RCD Espanyol 2 - 1 Athletic Club

Another game Espanyol manages to start one nil down. A free kick from the half way line ended up being a clear chance in the middle of the area with nobody around for Gabilondo, and Espanyol were losing in the second minute. Concentration problems are being a real worry. Yes, the team has managed to come back time and time again, but there have also been quite a few points being lost in five minutes off.

The team recovered in style, piling on the pressure in what was probably the best game after the wins against Valencia and Real Madrid. Athletic had just about half a chance for the rest of the game, but make no mistake, this team is much better than the one they had during the last couple of seasons, and it was not going to be easy.

Before halftime the very much needed equaliser came after a pass by Luis García to Riera on the left turned into a cross put in the back of the net by... Who else? The captain Raul Tamudo with his 118th goal in La Liga. Riera was one of the best players of the game, with a couple of great chances he made by himself, beating his man time and time again. Very good news to see that the Spain player's showings in the last two games were not part of a dip in form.

After the goal there were five manic minutes that did not have their reward. Espanyol kept the rhythm going for the second half, even improving. But Athletic were also on the pitch and they also got better in defence even if that was by forgetting of anything to do with attack except for a chance after a defensive error in the beginning of the second period.

And then, after several chances that came to nothing, in the 90th minute Clemente put a very speculative cross that ended up looking very good for Luis García. Especially after Gorka Iraizoz came wildly out his line reminding yours truly of his error in Bremen that had us agonising in the stands for almost an hour. Aitor Ocio, one of the best for Athletic yesterday, tried to clear and ended up scoring on his own net with a very nice chip. As I said, quite similar to Bremen. Only Gorka plays for Athletic now.

RCD Espanyol are fifth going into the break for the Euro qualifiers, just two points off the Champions League qualifying spots. And the second game after the break is the derby, at home. We'll see.

Espanyol: Kameni, Zabaleta, Jarque, Torrejón, Clemente, Moisés, De la Peña (90'), Valdo (63'), L. García (90'), Riera, Tamudo, Lafuente, Jonathan, Moha, Jónatas (63'), Chica, Lacruz (90'), Lola (90')

Athletic: Iraizoz, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, Aitor Ocio, Koikili, Iraola, Javi Martínez, Orbaiz (45'), Gabilondo, Etxeberria (88'), Aduriz (64'), Aranzubia, Yeste, Muñoz, Prieto (88'), Del Horno, Llorente (64'), D. López (45')

Goals:
0-1 (3'): Gabilondo, with his left foot.
1-1 (39'): Tamudo. Riera gave the assist.
2-1 (90'): Aitor Ocio. Own goal when trying to clear a cross by Clemente.

Referee: Ramírez Dominguez, Andalucia.
Yellow Cards: De la Peña (44'), Clemente (58'), Koikili (61'), Luis García (61'), Riera (63'), Javi Martínez (84') y Jarque (90').

Attendance: 24.800.

PS- The video is from the Basque TV. It is ok, but obviously from the Athletic point of view.