Opening defeat for Espanyol

Opening defeat for Espanyol

Espanyol marked their first competitive match since the death of former captain Dani Jarque with defeat, going down to Athletic Bilbao in the opening round of the Primera Division.

Athletic striker Gaizka Toquero scored the only goal of the game 12 minutes from time to hand the Basques a perfect start to the campaign.

It was not the result hoped for by Espanyol, who are still in mourning over the tragic death of Jarque from a heart attack earlier this month.

In truth, Joaquin Caparros' side had something of a head-start on Espanyol in this encounter, given that this match was already their seventh competitive game of the season.

Athletic had already played four Europa League qualifying matches, advancing to the group stages of the competition last week, as well as the two legs of the Spanish Supercup, which they lost to Barcelona.

And that extra edge showed early on as Athletic looked the sharper of the two sides.

The home side almost went ahead after nine minutes, when Fernando Llorente rose majestically and crashed a powerful header towards goal, but Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni made a fine reflex save to deny the Spain striker.

Eight minutes later, Kameni was the hero again for the visitors, this time moving brilliantly to push away Toquero's close-range header.

Espanyol should have taken the lead after 23 minutes, but the unmarked Joan Verdu wastefully shot wide with only Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz to beat.

The midfielder, a summer signing from Deportivo La Coruna, was making his debut in midfield, and should have done much better with that effort.

And Mauricio Pochettino's side squandered another glorious opportunity just before the break, when Ivan Alonso rose above his marker Xabi Castillo, but could not keep his header down and saw the ball sail over the bar.

That was the last meaningful action of an entertaining and evenly-disputed first half.

After the break, both sides struggled to find their rhythm early on.

Gurpegui blasted well over from distance as the two teams were restricted to long-range efforts.

As the game wore on, it looked as if one goal may well win it.

And it fell to Athletic with 12 minutes left, when Toquero beat his marker Javi Chica and despatched a clinical shot past an exposed Kameni to give the home side the lead.

Llorente should have made it two with a minute left, but shot wide with only Kameni to beat and there were nervous moments for Athletic in the closing seconds as the Espanyol keeper moved into the area for a corner.

But Iraizoz claimed the ball to keep his former team-mates at bay and ensure a happy afternoon for Athletic.

For Espanyol, it was a frustrating start to the season which had promised so much when the Catalans thrashed Liverpool 3-0 on the inauguration of their new stadium just a few weeks ago.

There, following the international break, the Catalans will host Real Madrid in what will be another huge tribute to their former captain.