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Match Report: RCD Espanyol end winless run with triumph against Athletic Club
Pere Milla and Kike García earn a 2-0 victory at home
Espanyol defeated Athletic Club with goals from Pere Milla and Kike García on LaLiga Matchday 36, taking a massive step towards top flight survival at the RCDE Stadium and ending a long winless run.
Espanyol were trying to escape the battle at the bottom of the table, with Athletic Club trying to salvage a rather inconsistent league campaign.
The first 45 minutes offered intensity, speed, and a frenetic pace in both penalty areas. Both teams launched attacks, and despite the 0-0 scoreline at halftime, both goalkeepers faced eight shots.
Berenguer forced Dmitrovic into a fine stop just after the first quarter of an hour, and Unai Simon responded to keep out a good shot from Romero. Roberto, with a backheel, also forced the Athletic goalkeeper to showcase his skill.
The biggest scare for RCD Espanyol was a clearance by Urko that struck Laporte's body, sending a rebound onto the crossbar, and just before halftime a shot from Unai Gómez also hit the post.
The second half offered a similar script. Both teams remained focused on reaching the opposition goal as quickly as possible and continued to play a relentless, fast-paced, and physically demanding brand of football.
Pere Milla, who had been on the pitch for six minutes after replacing Roca, made an instant impact, acrobatically volleying home a cross from Romero to open the scoring -to the delight of the fans.
Espanyol entered the final stages of the game well-organised and composed, effectively thwarting any attempt at direct attacks by Athletic Club. From one of their own runs towards goal, Ramon Terrats exploited the space behind the opposing defence, leaving Kike García one-on-one with Unai Simón. The striker finished perfectly with his left foot to make it 2-0 and seal the victory.
It was a highly emotional and vital win for the team, spurred on by the crowd at the RCDE Stadium, to take Los Pericos up to 42 points.