It was not nearly as brilliant a triumph as the one at La Rosaleda against Málaga, but in the end it is well worth the same. Espanyol adds and continues at this start of the season and with more difficulties than expected, they beat an iron Lugo who had chances not to leave the leader's field empty.
After the Sporting puncture, the Blue and Whites had an excellent opportunity to increase their leadership and they did not miss it. Of course, the parrots had to roll up their sleeves to bend the tough team from Lugo, they knew how to suffer when it played and waited for the quality of Embarba and De Tomás to decide, both in a state of grace, to get three very worked points. Everything came out to order.
Moreno's logic
When something works, don't touch it, Vicente Moreno must have thought. The Espanyol coach was faithful to the saying and trusted the same footballers who imposed themselves in an authoritarian way in Malaga.
The approach was successful, although Lugo posed more difficulties than those offered by the Andalusian team last Monday.
Espanyol jumped into the field determined, dominating possession and the game while Lugo waited in retreat in the hope of not having trouble.
Embarba and Melendo moved with success and appeared ready to do damage to the back of the Galician team. In fact, they both participated in the 1-0 play.
The youth squad saw Pedrosa's hospitalization on the left and sent him a ball that divided Lugo's defense. The winger looked for a partner within the area and found Embarba at the far post, who lengthened his love affair with the goal and added his target card in three games.
Everything was going smoothly for the Espanyol leader, but Lugo came out responsive and in a spark from Carrillo he achieved what only Rayo had achieved, scoring a goal for the blue and white team.
De Tomás asked his companions for calm. However, the tie momentarily lowered Vicente Moreno's team, who found life insurance in Diego López by stopping a dangerous shot by Cristian Herrera.
De Tomás decides
The intermission served to reposition things and re-affiliate Espanyol's attacks, determined to go for the match. The Blue and Whites' team cut off any Lugo revolt and returned to gain an advantage with a quick shot from RDT. The Madrilenian smelled the center of Embarba and went ahead of the defense to pierce the Lugo goal.
As in the first half, Lugo tried to react, but where the defense did not arrive, an inspired Diego López did. The goalkeeper won the game again from Cristian Herrera taking out a providential hand when he already seemed beaten.
The Galician goalkeeper returned to support his team with a good stop at Alende's shot, but there the resistance of a good Lugo ended.
Espanyol achieved the third consecutive win – four in the last five games – and extended their lead in the lead. Goal accomplished and the next one happens.
(+) See the summary of the match
2 – Espanyol: Diego López; Miguelón (Óscar Gil, min.83), Calero, Cabrera, Pedrosa (Dídac, min.83); David López, Darder; Embarba (Wu Lei, min.89), Melendo (Fran Mérida, min.66), Puado (Melamed, min.66) and Raúl de Tomás.
1 – Lugo: Ander Cantero; Campabadal, Venancio, Djalo, Canella; Juanpe (Seoane, min.77), Pita, El Hacen (Barreiro, min.64); Herrera, Hugo Rama (Alende, min.77) and Carrillo (Ramos, min.64).
Goals: 1-0, min.29: Embarba; 1-1, min.33: Carrillo; 2-1, min.59: Raúl de Tomás.
Referee: Gálvez Rascón (Madrid committee). He admonished Calero (min.34), El Hacen (min.38), Juanpe (min.40), Campabadal (min.75).
Incidents: match corresponding to the eleventh day of LaLiga Smartbank played at the RCDE Stadium behind closed doors.