ESPANYOL NEWS

Real Madrid signs Spain striker Joselu on loan from Espanyol

Real Madrid has signed Spain striker Joselu on a one-year loan from Espanyol to boost its attack after the departures of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard and Mariano Díaz

JUNE 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Keidi Bare - Assist to end season Bare assisted once to go with one cross (zero accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 3-3 draw against Almeria.

Impact It took Espanyol's last game of the 2022-23 La Liga for Bare to log an assist. He equaled his assist tally from the 2021-22 La Liga tally. However, Bare played fewer games this season as Espanyol became one of three teams relegated. Having not done enough to break into Espanyol's preferred XI during the 2022-23 La Liga, he is not expected to attract coveted first-division suitors with team movements now readily possible.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Javi Puado - Scores goal to end season Puado scored one goal to go with two shots (two on goal), four crosses (zero accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 3-3 draw versus Almeria.

Impact Despite the relegation of Espanyol, Puado was not a contributing force. The team was one of less than 10 to score more than 50 goals but conceded more than any other. Puado was a significant factor to Espanyol's attacking success, with seven goals and two assists. If the Spaniard does not want to be part of a relegated team, he is expected to attract multiple suitors following his promising output during the 2022-23 La Liga.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sergi Darder - Assist to end season Darder assisted once to go with three shots (two on goal), two crosses (one accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 3-3 draw versus Almeria.

Impact Darder will finish the 2022-23 La Liga with six goals and three assists. He had twice as many goals but three times fewer assists compared to his 2021-22 season. Now with Espanyol relegated, Darder will have to choose whether to stay in Spain's second division or move out of it by switching teams. The latter is more likely, especially considering Darder's goal output was for a team that significantly struggled defensively, not offensively.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brian Olivan - Another assist to end season Olivan assisted once to go with three shots (one on goal), 11 crosses (one accurate) and two corners in Sunday's 3-3 draw against Almeria.

Impact With 140 crosses (34 accurate) and 34 chances created, Olivan will finish the 2022-23 La Liga with seven assists, a stark contrast to when he logged zero assists across his 28 appearances of Mallorca's 2021-22 season. Though he is set to be relegated along with Espanyol, his impressive contributions this past season may make him strong consideration for a transfer elsewhere.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joan Garcia Pons - Concedes thrice Garcia conceded three goals in Sunday's 3-3 draw against Almeria.

Impact Garcia conceded twice to Adrian Embarba and once to El Bilal Toure during the goalkeeper's only appearance of the 2022-23 La Liga. He spent it serving as a backup to clear No. 1 option, Fernando Pacheco. Unless either goalkeeper moves elsewhere, both their playing roles are expected to stick during Mallorca's 2023-24 season.

JUNE 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Koleosho - Scores first La Liga goal in draw Koleosho scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) and two crosses (zero accurate) in Sunday's 3-3 draw against Almeria.

Impact Koleosho scored the first goal of his young La Liga career in the 73rd minute of Sunday's game. This was only his fourth appearance of the season, coming off the bench in all four, as he was sat in the reserves for most of Espanyol's matches. The young 19-year-old was able to put together a good performance as a substitute in Espanyol's season finale and may have made his mark to cement more time on the field in the 23-24 season.

JUNE 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leandro Cabrera - Out for season finale Cabrera (personal) will not be involved in Sunday's clash against Almeria due to the birth of his child.

Impact Cabrera ends the campaign with one assist and four clean sheets across 32 La Liga appearances (31 starts) this season as Espanyol were relegated from the Primera Division. Calero is taking over from the 31-year-old in central defense for Sunday's finale against Almeria.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Fernando Pacheco - Benched for season finale Pacheco is named to Espanyol's bench for Sunday's clash against Almeria.

Impact Pacheco ends the season with three clean sheets and 33 goals allowed across 16 La Liga appearances since taking over as Espanyol's starting goalkeeper from Alvaro Fernandez in mid-February following his winter transfer from Almeria. But with relegation already confirmed, the 31-year-old Pacheco now moves to the bench Sunday while Joan Garcia gets the nod for the finale.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Gragera - On bench against Almeria Gragera (foot) is in Espanyol's match day squad for Sunday's season finale against Almeria.

Impact Gragera is available off the bench for the final game of the season Sunday after recovering from a foot injury he suffered in late April.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Martin Braithwaite - Scores off bench against Valencia Braithwaite scored a goal off two shots (one on target) after coming off the bench during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Valencia.

Impact Braithwaite was brought at halftime to replace Nicolas Melamed and needed less than five minutes to leave his mark, appearing at the right place to benefit from a mistake by the goalkeeper and slot the rebound home for the goal that momentarily gave his side a 2-1 lead. This was the 10th goal of the season for the striker but the first since Apr. 1. He'll hope this helps him to keep playing significant minutes or even be back in the starting XI for next Sunday's season finale against Almeria.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leandro Cabrera - Logs assist against Valencia Cabrera provided an assist, had one off-target shot, sent in two crosses (one accurate) and made four tackles (one won), two clearances and two interceptions during Sunday's 2-2 dr...

Impact Cabrera was solid defensively, although not great as usual, but then came up with a big contribution on the attacking end, assisting fellow center-back Cesar Montes with a picture-perfect cross from the left in the 40th minute. This was the first appearance on the scoresheet of the season for Cabrera, who will close another solid La Liga campaign during next Sunday's clash against Almeria.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cesar Montes - Scores against Valencia Montes scored a goal off two shots (both on target), made eight clearances and one interception and was shown a yellow card during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Valencia.

Impact Montes found the back of the net for the second consecutive match, heading home a cross from the left to draw things level at 1-1 in the 40th minute and was just as good defensively, racking up a game-high eight clearances. The center-back has probably been Espanyol's biggest source of defensive numbers throughout the season and recently became an attacking threat as well, with all his three goals being scored over the last eight appearances.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Fernando Pacheco - Beaten twice against Valencia Pacheco made two saves and conceded two goals during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Valencia.

Impact Pacheco could've done way better on the first goal scored by the opposition as he gave away a rebound that was easily slotted home by Diego Lopez. He wasn't at fault for the second goal but didn't make enough saves to make up for the two goals allowed and be a positive net for fantasy purposes. With Espanyol's relegation already defined, the goalkeeper will try to close his campaign in a higher note during next Sunday's season finale against Almeria.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sergi Darder - Quiet outing against Valencia Darder sent in one accurate cross, made three tackles (one won) and suffered three fouls during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Valencia.

Impact Darder had one of his worst performances of the campaign, not being able to create plays for teammates, finish them himself or even helping consistently on the defensive end. Anyway, if Espanyol was relegated to Second Division, the midfielder is far from being the reason for that as he put up even better numbers than the ones from the previous campaign, with six goals, two assists and many other contributions while starting in all 37 games so far.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Espanyol faces crunch game at Valencia to avoid relegation from Spanish league

The Spanish league's relegation fight has seven teams trying to avoid joining Elche in the second division next season

MAY 26, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Real Madrid players wear Vinícius Júnior’s jersey as a show of support before game

Teammates offer support to player who on Sunday was subjected to yet another case of racial abuse.

MAY 24, 2023

Aleix Vidal - Records two assists Vidal assisted twice to go with eight crosses (three accurate) and five corners in Wednesday's 3-3 draw versus Atletico Madrid.

Impact Vidal stepped up in a big way. Espanyol was down three when he replaced Calero as a half-time substitute. Less than 20 minutes later, Vidal logged the assist to a goal scored by Cesar Montes. Joselu converted a penalty kick to trim Espanyol's lead down to one, and that is when Vidal stepped up again. He recorded the assist to a goal by Vinicius Souza, thereby saving one crucial point the Espanyol team needed to better its chances of staying up. From a personal standpoint, Vidal tripled his 2022-23 La Liga assist tally from one to three.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vinicius de Souza Costa - Scores goal Souza scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) and one chance created in Wednesday's 3-3 draw versus Atletico Madrid.

Impact Souza has been benched since late-April. While the benching has not come to benefit Espanyol much, it did Wednesday. Souza scored the team's third goal en route to a meaningful draw.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mato Joselu - Scores goal Joselu scored one goal to go with six shots (five on goal) and one chance created in Wednesday's 3-3 draw versus Atletico Madrid.

Impact Joselu has four goals across his six La Liga appearances between April 27 and May 24. He is excelling in providing meaning value for Espanyol, but the team will need that to continue across its next two games. Joselu will be a promising option to consider during a visit scheduled at Valencia on Sunday.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cesar Montes - Scores goal Montes scored one goal to go with two shots (one on goal) in Wednesday's 3-3 draw against Atletico Madrid.

Impact Montes has his second goal of the 2022-23 La Liga. It somewhat compensated for the continued display of lackluster defense, showcased with three goals Atletico Madrid scored Wednesday.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Fernando Pacheco - Concedes three goals Pacheco had four saves and conceded three goals in Wednesday's 3-3 draw against Atletico Madrid.

Impact Unfortunately for Pacheco, he has conceded at least three goals thrice across his four appearances this May. He will try to redeem himself Sunday at Valencia. With the Espanyol team facing relegation, Pacheco has little room for error that weekend game.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Martin Braithwaite - Starts in bench against Atletico Braithwaite is on the bench for Wednesday's match against Atletico Madrid.

Impact Braithwaite sat out last match with a strain, but is back and starting off the bench. He is typically a regular starter, making eight starts in the last eight games played while recording a goal and an assist in that span.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE