Overview
- Espanyol hosts Athletic on Wednesday at RCDE Stadium with only a two-point cushion above the drop after 18 league matches without a win.
- The club confirmed Ramón “Monchi” Rodríguez as sporting director, and Wednesday’s fixture is his first in the role.
- Head coach Manolo González said the team must “play to the death” and pledged not to cling to his job as he fights to keep the club up.
- Espanyol will be without injured Javi Puado, suspended Víctor Calero and Luca Dolan, and winger Cyril Ngonge is out, while left back Carlos Romero is a doubt.
- Athletic visits without Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet because of muscle issues, and Espanyol has not won since beating Athletic 2–1 at San Mamés on December 22, a skid that would tie the club’s 19-game drought from 1988–89 with another slip.