Manolo González reshuffles Espanyol, but the revolution falls short

Manolo González is still searching for the right formula, and the changes to his team failed to deliver the hoped-for effect. Espanyol left La Rosaleda with just one point after facing Málaga, in a match that left a bitter taste. Concerns remain high with Atlético de Madrid due to visit RCDE Stadium a week later.

After the defeat against Elche, Manolo González had said changes were needed to turn things around. At La Rosaleda, he made six alterations to the starting side that had struggled against Elche. The reshuffle did not stop Espanyol from playing well in the first half, but the team failed to put the game beyond reach. Málaga fought back and snatched a point in the closing moments.

Manolo has also been unable to settle on a regular starting eleven: across the eight LaLiga matches played, he has named the same lineup only in the first two rounds. Espanyol-Levante finished 3-0, followed by a 1-2 result in Espanyol-Real Madrid.

The most significant shake-up to the starting side came on Friday in Málaga. After a strong first half, Espanyol dropped deeper after the break, lost control and struggled to attack with clarity. Málaga took the upper hand in the game. The figures underline the problem: Málaga had 58% possession and 15 shots, compared with Espanyol’s 42% and 9 shots. Despite a promising start, Espanyol did not claim the three points it had been pursuing.