Nico Melamed saved the Spanish in La Palma

A Nico Melamed goal saved Espanyol on Tuesday from leaving La Palma on fire, averting a ‘tragedy’ that would sink Espanyolism. Diego Martínez’s team suffered and sweated to get the victory and the ticket for the next cup round against a very noble Atlético Paso who stood up to him and treated a whole First Division, especially in a first part if where the parrots are uncomfortable, gray and outmatched in many stages of the game.

Only Nico Melamed was saved from the general thicket, as the author of the only goal that cemented the brave and long-suffering victory, a target that came ten minutes from time. The Spaniard passed the test with more difficulties than expected and did not see any improvement compared to the two friendlies played on stage in Murcia. And what clouded today’s rivalry was the injury to Keidi Bare, who appeared to line up on the field after twisting his ankle in a fall after an aerial shot.

Diego Martínez bet from the start for Joan García under the sticks, as one of the remaining new things in the eleven, with Simo in the central axis with Cabrera. Darder remains on the bench and how his team noticed it.

From the first breath, the Spaniard looked uncomfortable against a very active and cheeky Atlético Paso in attack, which put a nervous eleven parakeets in trouble. Nico Melamed, the only Spanish save in the first half, warned on 4′ but Arellano was sure and three minutes later Japanese Mitsuki hit a dangerous header.

El Paso was better than Espanyol in the first half hour, triangulating judiciously and pressing down the wings, especially Mitsuki, who took Brian Olivan by the head. Quite the opposite of a blue and white eleven without a soul, very uncomfortable and without acclimating to the artificial racetrack, where it cost him God and helped to link three passes.

The data that proves that the Spaniard struggled to intimidate is that until 21′ Joselu did not touch a ball in good condition, a soft header. Mitsuki and Aridane gave work to the parakeet at the back, but they did not know how to determine in the last meters against a Spaniard who did not appear in the attack. The canaries gave their faces to a Primera.

But in the last period before the break, Diego Martínez’s team with a vertical and direct game, locked up the canaries and had a chance with the boots of Puado (35′) and Nico (39′). He woke up late.

At the restart, Espayol came out more plugged in, after Diego Martínez read his students a primer for their lackluster first half. Mitsuki continued to fight back but Nico Melamed took control in midfield and the Spaniard began to come with more danger, although depth and clarity continued to be lacking. Despite the improvement in the parakeet’s game, Diego Martínez was not convinced and moved the bench, releasing bigwigs like Expósito and Braithwaite. It went to 60′ with a good shell that was deflected by the local goal. Espanyol pressed and when he was most intoned, Keidi Bare was injured after twisting his ankle in a fall.

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Darder and Vini Souza jumped onto the pitch, looking for a victory that was beginning to choke for the suffering of Espanyolism. At Artà’s the game began to flow, reaching further and better in the wings. And the goal fell on the boots of the best parakeet. In the 80′ Oliván crossed, Joselu enabled a luxury and Nico Melamed, first, shot the Canarian goalkeeper. Diego Martínez’s breathing is quite calm.

The Spaniard continued in the final stage looking for a goal of peace of mind. Nico again (89′) but his Arellano looked. And the 0-1 did not change to the ‘luck’ of a Spaniard who left the island leaving the same bad feelings as before the World Cup break. And in 11 days, the derby against Barcelona.

DATA SHEET

0. CD Atlético Paso: Luis Arellano; Óscar González (Dawda, min. 84), Kalbo, Ayoze Placeres, Loic Williams, Eneko Zabaleta; Mitsuki (Piera, min. 67), Robe Moreno (Bolaños, min. 84), Alberto Oca, Armiche Ortega (Agoney, min. 67); and Aridane Santana (Borjas Martín, min. 73).

1. RCD Espanyol: Joan Garcia; Óscar Gil, Simo (Edu Expósito, min. 59), Cabrera, Brian Oliván; Lazo (Braithwaite, min. 59), Keidi Bare (Darder, min. 69), Calero, Nico Melamed; Puado (Vini Souza, min. 69) and Joselu.

Goal: 0-1, min. 80: Nico Melamed.

Referee: César Soto Grado (La Rioja Committee). He showed a yellow card to local player Óscar González (min. 61), and to visitors Keidi Bare (61) and Óscar Gil (84).

Incidents: the only match of the second round of the Copa del Rey soccer match, played this Tuesday at the Municipal Stadium of El Paso, in La Palma (Canary Islands) before about 2,600 spectators.