Espanyol, between heaven and hell in their duels with Iraola

Sanctioned for his expulsion from last matchday against Mallorca, Andoni Iraola will not sit this Sunday on the bench at RCDE Stadium – His second, Unai Mendia, will do it – but he will come again as a visitor, even from the stands, to a Espanyol stadium. And that facet, which he debuts as a coach, he experienced many times as a player. The funny thing is that, 12 visits between Montjuïc and Cornellà, and 1,038 minutes played in the blue and white fiefdom, only one ended with victory. But in two he struck, like a lion that he was throughout his career, lethal claws to the parakeet.

Debut at the Estadi Olímpic on March 27, 2004 (2-1), the first of the blows was in the return of the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, on January 16, 2008. Iraola equalized in minute 83 the 1-0 that Luis García had established in minute 10, also tying a tie that would be decided on penalties (he contributed one himself) in favor of Athletic after 1-1 at the end of all regulation time.

The second blow also occurred in the Cup, but it was much more painful for Espanyol, already in Cornellà, in the return of the semifinals, March 4, 2015. The Guipuzcoan did not score that night, but he did participate in the 90 minutes of the comeback of the rojiblancos against a perica squad that was seen in the final. That 0-2 was, not in vain, his only victory in a blue and white fiefdom. His balance is completed by three draws and up to eight defeats.

Anyway, Espanyol also experienced joyful moments with Iraola in front as an Athletic footballer. As qualification for the UEFA Cup which was certified on May 29, 2005, in a 2-0. Or the key triumph for a miraculous permanence, on May 17, 2009, 1-0, just two days from the end. In order not to lose the habit, his last visit to the RCDE Stadium until this Sunday ended with a 1-0 for Espanyol, on April 12, 2015.