Diego Lopez: Sober Galician game, very safe under sticks and at the exits. He barely had a job, apart from a shot from Tete Morente who blocked down and a shot from Lucas at point-blank range that he served like a handball goalkeeper even though it was offside. He couldn’t do too much on goal. The shot was dry, powerful and crossed. And he appeared on the last play of the game to save the 2-2.
Oscar Gil: Again he gave a physical display. He reached the finishing areas, with an attempt to pass from Morlanes that he failed to hole out. Although Espanyol creates more danger from Pedrosa’s side, Gil opens the field and creates spaces. Defensively he was solid although he suffered in some actions, such as an internship by Morente that he could not stop. He ended up injured.
Sergi Gomez: The center-back made a serious mistake in a coverage that was about to cost Espanyol a scare. He suffered in some aerial action, but in general he fulfilled in the exit of the ball and in the duels.
Cabrera: Determinant in the area by cutting off two dangerous actions by Elche in the first half, he did not suffer this time with the ball as he had the help of Darder and Morlanes in the second half. He smashed a header off the crossbar after a corner kick. The Uruguayan only made a mistake in one action, that of 2-2, when clearing towards the center and not towards the side, which led to the tie.
Pedrosa: Its level continues to rise. Pedrosa was the only offensive argument in the first half, in which he dared to finish. Solvent in defense, attentive and focused, in the second half he assisted RdT from 1-2 with a superb cross to the far post and continued to strike down his side.
David López: Substituted at halftime, signaled by losing the ball in 1-0 due to being slow and inattentive in an exit of the ball, the midfielder is not quite comfortable in that position. He lost another two balls in risk areas and Espanyol burned with his substitution. After several weeks injured, he already showed symptoms of a lack of rhythm for that position against Cádiz.
Darder: The Mallorcan played a remarkable game, less showy or protagonist in goal actions than in other weeks, but defensively supportive and decisive in the associative game in the second half. In the first half, at 18 ‘, he fell off in an action that was able to finish on goal, in the same way that he was attentive in the second plays with 1-2.
Melendo: He found spaces in a wild first half and served three deep assists to Embarba, Pedrosa and RdT. He even had a chance to shoot at goal inside the area, but sinned slowly. He had fun in the second half playing with Morlanes and Darder, a duo who speak the same language. He ended up touched and replaced.
Embarrass: Like Darder, Embarba did not have a very showy game, but he held the ball in the moments of stress in the first half, unbalanced in some actions and gave continuity to the game. He helped Gil and Aleix Vidal on that right side.
RdT: He scored his fifth goal, again of a high difficulty. First, with the right and the short stick, he hit a cross from Pedrosa from 45 meters. He had more chances, but Casilla or the lack of aim prevented him from leaving Martínez Valero with more goals. Again, it made a difference.
Wu Lei: Unpublished. The Chinese striker was the surprise in the lineup, but again he could not contribute much. Misplaced, he barely touched balls, nor did his teammates look for him. And he couldn’t help defensively. He sacrificed himself for RdT to be released, but failed to contribute.
Morlanes: The party changed. Not only did he give Espanyol dynamism, intention and possession, what they needed after 1-0 at halftime, but he also gave Óscar Gil an assist that he could not take advantage of and scored 1-1, one of the best goals of the season . Espanyol lived great minutes when Darder and Melendo joined him to play.
Nico Melamed: Revulsive, decisive. It gave him game and imbalance. He took fouls, dribbled against rivals, placed centers and generated a lot of danger. He lacked precision in some actions, such as a pass to RdT in 89 that escaped long.
Yangel: He made his debut as a Espanyol player. He showed his physical power, had some action in attack to finish and was the involuntary protagonist of 2-2 when he collided with Cabrera’s rejection with his leg.
Aleix Vidal: Low against Cádiz, he returned to play right winger but Oscar Gil’s injury made him move to the side. It did not have much impact.
Merida: He came out for Óscar Gil, he lost some balls in midfield, but he worked and closed his zone to defend that 2-2.