RCD Espanyol - Athletic Club

Athletic Club has drawn in Montjuic at one goal against Espanyol and has classified for the Copa quarterfinals after defeating them (3-4) in the penalty shoot-out. The goals have been work of Luis Garcia and Iraola.
Now, it will have to face Racing de Santander, initially on the 23 and 30 January. The penalties were scored as follows:

Garmendia – Goal
Tamudo – Goal
David López – Miss
Valdo – Goal
Yeste – Goal
Moha -Goal
Susaeta – Goal
Lola – Miss
Iraola -Goal
Torrejón – Miss

That’s how it is with the Copa competition. Its early expiration date often makes matches a bit crazier, many times filled with heart and lacking game, a little more exciting in this more and more equalled soccer at the expense of small details that decide or turn a game around. This time, in addition, with the benefit of the penalties and its favourable face to be able to eliminate one of the top-ranked teams of the current Liga. Espanyol is in the higher places of the table, but it hasn’t been more than Athletic these two matches. Our team has not prevailed with clarity either, but at least, in addition to the converted penalties, the statistics of attempts also incline in our favour. This ends, for now, the negative streak that takes us back to, without going too far, the pairings with Betis (Valverde was our coach) and Cluj.

For more than one continuing in the Copa was practically impossible, and more so after the draw in San Mamés, and this is what we’ve been able to read and hear -that the players that travelled to Montjuic were an imitation of the clumsy pack and it was just a matter of covering the file. They didn’t even consider the fact that with respect to last week’s starting eleven who played such a commendable match in Bilbao, the only ones missing were the injured Gabilondo and Aduriz, substituted by David Lopez and Llorente. The rest, meaning Aranzubia, Iraola, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, Del Horno, Muñoz, Tiko, Susaeta and Yeste, all repeated as starters.

What is true, for one reason or another, also missing, among others, besides the two already mentioned were Iraizoz, Ocio, Orbaiz, Etxeberria and Javi Martinez… and it seemed that Espanyol was going to play lame… because it lacked De la Peña. Oh, well!

With things as they are, for some or others, it was necessary to score in a soulless Lluis Companys. The ‘substitutes’ have begun the task. David Lopez approached the objective with an off target volley in the minute 8, but two later things got complicated: a volley by Moisés which Aranzubia wasn’t able to hold on to was picked up from the rebound by Jonathan and his back pass was sent into the net by Luis Garcia. The same pending subject, to score, but the compensation was no longer the classification. Llorente tried it with a header in the minute 14 and a hyperactive-on-the-attack Del Horno shot from outside the area, but was off target.

Right around that time, Zabaleta was injured. His substitute, Torrejón, was placed as centre and Lacruz changed to the right wing. Meanwhile, Del Horno doing his thing: an off-target header in the minute 29 and new shot, though barely out, from outside of the area in the 31st. Espanyol was comfortable with Riera and Valdo’s verticality as a main threat.

However, the match was not free of a detail that could tip the scale or, at least, to mark or accentuate tendencies. Luis Garcia’s hand found Tiko’s face and the referee considered it deserved a red card. A controversial play, perhaps an accurate send-off, but that left Espanyol with ten players and the referee being criticised by the scarce but rather noisy followers. As had already happened against Hércules, numerical superiority and, same image and likeness of that match, rojiblanca inability in the following minutes to play the ball with sense with the wind as an improvised enemy, turning the long shots into unreachable balls.

Just in case, Lafuente continued demonstrating that he’s a good goalkeeper and has stopped a forced shot on goal by Llorente in the minute 35. Before the break, extending what would happen in the second half, Valdo enjoyed a good attempt in the minute 46, but it was saved by Aranzubia.

At the re-start Garmendia came in for Muñoz and Yeste was changed to the double pivot. At first glance, it was all about repeating the ‘Hercules’ effect. Espanyol took a step backwards and although Jonathan was a sort of a castaway, the first opportunity was a cross shot by Riera in the minute 54. Athletic had trouble creating danger, the goal was essential, but without opportunities it turned out impossible. The first approach with some sort of danger was carried out by Llorente in the minute 62, but his shot on goal ended in corner.

Caparrós decided bring out the only player with a true offensive profile that he had left on the bench and that’s how Aitor Ramos made his debut with the Athletic jersey. The player from Bermeo jumped onto the field in the minute 68 to substitute Tiko. David Lopez was changed to the double pivot and an authentic dance of positions began: Susaeta moved to the left wing and Garmendia on the right with Ramos next to Llorente. During many phases of the match Athletic got to play with up to four attackers almost in line, but it lacked clarity of ideas to enter the wings with superiority and that facilitated the defensive job for Espanyol.

Despite all the grief, Athletic didn’t have more choice but to keep going. Del Horno shot on goal a volley in the minute 69 but Lafuente deflected the ball with his foot. The later corner was finished off by Ustaritz with a header, but high. Garmendia also connected a header in the minute 71, but it was stopped by Lafuente. In the 73, Ustaritz repeated, but in this case his header found the near post and the rebound wasn’t ended well by Iraola, since his shot went high over the crossbar. The impotence was starting to extend and on top of that Valverde brought out his favourite weapon and that of the fans: Tamudo, who replaced Jonathan and Moha in for Riera. In our team, Prieto substituted Ustaritz.

Shortly after, Clemente wasn’t able to take advantage of a good counter-attack. Luckily, Athletic did not give up and on the following opportunity, after several minutes of patient and painful waiting, the necessary goal arrived. Llorente headed once again, it was the minute 82, but this time Iraola finished off Lafuente’s rebound with more accuracy; a draw and, in the purest of theories, everything to favour. In fact, Aitor Ramos was able to make his debut even more unforgettable, but in the minute 87 his header, which ended a good set play, has gone wide. In the 89th, Susaeta left Lacruz behind, but after doing the most difficult he chose to find an angle instead of expanding and Lafuente saved without difficulties.

It looked like we were headed into extra-time, but Tamudo was on the verge of reviving the curse of the last minutes in Montjuic, when he took a ball from the midfield line and stood before Aranzubia’s area, but his poisoned shot on goal with the outside of the right foot barely missed wide. Once recovered from the scare, Iraola had his attempts in the minute 92, but Lafuente deflected.

At the definitive half hour, or almost, Tamudo kept pressuring and in the minutes between the 93 to the 98 prompted two yellows on Prieto, equalling things numerically, however, minutes later didn’t make the referee itch with a fake dive in Aranzubia’s area. Del Horno changed to the centre and David Lopez to the wing. Madness, with comings and goings, blocked counter-attacks, tension, mutual respect and a header by Moisés to the post in the minute 100. In the penalty shoot-out, better aim and the January calendar is already full. Always welcomed!

This team has almost thirty players at the disposal of the technical staff and between them they’ll try to make the Copa and the Liga as pleasant as possible for us. In the meantime, it’s now all about fleeing the fire and to do this Osasuna will not be a less complicated rival on Sunday.