The most opportune Andalusian allows Espanyol to take another giant step

BarcelonaEspanyol has taken another giant step towards staying in the First Division. After storming Vallecas, the Blue and Whites reaffirmed their improved away performance at Balaídos (0-2) with a valuable victory that moves them six points clear of relegation. In Vigo, Manolo González's men once again demonstrated that they have lost their fear of playing away from home, showing defensive solidity—a second consecutive clean sheet—and their attacking acumen. Roberto Fernández and Joan Garcia dominated the areas and gave even more hope to a team that is coming into the season on a tear and will play four of their five matches away from the RCDE Stadium this month. It had been seven years, since 2018, since Espanyol had not had two consecutive away wins in the First Division.

This time, they were able to neutralize a Celta side that was very patient with the ball and intense without it. The Vigo side managed long, but also rather fruitless, possessions. In the first half, in fact, Joan Garcia only had to intervene to block a shot from Alfon. He had more work to do after the break, when he thwarted a shot from Durán and, above all, a dangerous finish from Aspas. The player from Sallent continues to prove he's worth every euro of his release clause, with increasingly valuable saves.

Organized at the back, Espanyol knew how to neutralize the mobility of the home team's attackers with order and solidarity, two essential qualities under Manolo González. With the ball, the Blue and Whites showed less haste than they had months ago, playing with greater composure and less haste. If the game needed to be slowed down, a safe pass back was better than losing it in a compromised area. A valuable resource, especially on an afternoon when neither Lozano nor, especially, Urko were particularly precise in distributing the play forward.

Roberto Fernández's Faith

Celta's strong positioning made it difficult for the visitors to progress beyond midfield. Espanyol rarely succeeded, but they were deadly. In a vertical transition, Romero returned a one-two with Puado, who perfectly read a run from Roberto Fernández to deliver a precise pass into space, which he took full advantage of. He launched himself onto the pitch and put Espanyol ahead with his first shot between the posts.

Celta increased their dominance and pressure and surrounded Espanyol even more in their own half after the restart, but Espanyol gave no chances and found in Roberto Fernández's faith a valuable reward. The Andalusian, never one to give up on a ball, stained the wallet of Carlos Domínguez, the last defender, and scored his signature double. Fifth goal in three and a half months from a striker who is proving Fran Garagarza right. The worst news is Puado's yellow card in the closing stages, which will rule him out of the Getafe match next Friday.