Espanyol and Deportivo draw 0-0 in Eder Sarabia's first match as coach

Sarabia's first match from the stands

Eder Sarabia made his debut as Espanyol coach on Saturday, 7 November 2026, but he watched the 0-0 draw with Deportivo at the RCDE Stadium from the stands because of a suspension carried over from his time at Elche. Jon López, his second coach, occupied the bench instead. Sarabia changed the shape of the side he inherited, switching to three centre-backs with two very advanced wing-backs, Dolan and the academy player Alejandro Santiago. Edu Expósito and Pol Lozano worked in midfield, while Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández formed the attacking pair. Match reports described a team that tried to play out from the back and pressed high, with a more mobile attacking style than before.

Espanyol control, Román keeps the visitors out

Espanyol had most of the ball, finishing with 64% possession according to the match report, and created the better openings in the first half. Roberto Fernández found the first big chance with a header from a cross by Omar El Hilali, but goalkeeper Leo Román pushed it away with one hand. Román then stopped a header from Alejandro Santiago, and his two decisive saves in the first half kept the score level. Deportivo had their own chances on the counter, including a shot by Lorenzo Amatucci from second line that El Hilali cleared. Mario Soriano came close to a rebound at the far post before El Hilali intervened again. Pere Milla also had an opportunity to open the scoring on a counter-attack.

Second half fades for the hosts

After the restart Deportivo brought on Diego Villares and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the match became more balanced. Espanyol tried to recover the energy of the first half without success, and the visitors reduced the hosts' presence in the opposition half. Sarabia sent on Javi Hernández for Alex Calatrava, but the home side struggled to find space against a Deportivo defence that grew more comfortable. Espanyol's other changes included Bryan Zaragoza, Gabriel Moscardo and Marcos Fernández, while Deportivo added Marc Casado, Riki Rodriguez and Adama Traore. Both teams picked up four yellow cards, there were no sendings-off, and the VAR did not alter the result. Referee Alejandro Quintero handled the match with assistants on the touchlines.

Espanyol4

Deportivo4

Espanyol

4

Deportivo

4

Data from the article text

Tribute and table position

Before kickoff both squads wore white shirts in memory of Jesús de Miguel, a Tenerife player who died this week after a collision with an Andorra goalkeeper, and a minute's silence was observed. Espanyol also paid tribute to Michel Pineda, a member of the team that finished runners-up in the 1988 UEFA Cup, who died on 29 October. The result leaves Espanyol 13th with 13 points, level with three other sides but with more games played than Rayo, who have two fewer. Deportivo sit eighth on 16 points, one game more than Athletic Bilbao, who have 15. Neither side is in the relegation zone or in a European place, and 26 matchdays remain.

Espanyol13

Deportivo16

Espanyol

13 points

Deportivo

16 points

Data from the article text