Espanyol defeated Sparta Prague, Ajax, Benfica, Livorno, Werder Bremen ... He managed to match an adverse score twice. In 2007, the perica European journey ended ... Until now.
The only team in the history of the UEFA Cup that reached the final, and despite not winning it, closed the competition without losing any games. That was the Espanyol of the 2006-07 season, and such was the pride that the day after that date at the Hampden Park in Glasgow were hundreds of parrots who received the players in Montjuïc, melted in hugs, in tears that were confused. That bittersweet feeling that has not been repaired in 12 years, as Espanyol had not returned to Europe.
The journey began in Slovakia, in September, with a 2-2 against the Artmedia of Bratislava in which Riera and Pandiani, the scorers, already warned of what they would be capable of. The Uruguayan would ratify it 15 days later, on the return, by establishing a double to, next to Coro, place the final 3-1 on the marker that gave the parrots the pass to the group of groups.
The first step was taken near the stage of the debut, in the Czech Republic, specifically before Sparta in Prague, with a 0-2 work by Riera and Luis García. The Spaniard and Valverde would star in a rifirrafe before the next match, 6-2 in Montjuïc against Zulte Waregem, with a hat-trick of his to file roughness, plus another double of Pandiani and one of Coro. The visit to Ajax, a prestigious triumph by 0-2 (Pandiani and Chorus), would come before receiving Austria from Vienna and closing, with a 1-0 (Pandiani) a full of victories in the league.
With a 1-2 behind closed doors in Livorno (Pandiani de penalti and Moha) and a 2-0 at home (Lacruz and Coro), they agreed to the second round, against Maccabi Haifa, which was executed in Montjuïc by 4-0 (De La Peña, Tamudo, Luis García, Pandiani) after the 0-0 Israeli. And in the quarter came Benfica, 3-2 of the first leg (Tamudo, Riera and Pandiani) when they went 3-0, and 0-0 of Da Luz with an imperial Gorka Iraizoz.
The semifinal, against the powerful Werder Bremen, was simpler than expected: 3-0 in Montjuïc (Moisés, Pandiani and Coro) and 1-2 in Germany (Chorus, Lacruz) after the expulsion of Klose at 19 minutes. But in the final, against Sevilla, the expelled was Moses. And yet he endured Espanyol, with goals from Riera and Jónatas, this one in 115 '. Until the penalties arrived. Damn again. And so on, so far.
