The Spaniard makes a sick face before the derby

BarcelonaEspanyol is starting to look sick. After the wreck of San Mamés, the white-and-blues showed against Sevilla (0-2) that they continue to drag structural problems that are difficult to cure. A worrying image at the gates of an uncomfortable week, with a trip to Galicia to debut in the Cup, and a derby against an in-form Barça who, in addition, will have a clean week after the Clásico.

Espanyol’s staging was not bad, with renewed pressure to make it difficult for Sevilla to come from behind. The Andalusians, however, did not take long to find a way to crack it and overcome it: it was enough to dodge Král, who was constantly jumping from the double pivot, leaving a very wide hole in the middle of the field that had to defend Lozano all by himself. It didn’t take long for Lukébakio to take advantage of it, as he correctly read that neither of the two central players jumped to bother him when he approached the front. The Belgian winger resolved with a great shot from the front a driving inside in which he found no opposition. Just before the break he signed the second with a shot close to the post.

A single goal between the three forwards on loan

Espanyol’s midfield suffered a short circuit: it was not able to dominate with the ball or contain the opponent, a circumstance that gave wings to a Sevilla that grew throughout the minutes, especially after the first goal . Espanyol’s problems also extended up top: Cheddira showed he has more mobility than Veliz, but he also couldn’t find the back of the net. Between the two of them and Cardona, the three strikers added on loan in the summer, they have scored just one goal in eleven games, a more than insufficient balance when almost a third of the championship has already been completed. None of the three have allowed Braithwaite to be forgotten, who has five goals in ten league games for Grêmio.

García Pimienta’s men had enough to put on automatic pilot to ensure what was their first home win in the League this season. Tender at the back, disorganized in the middle and without a tooth in attack, Espanyol had no solutions to turn the tables on a very comfortable Sevilla. This time, the white-and-blues found no reason for hope, not even in the set piece. The VAR didn’t help either, as Ortiz Arias canceled a penalty he had whistled in favor of Espanyol in the final stretch. There are already five defeats in the last six days. Worse than the results, however, is a worrying collective image that is already generating chills and whistles in the stands. Espanyol are currently a faded and mentally damaged team that will have to change a lot if they don’t want to have to go through the UCI after next week’s derby. A few reinforcements will be needed in the winter market.