Real Betis-Espanyol

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

New Espanyol coach Mane is hoping the Catalan outfit can halt their slide down the Primera Liga standings with three points against Real Betis in his first match in charge on Sunday.

Espanyol have lost their last four matches to slip to 17th in the table, and that sorry run saw Mane brought in to replace the axed Bartolome Marquez last Sunday.

Former Alaves and Athletic Bilbao coach Mane believes the team must go back to basics in order to turn around their form.

"We haven't had much time, but we have worked hard this week and the players have been absorbing the new instructions - I have been trying to transmit four basic concepts," he said.

"I want a defensive predisposition. We have worked on defensive and attacking strategy, and we've looked at how we can be more direct."

Captain Raul Tamudo picked up an injury in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at home to Sporting Gijon and will be out for two months.

Moises Hurtado is also out injured, but would have missed Sunday's game through suspension anyway.

Luis Garcia is banned, while Steve Finnan and Marc Torrejon look set to miss out once again.

However, Rufete and Nico Pareja are fit again while playmaker Ivan De La Pena is finally ready to return.

Mane refused to reveal whether De La Pena would start against Betis though.

"He could play, but it's not definite," he said.

"I am planning to play someone in the hole, but there are players coming back from injury and I don't know what their fitness is like."

Nevertheless, Mane says he is pleased to welcome back the trio.

"De La Pena, Rufete and Pareja are all good, experienced players and their return is a boost for the team," he said.

Espanyol have won just one of their last 11 games and currently sit just one point above the relegation zone.

Betis are five points better off, but dropped back into the bottom half following last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Valencia.

The Andalusians came back from two goals down to level in that match, but eventually lost out to a late Ruben Baraja strike, despite playing the last 25 minutes against 10 men.

That defeat aside, the club's recent form has been good though.

Paco Chaparro's side have won five of their last seven Primera Liga matches and look set to challenge for a European place this season.

However, Chaparro knows Espanyol will be boosted by the arrival of Mane and says he expects a difficult game on Sunday.

"We expect a complicated match, but we also hope to win. However, I know their new coach and he will boost their morale," he said.

Chaparro admitted he is happy to see his side competing higher up the table than in previous campaigns, but says his team are not talking about European qualification at this stage.

"We are in a different position to that of previous seasons, but we need to avoid errors and stay in that safe zone," he continued.

"Whether or not people are talking about the UEFA Cup outside the dressing room is not an issue for us, we are just working as hard as we can."

David Odonkor and Mark Gonzalez remain sidelined with long-term injuries, while Edu is also set to miss out again

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Espanyol

For me we have lost 2 points.We need so much chances for to score a goal.We had the game in total control and again our central defenders were sleeping.
The 1-1 was unbelievable mistake from our defence.
Although I'm dissapointed with the result,our field play was very positive.

[Verdiblanco de Holanda]

Respuesta: Real Betis-Espanyol

A late strike from substitute Coro earned Espanyol a share of the spoils against a Betis side that led through the indefatigable Achille Emana.

Mane's tenure as Espanyol boss began with a draw that may have proved insufficient to drag them out of the dropzone, but that will still offer encouragement.

The Beticos, while probably the better side, were kept at bay by Carlos Kameni in particular, and although they were to take the lead Espanyol showed character to respond, while Paco Chaparro's side can only rue missed chances.

There was high drama as early as the seventh minute as Sergio Sanchez whipped in a cross from the right, only for Juanito to deflect it clear with his hand. Referee Mateu Lahoz, though, saw nothing.

Sixty seconds later Sergio Sanchez was once again involved with a great corner that swung in so violently that it smashed off Casto's post. However, no perico could take advantage.

Betis had a couple of chances of their own, only to be prevented by Carlos Kameni from opening the scoring, but it was the uncertain performance of Juanito at the other end that was providing most of the excitement.

Still, once again Betis took a grip on the game after a 25 minute settling-in period, and it was Achille Emana that was the most responsible. He and Mehmet Aurelio were running the show as the match headed towards the interval, and Kameni was to be called into action on several more occasions.

After the break, in fact, such pressure paid off when Emana opened the scoring. The Cameroonian slammed a low shot from the edge of the area after holding the ball up well following Sergio Garcia's pass in from the left.

Garcia himself should have been next on the scoresheet, but Espanyol - rejuvenated by the introductions of Coro and Roman Martinez for Francisco Rufete and Lola - managed to pull one back.

It was fantastic play from Nene that made this strike, the Brazilian striding up the left before firing in the sweetest of crosses for Coro. The Catalan still had it all to do, but he controlled the ball beautifully before fiting goalwards past the helpless Casto.

The game grew scrappier as the players tired, but there was no shortage of excitement from that, particualr from the corners. Indeed, Juanito came close to redeeming himself for his earlier mistakes with a fine header that only just missed the target ten minutes from time.

Still, the final ten minutes provided few chances, and a draw duly ensued.