RCD Espanyol has announced the lineup that interim coach Sergio García will present during his visit to Villarreal, scheduled for 9:00 p.m. The call, which has become a “revolution” after the departure of Manolo González, includes significant changes to the starting eleven, with the incorporation of a young winger and the retirement of several regular players.
Sergio García, who took over as technical director after the departure of Manolo González, has decided to leave Clemens Riedel, Andoni Gorosabel, Urko González de Zárate and Àlex Calatrava out of the team. In his place, the coach has put 19-year-old Alejandro Santiago, Espanyol B winger, in the right winger position. Santiago, who has shown outstanding performance in the reserve team, will be the first player to debut in the main squad under the direction of García.
The starting eleven is configured in a 4-2-3-1 with Fortuño in goal. In defense are Omar El Hilali, Drkusic, Cabrera and Roger Hinojo, who has returned to the defensive line after an absence in the last game under Manolo González. Rafa Bauza and Edu Expósito are in midfield, while the forward line is made up of Alejandro Santiago, Javi Hernández, Bryan Zaragoza and Roberto Fernández, who scored one of the team's three goals in their last game against Sestao River.
On the left wing, the lineup will feature Gulacsi, Mouriño, Pau Navarro, Veiga and Sergi Cardona. In the second line of attack, the team will have Buchanan, Maciá, Comesaña, Moleiro, Gerard Moreno and Mikautadze. The players who do not appear in the eleven are Cala, Quilindschy Hartman and Pol Lozano, who are left out of the squad.
With this lineup, Espanyol seeks to consolidate its position in the table, being in tenth position with four points more than Villarreal, which is in the relegation zone. The next match will be crucial for the team, as they will try to secure their points and avoid falling into the relegation zone. The technical direction of Sergio García hopes that the new formation and the changes in the eleven will provide freshness and performance on the field, with the expectation of improving the club's position in the league.