Espanyol won the 36th edition of the Ciutat de Barcelona after defeating Sampdoria on 6-5 penalties. The home side were perhaps the better of the two teams and had a number opportunities to win the match but after ninety minutes it ended 0-0 and the game went to penalties where Francesc Casilla was able to get behind Massimo Volta’s penalty ensuring Ernesto Galán gave the victory to Espanyol.
Sampdoria traveled with a strong squad and Domenico Di Carlo started all three of this big guns, Antonio Cassano Giampaolo Pazzini and captain Angelo Palombo. With everyone back from World Cup duty there was also room in the starting line up for Swiss pair Reto Ziegler and Marco Padalino.
Espanyol though did not include new signings Jesus Datolo or Felipe Mattioni in the squad, though Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, on loan from Bologna led the line for the home side, supported by José Callejón and Luis Garcia. They also started with Javi Chica, Victor Ruiz and Juan Forlin at the back.
Both teams shrugged off defensive duties for the evening as the crowd were treated to some excellent attacking play, Espanyol had a good chance to score after an excellent combination between Luis García, Oslvado and Verdú, which finished with a shot by midfielder. Sampdoria though were not rattled and replied with a shot from Poli which Cristian Álvarez gathered at the second attempt. Verdú and Oslvado both had chances to score, but Curci was very alert in the Sampdoria goal.
The match though did threaten to turn ugly as a number of yellow cards were dished out by the referee, more than should be shown in a friendly. But at the match wore on Sampdoria were having more an more opportunities on goal with two shots of Padalino and Pazzini, though they were always looking for a bit of magic from Antonio Cassano, but on this occasion he could not provide for his team.
The final whistle went and it was 0-0 so the match wore down to the lottery of the penalty shootout. 24-year-old defender Ernesto Galan slotted home the kick that led the Periquitos to a 6-5 win on penalties.
Though the game was 0-0 it was fair to say that having no goals was a travesty as both teams created a number of golden opportunities though it could be argued Espanyol had the better of these chances. Both teams will take great confidence from the game though Sampdoria will have to raise their defensive game especially if they are to make an impact in the Champions League.
Espanyol (4-3-3): Cristina Darío Alvarez (78 Casilla), Francisco Javier Torres Chica (46 Galan), Villà Rosselló Didac (46 Alvarez), Torre Victor Ruiz, José María Bueno Callejon (46 Alvaro), Fernandez Luis Garcia (73 Lopez), Joan Fernandez Verdu (61 Pau), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (60 Rui Fonte), Juan Daniel Forlin, Ferran Cominas Telechea Coro (76 Ivan), Jordi Maas Amat (46 Moises)
Sampdoria (4-4-2): Gianluca Curci (59 Fiorillo), Marius Stankevicius (46 Cacciatore), Reto Ziegler (60 Volta), Angelo Palombo (60 Tissone), Daniele Gastaldello, Stefano Lucchini (76 Rossini), Daniele Mannini (70 Semioli), Antonio Cassano (76 Marilungo), Andrea Poli (46 Dessena), Giampoalo Pazzini (70 Pozzi), Marco Padalino (60 Koman)
Booked
Espanyol – Galan, Alvarez
Sampdoria – Gastaldello, Lucchini, Mannini, Dessena, Pozzi
Monday, 2 August 2010
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