Espanyol and Deportivo share the spoils
Espanyol and Deportivo drew 1-1 on Friday in a match where both teams gave a thrilling second half, only missing the prize of a winning goal which they sought persistently.
The hosts were unable to start the year with a victory and came close to completing the comeback in the final minutes against a Deportivo side that took the lead with a goal from Celso Borges (min.59), but suffered an equalizer from Gerard Moreno (min.62) due to an error by Sidnei.
Espanyol kicked off 2017 with the aim of forgetting their last two setbacks in 2016: a defeat against Barcelona and elimination from the Copa del Rey by Alcorcón.
Quique Sanchez Flores surprised by including the rarely seen Salva Sevilla in midfield alongside Jurado, who played in an advanced position. Deportivo, on the other hand, went for an attacking lineup with Joselu and Andone up front.
However, it was the Catalan side who dominated the early stages of the game. Jurado's vision and Aarón's runs down the left wing caused problems for the Galicians, who lost the ball frequently.
As a result, the hosts had a couple of timid opportunities. The first one was a precise cross from Aarón that Gerard Moreno failed to connect with. The second chance came from Piatti on the edge of the box, but his shot was too central and easily saved by Tyton.
Those were the only shots on target in the first half, during which Deportivo gradually improved against a fiery Espanyol side that lost its spark as the game became more intense.
Guilherme, Juanfran, and Salva Sevilla were shown yellow cards, with the latter risking a second booking for a foul on the edge of the box in the 37th minute. This was a period in which both teams' midfielders struggled to link up with the forwards.
Deportivo's only attempt on goal before halftime came from Çolak, whose shot from the right went just wide of the left post defended by Roberto, who had little to do in the first half.
The second half saw an improvement in the flow of the game, although it was Espanyol who created the clearest chances with their direct and vertical style of play.
Jurado had the first goal in the 48th minute, but failed to connect with a poor pass from Gerard Moreno, who took too long to release the ball after taking advantage of Sidnei's mistake in building from the back.
Deportivo responded quickly with a powerful long-range strike from Celso Borges, which hit the crossbar, surprising the Espanyol goalkeeper.
With the game now open, the hosts were able to show their attacking prowess. Moreno found Piatti in space between the lines, but the Argentine winger couldn't beat Tyton in a one-on-one situation, as the Polish goalkeeper made a save with his feet. A minute later, Tyton once again made a great stop, this time denying Jurado's low shot.
Just when it seemed that the hosts were closer than ever to scoring, Deportivo silenced the home crowd with a goal from a set piece, one of their strongest weapons.
Çolak delivered a precise corner that found Celso Borges unmarked, and despite a weak header, the Costa Rican midfielder beat the out-of-position Roberto to give Deportivo the lead (0-1, min.59).
Espanyol had to fight back, and their efforts paid off just three minutes later (min.62, 1-1). Sidnei made an infantile error by failing to clear a harmless cross from Aarón, allowing Gerard Moreno to pounce on it and calmly slot home the equalizer.
With the scores level, the game became even more open. Deportivo took advantage by keeping possession and looking for the second goal with Andone and Joselu as their most active players.
Quique Sanchez Flores tried to change the dynamics by bringing on Felipe Caicedo and Melendo. The Ecuadorian forward came close to scoring the second goal, but failed to connect properly with Piatti's excellent pass, which Tyton saved by tipping it over the bar for a corner.
Espanyol threw everything forward in search of the winning goal, which almost came in the dying moments. Jurado hit the crossbar with a free-kick that resulted in Juanfran's dismissal, and the rebound fell to Javi Fuego, who was caught off guard and couldn't give the victory to the home fans, who enjoyed a second half full of excitement.