Diego Lopez: After his mistake against Las Palmas in the pass that cost Lluís expulsion, the Galician goalkeeper redeemed himself with a safe encounter in the air game and with some worthwhile intervention, such as a shot in minute '15 after a corner that cleared point-blank. Castellón barely arrived, so he had a night as cold as it was calm.
Miguelón: He replaced Óscar Gil after a few weeks on the bench and provided more depth and defensive security than his predecessor. A dagger from the side, the defensive seams were barely visible, he even dared to step on the area in the finishing zone on occasion. He also cut several changes of orientation that the Castellón players sought.
David Lopez: Before starting the club gave him a shirt to commemorate the 200 games, and then he completed a remarkable match again. Apart from his safety behind and his departure from the ball, David López flirted with the goal. In fact, and after several shots in the first half after corners, he finished off on goal in the second half. It was 3-0, but Puado, offside, touched it before it entered and was annulled.
Calero: He returned to the starting team from the meeting against Leganés, in November. Despite acting on the left profile, the one that dominates the least, he was the most prominent defender, cutting actions, prevailing in duels and getting the ball played. It was a Calero who played comfortable, the one of the best versions.
Pedrosa: The left back completed one of the most balanced games of the course. It was a knife to the left and center with discretion, on many occasions connecting with RdT. In defense he hardly suffered and even helped his teammates with coverage in the Castellón attacks. Very focused throughout the meeting. Applauded by Diego López in many actions.
Keidi Bare: The midfielder has established himself as Darder's partner. It gives balance so that the sides can deploy, tries not to lose balls when recovering and corrects when the team is out of balance. You have found your site.
Nico Melamed.
GORKA LEIZA
Darder: The midfielder participated in the creation, carrying the ball from one side to the other with rigor, like a card dealer. In the 30th minute he filtered an excellent pass to Embarba, although the winger failed to reach it. He sacrificed himself defensively.
Embarba: It was not the Embarba of the best occasions nor the last ones, in which it has cost him to overflow as at the beginning. The former Rayo tried, he tried to connect with his centers with RdT and had a clear opportunity in the 70, but his shot was deflected. Puado and Melamed had more influence in the game.
Handful: The Swiss army knife, which adapts to any position, scored his fifth goal of the course and tied with Embarba, who follow in the footsteps of De Tomás. He played more inside than outside, taking advantage of the spaces left by RdT, moving with intelligence. He scored another goal offside that did not go up to the scoreboard and collaborated helping defensively.
Melamed: It was the surprise in the line-up and after ten minutes of matches he already added a goal. The 19-year-old midfielder has earned a place in the eleven. He acted on the left, he got on with Pedrosa and the rest of the nearby players. The goal defines him within the area: he sensed where the ball would fall and in a second he controlled and finished off the net.
RdT: Did not score but came close to goal on several occasions. The forward ended up unhinged by his mistakes, but he volunteered and was in the right place to continue expanding his scoring account. He lacked success, only.
Melendo: The playmaker came out plugged from the bench. He found ease also due to the facilities that a not very compact Castellón gave. The player tried to filter several goal passes and had a shot that he threw too high.
Wu Lei: With Espanyol dominating, the Chinese player, who acted on the right side, tried to deepen in some actions but did not find the situation to score again, as he had done in the Cup. He did not have much impact in a match already decided.
Merida: With spaces, he was able to specify some aesthetic passes with his great left foot, such as one to Pedrosa who crossed with danger. The midfielder balanced the team and continued to help manage the match with ease.
Pol lozano: It did not have too much prominence when playing few minutes. He participated in the great parade party to close the first round leader after his good performance against Burgos.
Vargas: A dangerous cross after an overflow is the only thing he could do in the few minutes in which he participated.