CE Sabadell achieved a commendable draw (1-1) against RCD Espanyol at field 1 of Dani Jarque, in a pre-season friendly that the arlequinados dominated for long stretches. An own goal by Rubén Sánchez put the visitors ahead, but Kike García equalised minutes later.
CE Sabadell demonstrated their solidity in a pre-season friendly against RCD Espanyol, securing a draw (1-1) at the Ciudad Deportiva Dani Jarque. The arlequinados, led by Ferran Costa, stood up to a perico side that, despite playing at home, struggled to overcome the visitors' pressure during the first hour of play.
The match, played in front of 1,572 spectators, began with alternating dominance, but soon Sabadell took control of possession. The Sabadell players prevented local forwards Marcos Fernández and Roberto from feeling comfortable, closing down lines and forcing Espanyol to play quickly. The first clear chance came from a cross by Omar El Hilali that arlequinado goalkeeper Diego Fuoli deflected to a corner with a great intervention.
In the closing stages of the first half, Espanyol began to find their rhythm, but Sabadell responded with a precise shot from Pere Pons that could have opened the scoring. The scare of the match came in added time when Marcos and Pere Pons collided and had to be attended to, although both recovered quickly.
After the break, Espanyol made multiple substitutions, but Sabadell maintained their momentum. The pericos tried to play long to find their forwards, while the arlequinados continued to press high. Miguelete grazed the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box, and shortly after, in the 72nd minute, a mistake by local defender Adama Timera allowed Rodrígo to shoot; the ball, after touching Rubén Sánchez, found its way into Fortuño's net (0-1).
Espanyol's reaction was swift. Just four minutes later, the connection between Roger Hinojo and Kike García worked: the forward found space and with a crossed shot beat José Ortega (1-1). With the equaliser, the blanquiazules showed more clarity and sought a second goal. Jofre Carreras came close with a crossed shot that Ortega saved, and Pere Milla hit the crossbar after a cross from Hinojo.
For Sabadell, the draw feels like a missed opportunity after dominating large portions of the match. Ferran Costa's team continues to show a good image in pre-season, with a solid defence and quick transitions. The next commitment for the arlequinados will be crucial to continue fine-tuning ahead of the league start.
Espanyol, for their part, will need to correct the defensive errors that nearly cost them the match. Manolo González, the perico coach, made up to eleven changes throughout the match, which hindered the continuity of play. The local fans, fully engaged from the stands, hope the team is in top condition for the league debut.
The match left good feelings for Sabadell, who competed toe-to-toe against a higher-category rival. The pre-season continues, and the arlequinados have room for improvement, but the draw at Dani Jarque boosts the group's confidence for the upcoming challenges.
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