments. Of note is the good work of Pol Lozano, Alex Král’s dance partner for the second consecutive match, and the electricity of Ilias, a pain in the neck for Oliván.
From the boots of the Moroccan international, born in Els Hostalets de Pierola, almost all the danger arose for Villarreal, who lost Albiol due to injury after half an hour. The veteran central defender, 39 years old, took the worst part in a clash of heads with Alejo Veliz and had to be replaced by Eric Bailly, with a past in the ’21’.
Opinions were divided when it came to receiving the Ivorian, a luxury spectator in Jofre’s 1-0, who thus achieved his first goal in the premier category. Brian surprised by serving a free kick from the front and the player from Girona, with the invaluable help of Santi Comesaña, beat Diego Conde, the goalkeeper who saves the most in this League along with the Spanish player Joan Garcia.
The man from Sallent could do nothing to avoid, in the 51st minute, the first of Ayoze’s tally, who found the net for the fourth consecutive day. Baena played a lateral foul with music and the former Real Betis player anticipated Cabrera to equalize the contest just before the break. 1-1 and the game broke after passing through the locker room, with the two teams surrounding the rival goals.
First with a left foot shot from Ilias that touched the net from above and then with a shot from Puado that was blocked ‘in extremis’ by Bailly. Barry also had it, very tender in his attempt to deflect a whip from Sergi Cardona, although the one who once again took the lead was Ayoze, only surpassed by the seven goals of the Barcelona player Robert Lewandowski at this start of the season.
The Canarian’s sixth came after the hour mark and after another assist from Baena, who is on his way to repeating as the best passer in our football. The yellow ’16’ found Ayoze on the front line, turned around due to the passivity of Lozano and Kumbulla and put it at Joan Garcia’s short post.