Pau López takes revenge on Espanyol

Cornellà de LlobregatBetis is in their way at Espanyol. As happened last May, when a great goal from Antoni at the last minute put the Parakeets' permanence in La Liga in doubt, last night the Andalusians came from behind to demolish the fortress of the RCDE Stadium. A great header from Cucho Hernández, an excellent finish from Ez Abde and a penalty save from Puado by Pau López, who eight years ago He did not want to renew with Espanyol Disillusioned with the sporting management, they suffered their first defeat at the Pericos' home and marred an exciting start to the season, which will conclude during the international break with a change of hands at the club: Alan Pace will officially replace Chen Yansheng as an owner.

Espanyol are a chameleon-like team, accustomed to settling in close to their own penalty area to expand into space, but also capable of linking up and taking the initiative, even against superior opponents. They confirmed this against Betis, which according to Manolo González is "one of the five best squads in the First Division," and who were surprised by the Perico approach, dominating the ball throughout the start of the match; largely thanks to the physique of Pol Lozano, who was ever-present, and the judgment of Edu Expósito, the Blue and Whites' best player, the one who directs and makes the rest play. Both were key players in the 1-0, which came in the first 15 minutes.

The Cubelles midfielder took a corner that Pol Lozano, assisted by a back pass from Riedel, sent into the top corner of former Espanyol player Pau López's net for his first goal as an Espanyol player after more than a hundred matches in the blue and white shirt. From then on, Espanyol returned to being the reactive team that excels on the counterattack, and Betis, led by Antony and Lo Celso, the last team to win at the RCDE Stadium, did what they were expected to do from the start: subdue the home side from possession.

This Espanyol side is more dangerous without the ball than with it, and could have sealed the win with a shot from Puado and another from Pere Milla, who shot too centrally. Fornals also had a chance to equalize, but Dmitrovic and the post prevented it. The Serbian goalkeeper was unable to stop the good form of Cucho Hernández, who scored for the fourth consecutive matchday with a surgical header that leveled the scoreline half an hour from time.

It was the beginning of the end for the Blue and Whites, who saw how just nine minutes later, former Barça player Abde turned the score around and produced a textbook counterattack with a pass into the net from Dmitrovic, who was unable to cope with the speed and precision of the Betis players. Neither the sparkling Koleosho nor Roberto, who came close to making it 2-2, could prevent a repeat of the situation from five months ago and Espanyol losing for the first time this season at the RCDE Stadium. Neither could Puado, who missed a penalty in the final moments of the match, well saved by Pau López after Valentín Gómez's save in Cabrera.