ESPANYOL TICKETS v ALAVES: Survival now the AIM

ESPANYOL v ALAVES: Estadi Olimpic, Montjuic, Sunday, March 26, 2005. Kick off: 17:00
If Espanyol can maintain their place in the Spanish top flight then this will be considered a good season for the club. That is not being condescending because it will not be the feat of staying up, but rather the team’s appearance in the Copa Del Rey final.
Miguel Angel Lotina could not sign off in a better way than bringing some much-needed silverware to the Parakeets. After beating Deportivo La Coruna in early February, the second leg of the semi final was delayed due to Espanyol’s Uefa Cup commitments and was eventually played last week. A battling performance saw Lotina’s side come away from Riazor with a goalless draw and a place in the final next month in El Bernabeu against Real Zaragoza. While celebrations were rightly enjoyed, the squad must avoid the pitfall of taking their eye off the league.
Last weekend’s 4-2 home reverse against Osasuna can be forgiven as the fixture was played only four days after, the cup achievement, but it is back to business this Sunday as fellow relegation battlers Alaves visit. The mercurial behaviour of the Vitoria-based club’s president has been well documented in this publication as Dmitri Piterman has entertained everyone but the fans of Alaves.
Demonstrations have been a regular event at recent home games as supporters hope that pressure will eventually see the Ukrainian-born American eventually grow tired and sell his stake. Whether you admire or dislike Piterman though, his recent statement outlining what he has done for the fortunes of the club does ring very true. When he took over Alaves were ..in La Segunda A and not looking like realistic candidates for promotion back to the top flight, but he turned them round, and it definitely was him and not the official team coach, and they are now back among the big boys. The real problem lies with his handling of the media and his coaching staff, who he appears to treat with disdain if they happen to disagree with any of the choices that he insists upon when it comes to team selection and tactics. That said, if Alaves were to return to the second tier at the end of the current campaign then the fans may well receive their wish. Espanyol will have no sympathy with their ‘opponents’ plight as they are desperate for three points to ensure that they secure their status in the coming weeks. The first game earlier in the season ended in a draw, but that would suit neither side and Espanyol are due a decent victory and are fully capable of winning this one.