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Winning start to preseason

Goals from Bauza, Marcos and Roberto give Espanyol a 0-3 victory over UE Olot

RCD Espanyol's first test of preseason saw Los Pericos win 0-3 against UE Olot, amidst summer heat, families in the stands and a desire to get ready for the upcoming campaign.

The number of chances created by the team was a big positive from the game. Ballesté, the home side's goalkeeper, became his team's hero with a series of saves from Kike García's efforts: three in total, plus one strike off the post, before the half-hour mark.

A well-worked team move in the 27th minute allowed Rafa Bauza to open the scoring after an assist from Jofre. Shortly before the break, Kike set up Pere Milla, but the forward's shot drifted narrowly wide of the post in what proved to be the final clear chance of the first stanza.

Both coaches fielded new XIs after the break, as is standard practice at this stage of the summer.

The tempo remained high and Espanyol continued to threaten. First, Tyrhys Dolan produced an excellent slaloming run that and a shot just wide, then Roberto's effort was saved by Jordi Saucedo, in goal for the second half.

Marcos Fernández then came close in the 66th minute, his shot skimming the post after a cross from Omar.

As the match drew to a close, Marcos Fernández finished off a cross from Javi Hernández to make it 0-2.

Just one minute later, Roberto rounded the opposing goalkeeper to score Espanyol's third and seal a 0-3 victory, off a setup from Pol Lozano. The team thus took a positive win ahead of a busy few days of preparations.