RCD Espanyol's issues were compounded by a 1-3 home defeat to Elche at Butarque, a result that leaves the team eighth in the La Liga table with seven points. The collective performance highlighted individual errors and a lack of cutting edge that complicates the picture for manager Manolo González.
Defensive mistakes
The Perico backline had a difficult afternoon. Unai Núñez, returning to the starting lineup, showed a lack of sharpness after his absence, while Leandro Cabrera was beaten on multiple occasions by his direct markers. The own goal from Víctor Chust in the 72nd minute, which provided Espanyol's only goal, did not hide the struggles. Goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović also made errors that proved costly for the side.
Lack of spark up front
In attack, creativity was in short supply. Pol Lozano, who regained his starting spot, failed to provide the expected brilliance. Javi Hernández did supply an assist with a good cross, but the overall impact was limited. Bryan Zaragoza offered a temporary flash of improvement that soon faded. Top scorer Roberto Fernández, with six goals in six appearances this season, had a promising start that ended in disappointment. Striker Marcos Fernández battled and contributed to the play but could not find the net.
Ineffective changes
Manolo González tried to react with halftime substitutions. He withdrew Urko González from defence for tactical needs and replaced Álvaro Hinojo, who had struggled with Cepeda, with Brian Hartman. However, Hartman, deployed in the opposition half, had minimal effect. The introduction of Pere Milla in the second half also failed to change the course, as he saw a goal disallowed for a prior offside. The entries of Dolan and Riedel brought energy but also inaccuracy, with the latter poorly positioned on several plays.
The team now heads into an international break with a record of two wins, one draw and three losses from their first six matches. Their next fixture is a trip to bottom side Málaga on October 9th, a key encounter to try and steady the ship. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page and the squad status on squad.
The original report is at Mundo Deportivo
