Malaga’s promotion heroes see the Spanish in the First Division

Espanyolism discount between anxiety and chaos the days left for the final in on Sunday Cornellà-El Prat, the rivalry that Manolo González’s team will face Oviedo. A sore paraphernalia that will explode in the coliseum and trained, unfortunately, in the living day of heart attacks and nerves because of the ‘sin’ of his Spanish, both to maintain the category and return to First division. Like the historic rivalry that will take place this Sunday, starting at 6:30 pm, the ultimate return to the elite of Spanish football.

34 years ago and at this time spanish led by Juanjo Díaz lived in a situation very similar to those of Manolo González. On June 10, 1990, that epic night ended with a happy ending, the same dream of all Perica fans, to win and move up to the First Division.

On that day 34 years ago spanish played and won the second leg of the promotion against Malaga. After 1-0 in the first leg in Sarrià, the rivalry ended in a tie and was ultimately decided in a painful penalty shootout that fell to the blue and white side, which Albert Albesa and Carlos Meléndezthe striker who scored the winning penalty and the goalkeeper who stopped the previous highest penalty, the great protagonists of that historic and unforgettable feat for the now gray parrots.

There are so many now Albesa as Melendez They still know their Spanish very well and even if they consider that Oviedo will be a tough battle and the game will be difficult, they will see the Catalan team in the First Division next year.

Too much Melendez as Albesa They remember with nervousness and emotion June 10, 1990. “We were one step away from returning without promotion, from returning home empty. In the first round of 5 penalties, if Jaro had scored the fifth, we’re going home without a break. But he got through it and we went to the shootout of the finals and I stopped Villa and then. Albesa He made the win and we went up. That seems to be the good attitude of the Spanish, who are climbing the year after being relegated to the Second. And we hope that this time it will also happen… again,” former goalkeeper Carlos Meléndez asked in a conversation with this newspaper.

“Whenever important Spanish matches come, I remember that day Malaga. And hopefully on Sunday the finish will be repeated again, that we will win and return to the First Division,” he explained. Albert Albesa after acknowledging that “I was not a specialist in taking penalties and I’m nervous as a person, but in dramatic situations, I am calm. That is why Juanjo Díaz told me that this is my penalty, ‘you are calm and cool to do it’, he told me.

Returning to the present Melendez It is clear that in the first leg in Oviedo “there was bad luck with the goal received. I think at home the Spanish have a chance to pass. I have confidence in the team, I think they will solve the problem. It is complicated because the Oviedo It’s also a great team. Nothing is easy, we must not forget that there are other great teams that have fallen by the wayside like Sports or the Eibar. “I hope and I want the Spaniard to go up and I will know everything on Sunday.”

While Albesa He believes that the massive crowd that will burst into Stage Front Stadium could decide the game for the Parakeets. “I am a member and I will go to the field on Sunday and I am like all the fans, to see what will happen, which Spaniard we will find. The stadium will be full and that is a plus. I have played situation like this and the football player he gives 110% with extra support I’m happy because a lot of people will go to the field and that will be a plus for the team with something positive and knowing that there is 1 -0 win and have 90 minutes to do it, we have to play with it. Albesa sees his Spanish “in the First Division, not because of the level that the squad can provide and more because of the fans. The stadium will be full and that motivates all the footballers. The spanish “It has more quality than Oviedo, but we will surely suffer.”

Carlos Meléndez believes that the role of Joan Garcia It will be very important, highlighting its good dynamics between the sticks, despite the ‘blur’ of Oviedo. “I saw him with a very good attitude and a lot of serenity. He is not the starting goalkeeper, he has only played a few games and he still has a record of unbeaten games and clean sheets,” he said about the parakeet goalkeeper.

Finally, Albesa, a historic former center back, recognizes that he will be important against Oviedo keep the defensive strength that has been ‘walking’ the Spanish for months. “It’s very important not to concede on Sunday, it’s almost suicidal if they score a goal. At Manolo, the results are there. This is a team that scores very few goals against and even less on a day when we shouldn’t lost, when we lost in Oviedo But it comes from 18 games without defeat. Braithwaite It is more difficult for him to score a goal but hopefully this Sunday the two or three clears he has will go in. I’m positive now and I wasn’t positive a few weeks ago. “On Sunday I will be on the field with the family.”