RCD Espanyol drew 1-1 against CE Sabadell this Saturday at the Ciudad Deportiva Dani Jarque. Kike García scored the blanquiazul goal in a match marked by heat and physical strain.
RCD Espanyol concluded their series of friendlies at the Ciudad Deportiva Dani Jarque with a 1-1 draw against CE Sabadell, in a pre-season match played this Saturday. The team, managed by Manolo González, who had previously won their last two matches (3-0 against Olot and 4-0 against Pau FC), could not overcome a Sabadell side that put up a strong fight and took the lead.
The blanquiazul coach opted for a starting eleven very close to what could be the regular lineup for the season, featuring several of the newly signed players. The high temperatures and the accumulated workload in the early weeks of preparation affected the pace of the match, which saw few clear chances in the first half.
Espanyol tried to take the initiative, but struggled to create danger in the final third. The most notable opportunity before the break came from Omar El Hilali, whose cross forced goalkeeper Fuoli to deflect the ball over the crossbar. Meanwhile, Sabadell also came close to scoring with a header from Pere Pons that went wide.
Among the most active players for Espanyol was the newly signed Álex Calatrava from Castellón, who created several of his team's most dangerous approaches during the first half. After the break, Espanyol stepped up and began to look for gaps in the opposing defence more frequently, forcing the Sabadell goalkeeper to intervene in several situations.
As is customary in pre-season, Manolo González made almost a complete team change around the hour mark to distribute minutes and maintain intensity. Just before the hydration break, a cross from Jofre found a deflection from Pere Milla, whose shot went just past the post. However, it was Sabadell who scored first: after an attacking move from the striped team, Rubén Sánchez inadvertently put the ball into his own net while trying to prevent a rival's shot, making it 0-1 on the scoreboard.
Espanyol's reaction was immediate. Hinojo threaded a pass into space for Kike García, who calmly finished past José Ortega to level the match. Barely a minute later, the forward was involved in another dangerous play, providing a ball that Pere Milla just missed by inches. Following this, the blanquiazul team had one last chance to claim victory when a header from Pere Milla hit the crossbar.
Although the team improved their performance after the substitutions and the equalising goal, the best chances came only in the final minutes, in a match where Sabadell presented a solid image and challenged Espanyol for much of the game. The draw leaves a bittersweet taste after the previous two victories, but the match served for the team to continue accumulating minutes and competitive load.
Espanyol will now travel to the United Kingdom to face the final stage of their summer preparation, where they will play several friendlies before the start of the season. The coaching staff is confident that the demands of the upcoming matches will allow the team to be ready for their league debut.
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