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Match Report: 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano
RCD Espanyol are beaten on the road on Matchday 6
RCD Espanyol's LaLiga Matchday 6 visit to Butarque ended in defeat for Los Pericos, in a 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano. Roberto Fernández' second half goal was not enough to earn a share of the points.
Espanyol left Butarque with a defeat that was effectively sealed in the first half—entering the break trailing—though they rallied in the second half, stepping up their game and playing more in line with what Manolo González had demanded.
In the hours leading up to the match, the talk had centered on when Rayo would return to Vallecas and end their forced exile in Leganés. Minutes into the action on the pitch getting underway, and the fans were celebrating a goal from Álvaro García, after a defensive lapse by RCD Espanyol.
The 1-0 lead paved the way for the hosts and weighed heavily on the morale of Los Pericos, who struggled to find a way to threaten.
Bauza had a good shot that went slightly wide in the 19th minute and, shortly after, former RCD Espanyol player Adrià Pedrosa made it 2-0 while chasing down a ball, even as the crowd and half his teammates were appealing for a penalty. Whilst the goal stood, there was a possible case for play to have been stopped for a dive.
Espanyol struggled to find their footing and string together meaningful attacks. For Rayo Vallecano, Sergio Camello tried his luck a couple of times before the break, including a shot against the crossbar.
Manolo González made changes at halftime, giving the team a boost in energy and attacking depth.
Roberto Fernández scored his sixth goal in six games, finishing off a through-ball from Javi Hernández with extraordinary skill, pure athleticism and exceptional technique, taking the score to 2-1.
Clemens Riedel tried his luck with a powerful shot from outside the box that the goalkeeper struggled to deflect out for a corner, as Espanyol rallied. Edu Expósito also had an attempt miss the target.
The visitors forced Rayo to drop deep to protect their lead, but the equaliser never came, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth at the end of the game for RCD Espanyol.