Darder de la Peña and a mascletà turned into a firecracker

From the mascletà to the petardazo. The 2,500 from Vila-real did not attend, but almost ten times less to the Ciutat de València, as if the parakeets already smelled the toast. It was not for less, after a single victory (in the capital of the Turia, precisely) in 14 outings. A lateral center, from the right, Cabrera in the photo… It would seem the usual, well, if it weren’t for the fact that Espanyol had won the game against Levante. Before a docile, nervous adversary, seized by the extreme need for him. The mistake on duty was starred this time by an unexpected actor, Joan García –who had entered due to an injury to Diego López–, who in a fatal exit that recalled his unfortunate performance against Elche led to the tie. Petardazo in times of mascletà.

Darder of the Rock. The scene took place in March 2022, but moved to any afternoon three decades ago. From when De la Peña ran through the spinal cord and, almost without raising his head –as if moved by a remote control attached to his brain–, he filtered an inside pass to the front, where Tamudo intercepted, control and shot in the race. Goal. Darder, the guide of this Espanyol, and Puado, the youth squad who hung the Olympic silver just like that ’23’, emulated their predecessors in Orriols, in a target of – with permission from Raúl de Tomás, less fine than usual – authentic ‘pencil sharpener duo’.

Reward to Calero. Vicente Moreno insistent on his line-ups, the question remained as to whether Sergi Gómez would return after his absence against Getafe due to an “indisposition” or if Calero would remain. The coach bet on rewarding the latter, who had fully taken advantage of the opportunity, in an initial team without news and almost as predictable – with exceptions such as the time that Puado and Vilhena exchanged bands – as the parakeets’ home performance this season. In a long match approach, designed so that in the eyes of a Levante forced to win it weighed like a bomb with a timer, although sometimes what weighed were the eyelids.

Diego López, as a hero… Espanyol always suffers, otherwise it would be another team, and even more so if they visit a rival who is risking his life. And in those moments Diego López usually appears, this time at game time, when another of those talented footballers who stepped on the Ciutat de València, De Frutos, rebelled, stood out and stood alone against the Galician, who from the ground snatched the ball from him.

… Gafado en Orriols. It didn’t come for free for Diego, who lay there, evoking –luckily, very remotely– that major scare four years ago on the same stage, which he then had to leave in an ambulance with a head injury and loss of consciousness. On this occasion, he was due to a blow to the foot, which led to his replacement by Joan García. Meanwhile, the Levantinist Oier looked at him from the bench. The rest we already know.