Espanyol vs Sabadell

Espanyol and CE Sabadell played out a 1-1 draw at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque on Saturday morning in both sides' third pre-season friendly of the summer. A match that lacked rhythm and clear chances for 70 minutes came alive in the final quarter-hour through two goals in four minutes — a Rubén Sánchez own goal and a Kike García equaliser.

Manolo González fielded a strong starting XI with new signings Hartman, Moscardó and Calatrava all featuring. Dmitrovic started in goal behind a back four of Omar El Hilali, Urko, Cabrera and Hartman, with Edu Expósito and Moscardó in midfield. Calatrava and Dolan took the wide positions, supporting the twin strike partnership of Roberto Fernández and Marcos Fernández.

The first half passed with little incident. Espanyol held the ball without creating clear openings. The 21st minute brought a minute's applause in memory of Dani Jarque, the club's former captain. A crossed ball from Omar El Hilali that drifted towards goal forced Sabadell goalkeeper Diego Fuoli into action — the only notable moment before half-time.

González changed almost his entire outfield line at the hour mark. Only Urko remained from the starters, shifting into midfield alongside Pol Lozano. Rubén Sánchez came on at right-back, Hinojo at left-back, with Riedel and Timera forming a new centre-back pairing. Jofre and Pere Milla took the wings, Bauzà played as a number 10, and Kike García led the line.

The breakthrough came against the run of play in the 73rd minute. Timera's loose control in possession allowed Sabadell's Rodrigo Escudero to intercept. Escudero rounded Fortuño and, with the goal gaping, Rubén Sánchez's desperate slide to clear sent the ball into his own net. 0-1 to Sabadell.

Espanyol's response was immediate. Within four minutes, Roger Hinojo threaded a precise through ball into the path of Kike García, who finished calmly across the goalkeeper into the far corner. 1-1 in the 77th minute.

Espanyol pushed for a winner in stoppage time. Another Hinojo cross found Pere Milla, whose header cannoned off the crossbar — the closest the hosts came to snatching victory.

Kike García (Espanyol) — Introduced at the hour mark, the striker scored the equaliser with a composed finish and showed the sharpness Espanyol's attack lacked for most of the match. Player of the match.

Roger Hinojo (Espanyol) — Provided the assist for García's equaliser and nearly set up the winner with a cross that hit the crossbar. His delivery from the left flank was Espanyol's most consistent threat in the second half.

Rafel Bauzà (Espanyol) — The brace-scorer from the Pau FC match (21 July) operated as a second-half number 10 but couldn't replicate his goal-scoring form. Still, his movement linked the midfield and attack more effectively than the first-half setup.

The 1-1 scoreline accurately reflects a disjointed pre-season contest. Espanyol created few clear chances before the hour mark. Sabadell's goal came from a single defensive error rather than sustained pressure. Possession figures were broadly balanced, with Espanyol holding a slight edge in the first half. The match produced only two shots on target across the 90 minutes — both goals. The real story is in the errors: Timera's giveaway and Rubén Sánchez's own goal demonstrate Espanyol's defending is still in pre-season condition, while the quick response suggests the attacking unit's chemistry is ahead of the defensive line.

Espanyol finish their third pre-season outing with one win (4-0 vs Pau FC on 21 July) and one draw. The squad travels to England next for a pre-season tour, with the next fixture against Championship side Burnley on Wednesday, 29 July (20:45 local time). Sabadell, preparing for their return to Segunda División, face Barça Atlètic next Friday.

For the betting audience, Espanyol's defensive fragilities — particularly concentration errors from deep — are a pattern worth monitoring as the competitive season approaches. The attacking unit, led by Kike García and Bauzà, is creating enough to cover those gaps but may not maintain that ratio against stronger opposition.

A pre-season friendly that followed the classic July script: low intensity, mass substitutions, and a late flurry of goals. Espanyol will take more from the swift response to adversity than the flat 70 minutes that preceded it. Kike García's finish and Hinojo's delivery are genuine positives; Timera's error is a reminder that pre-season minutes are for shaking out exactly those mistakes.