CORNELLA DE LLOBREGAT. Espanyol beats Elche 2-0 after M. Braithwaite scores a double.

The match was played at the RCDE Stadium stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on Saturday and it started at 9:00 pm local time. The referee was Álvaro Moreno Aragón with the collaboration of Rodrigo Blázquez Sánchez and Mario Martín-Consuegra Díaz. The 4th official was Daniel Palencia Caballero. The weather was scattered clouds. The temperature was pleasant at 17.45 degrees Celsius or 63.41 Fahrenheit. The humidity was 62%.​

Match Statistics​

Ball possession

Elche had a superior ball possession 55% while Espanyol was struggling with a 45% ball possession.

Attitude and shots

Elche was more pushing with 48 dangerous attacks and 15 shots of which 3 were on target. Nevertheless, Espanyol found a way to find the solution to win this match.​

Espanyol shot 12 times, 5 on target, 3 off target. Regarding the opposition, Elche shot 15 times, 3 on target, 9 off target.

Cards

Espanyol received 3 yellow cards (José Gragera, Leandro Cabrera and Fernando Calero). Regarding the opposition, Elche received 2 yellow cards (Josan and Carlos Clerc).

Standings

After playing this match, Espanyol will have 28 points to sit in the 4th place. On the opposite side, Elche will stay with 23 points like Tenerife to hold in the 9th place.

Next matches

In the next match in the La Liga 2, Espanyol will host Sporting Gijón on the 5th of May with a 6-5 head to head record in favor of Espanyol (4 draws).

Elche will play away agasint Leganés on the 2nd of June with a 2-0 head to head record in favor of Elche (2 draws).

Espanyol – Formation

Espanyol adopted the conservative line-up (4-4-2).

The manager Luis Miguel Ramis Monfort decided to play with the following team: Fernando Pacheco (7.7), Omar El Hilali (6.6), Fernando Calero (7.3), Leandro Cabrera (7.3), Brian Oliván (7.9), Jofre Carreras (6.4), José Gragera (7.0), Álvaro Aguado (6.7), Edu Expósito (7.5), Martin Braithwaite (8.5) and Pere Milla (7.1).

The home team had on the bench: Joan García, Óscar Gil (6.6), Sergi Gómez, Keita Baldé (6.3), Ramon, José Carlos Lazo, Salvi (7.5), Roger Martínez, Angel Fortuno, Omar Sadik and José Luis Català.

Substitutions

Espanyol made 4 changes: Jofre Carreras for Salvi (69′), Pere Milla for Keita Baldé (84′), Omar El Hilali for Óscar Gil (84′) and Martin Braithwaite for Sergi Gómez (89′).

Best player: Martin Braithwaite​

The player that probably impressed the most for Espanyol was Martin Braithwaite.

His rating is (8.5) with 2 goals, 11 passes (82% accurate) and 0 key passes. He was won 5 duels out of 12.

Elche – Formation

Also Elche adopted the conservative line-up (4-4-2).

Sebastián Beccacece played with: Miguel San Román (7.0), Josan (7.3), Mario Gaspar (7.0), Diego González (7.1), Carlos Clerc (7.7), Nicolás Fernández (7.0), Raúl Guti (7.0), Aleix Febas (7.3), Tete Morente (7.3), Mourad El Ghezouani (7.1) and Óscar Plano (7.0).

These were the players on the bench: Lautaro Blanco (7.0), Pedro Bigas, Jose Salinas, Édgar Badía, Álex Martín, Fidel (7.0), Borja Garcés (7.0), Cristian Salvador, Nicolás Castro (6.7), Sergio Carreira, Adam Boayar Benaisa (6.8) and Javi Pamies.

Substitutions

Elche made 4 changes: Óscar Plano for Borja Garcés (64′), Nicolás Fernández for Nicolás Castro (64′), Raúl Guti for Lautaro Blanco (54′) and Tete Morente for Fidel (84′).

Best player: Carlos Clerc​

The player that probably impressed the most for Elche was Carlos Clerc.

His rating is (7.7) with 57 passes (77% accurate) and 0 key passes. He was won 11 duels out of 13. He performed 1 cross.

Results of the day

These are the results of the day in the La Liga 2.​

• Alcorcón – Sporting Gijón – 0-0
• Real Zaragoza – Huesca – 0-2
• Espanyol – Elche – 2-0
• Amorebieta – Tenerife – 2-0