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Match Report: RCD Espanyol bounce back with win over Villarreal CF

Los Pericos take a road win in LaLiga

Rounding off a whirlwind week for RCD Espanyol, Los Pericos took a 0-1 win on the road against Villarreal CF, picking up a much needed three points. Leandro Cabrera scored the only goal of the game, converting in the second half.

Sergio García was in the dugout on an interim basis, with new full-time incumbent Eder Sarabia serving a two-match ban and watching on from a private box at the stadium. García had little time to prepare the team for the visit to the Estadio de La Cerámica, but sensed a need to shake things up, granting minutes to official debutant Alejandro Santiago and Rafèl Bauza.

RCD Espanyol showed plenty of fight; as early as the second minute, they created their first chance, with a header from Roberto Fernández that went wide. Defensively, they remained untroubled, compact and industrious, always looking to push upfield the moment they regained possession.

Thanks to this intensity, they denied the hosts a shot until the 25th minute. Two minutes later, however, Los Pericos faced a moment of anxiety in the form of a VAR review: Carmona had gone down inside the box during a challenge with Alejandro Santiago, but no foul was eventually given.

Around the half-hour mark, Bryan Zaragoza tried his luck with an individual effort, while Cardona tested Ángel Fortuño’s reflexes with a point-blank range attempt, which the goalkeeper handled with great composure.

A long-range shot from Nicolas Pepe, which sailed wide, served as the final action before the break.

Espanyol started the second half with greater focus, and in the 48th minute, Roberto seemed to have scored following a textbook counterattack. This time, however, VAR judged a freeze-frame had revealed a slight bit of contact between players in the buildup, and the goal was disallowed.

During a sustained attacking move, Zaragoza delivered a precise cross, and Cabrera stepped in to tuck the ball into the back of the net. This time the goal stood, as Espanyol took a 0–1 lead.

From that point on, Espanyol focused on maintaining possession and controlling the game. Jan Peries also made his debut, helping to bring a sense of composure to the team’s play.

RCD Espanyol dealt with Villarreal’s advances by defending firmly and keeping their lines compact, holding on for the victory.