Cruel ending for Espanyol at the Reale Arena. The blue and white team held the tie at the Real Sociedad fiefdom for more than 90 minutes until a controversial penalty from Calero pointed out by Jaime Latre ended his hopes of scoring. The center-back, imperial during the duel, touched the ball first and then hit Merino. The VAR saved Vicente Moreno’s men in a disallowed goal against Sorloth but here it did not help him. Isak executed the maximum penalty and gave a golden triumph to the ‘txuri-urdin’who settle in Europe.
RSO
ESP
Real society
I recall; Gorosabel, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Diego Rico; Rafinha (Merino, 71′), Zubimendi, Silva (Ander Martín, 88′); Portu (Djouahra, 61′), Isak and Sorloth.
Spanish
hey; Óscar Gil (Aleix Vidal, 74′), Calero, Cabrera, Pedrosa; Keidi Bare (Melendo, 57′), Yangel Herrera; Embarba (Vilhena, 57′), Darder, Puado; and Loren (Dimata, 74′).
Referee
Jaime Latre (Aragonese). TA: Diego Rico (73′), Isak (91′) / Yangel Herrera (55′), Darder (76′), Aleix Vidal (94′) and Pedrosa (97′).
Incidents
Royal Arena. 20,869 spectators.
Massanassa’s approach did not change one iota from what is usually seen far from the RCDE Stadium. He gave up the ball and allowed himself to be submitted at the whim of the people of San Sebastian. Yangel Herrera acted as ‘stopper’ and flirted with the yellow card in the early stages when he kissed Rafinha’s ankles twice. In the second half the award fell to the Venezuelan. Although the plan was the same, Oier and Loren were the tenants of the most backward and forward position of the team, respectively, covering the absences of Diego López and De Tomás. The goal fulfilled well, not so much the ‘Shark’ Morón, who could barely enter the game.
Oier, in his debut as a starter this course, he used his body well to cover the attempts of Zubimendi and Siva in the two clearest arrivals of those of Imanol Alguacil. Espanyol lavished little in attack, which had its best actions in two lateral fouls thrown by Embarba. Cabrera first and Puado later could not fully specify their shots.
The blue and white team claimed a possible penalty from Le Normand on Loren. There was a grab and contact below, but the way the tip fell could confuse the referee. There are many sets like this in games and few are punished. Question of interpretation, the usual. And in the opinion of the VAR relief came in the resumption for the Catalan cast.
As soon as the second act begins, Sorloth finished off a bitten ball in the area that Oier could not reach. However, the video arbitration noticed that the Norwegian striker had gotten rid of Cabrera seconds before, who fell mature. Jaime Latre went to the monitor and invalidated the action. Something rigorous, everything is said.
Moreno’s changes were to maintain the plan and it worked out well for him. Calero, expeditious everywhere and shielded by ‘Lele’, aborted all the realistic attempts. Darder, bitter in this context, was able to put criteria in some ball exit. In one of them, Vilhena spoiled the occasion.
The duel seemed to be heading to the tables but Merino, one of Sheriff’s revulsives, was knocked down by Calero in discount time. The VAR thought about it, but this time he did not invite the referee to review it. Isak took responsibility and did not forgive. Hard outcome for Espanyol, although the objective of permanence does not seem to be in danger.