Espanyol perpetuates its state of happiness with an exercise in resistance

Cornellà de LlobregatThis Espanyol is capable of anything. After 40 very good minutes against a Mallorca side with water up to their necks, and going 2-0 up on the scoreboard, two decisions by referee Hernández Hernández turned the dynamics of a match that seemed over for the revelation team of the season. But neither the controversial expulsion of Pere Milla before the break nor the 2-2 draw by Muriqi could stop Manolo González's team, who with a man less and in a brutal exercise of resistance found the 3-2, Kike Garcia's penalty, to establish themselves in third place and equal on points with FC Barcelona. Madrid, with two more, are the leaders and the next opponents of the blue and whites, at the Bernabéu.

After 15 days of a very placid national team strikeEspanyol returned to playing with the same competitive sluggishness they had before the break. Without Edu Expósito, he was relegated to the starting eleven due to physical discomfort. And against an opponent with former Real Madrid players Morlanes and Darder—who was whistled every time he came on—and former Barça player Pablo Torre in midfield, and much more capable of taking the initiative, Manolo González's team gave the ball to their heart, leaving another chance.

Precisely when the 10th minute had not even arrived, the Andalusian striker came close to scoring with a powerful shot that crashed against Leo Román's crossbar after being hit by a Balearic defender. It would have been his first goal of the season. But, for now, Espanyol isn't missing them because they have the iconic Pere Milla as their goal-scoring man. Against Mallorca, it took him just 20 minutes to score his third of the season after a delightful assist from Carlos Romero, a pass that only the Villarreal full-back could find, and which the Lleida native crossed beautifully.

Roberto's goal, by the way, wasn't long in coming. Half an hour in, the determined Espanyol forward scored his second, finishing off a superb cross from the electric Dolan that Leo Román swallowed up. It was a disastrous start for a nervous Mallorca side, on fire for days due to the controversy with their captain Dani Rodríguez—suspended from work and pay for a week and a half—who arrived in Cornellà with just one point in the league. However, just before halftime, they reduced the deficit with a goal from Muriqi, a penalty conceded by Pol Lozano. In just a couple of minutes, the game spiraled out of control for Manolo González, who saw the referee send Pere Milla off with a straight red card for controversial inconsideration following a foul by Mojica on the Catalan striker, which he refused to signal.

Arrasate shook up his team, with Dmitrovic taking center stage, requiring three consecutive saves to prevent the visitors from equalizing. Manolo González cemented the midfield, handing Charles Pickel his debut for the Blanquiazules. Just after coming on, Muriqi made it 2-2 with a fine header from Sergi Darder's cross. The Catalans' resistance lasted 20 minutes, but despite playing with a man less, Manolo González's team sought a third. Cabrera hit the crossbar, and it was Kike García, with a penalty kick won by Dolan, who scored the winning goal, perpetuating the blissful mood for an Espanyol side that now has ten points out of 12.