2007–08 RCD Espanyol season

RCD Espanyol
2007–08 season
PresidentDaniel Sánchez Llibre
Head coachErnesto Valverde
StadiumEstadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
La Liga12th
Copa del ReyRound of 16
Top goalscorerLeague: Spain Luis García (13)[1]
All: Spain Luis García (15)

The 2007–08 RCD Espanyol season was the 77th year in the club's history.

Summary

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2007–08 was Espanyol’s second season under the leadership of Ernesto Valverde, who had led them to the UEFA Cup final in his first season in charge.[2] Despite this success, they did not qualify for European competition in 2007–08, when they would compete domestically in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

The season began poorly, with a 1–0 home defeat by Real Valladolid at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on 26 August, courtesy of a second-half goal from Joseba Llorente.[3] Things improved after this shaky start, with a 2–2 draw against Real Betis at Manuel Ruiz de Lopera followed by the club’s first win of the campaign, a 1–0 home victory over Getafe.[4]

Periquitos lost their next game, against Recreativo de Huelva at Nuevo Colombino on 22 September, with an early goal from Albert Riera cancelled out by Javi Guerrero’s second-half brace for the hosts.[5] However, this was followed by a long unbeaten run, with Blanquiazules securing nine wins and seven draws in their next sixteen games across all competitions. This run included a 2–1 home win over Real Madrid on 20 October, a 1–1 home draw with Barcelona on 1 December, and a 3–2 aggregate victory over Deportivo de La Coruña in the Copa del Rey round of 32.[4] Espanyol’s good form left them 3rd in the table in early January, in the running for a UEFA Champions League qualifying spot.[6]

The run finally came to an end on 13 January with a 1–0 loss to Almería at Estadio del Mediterráneo thanks to a late winner from Kalu Uche.[7] Three days later, Periquitos exited the Copa del Rey with a penalty shoot-out loss to Athletic Bilbao, following 1–1 draws in both legs of their round of 16 tie.[4]

In a dramatic reversal of their form, Blanquiazules would win just three games for the rest of the season: 1–0 against Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in February, and at home against Valencia and Mallorca in March. Following the Mallorca game, they recorded just three draws and seven losses in their final ten games of the campaign, with a rare highlight being a 0–0 draw against Barcelona at Camp Nou on 19 April.[4] Espanyol’s poor form saw them drop to 12th in the table by the end of the season.[8]

On 28 May, Valverde was appointed coach at Super League Greece club Olympiacos on 28 May.[9] In his place, the club appointed Tintín Márquez, who had been assistant manager since 2004, serving under both Valverde and his predecessor Miguel Ángel Lotina.[10]

Squad statistics

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Last updated on 20 January 2024.[1][11][12]

No. Pos Nat Player Total La Liga Copa del Rey
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Cameroon CMR Carlos Kameni 30 0 30 0 0 0
2 DF Spain ESP Javi Chica 20 0 13+5 0 2 0
3 DF Spain ESP David García 17 0 16 0 1 0
4 DF Spain ESP Jesús María Lacruz 22 0 13+5 0 4 0
6 DF Argentina ARG Clemente Rodríguez 19 0 13+4 0 1+1 0
7 MF Cape Verde CPV Valdo 34 4 27+4 4 3 0
8 MF Argentina ARG Pablo Zabaleta 36 1 31+1 1 4 0
9 MF Spain ESP Iván de la Peña 15 0 7+5 0 1+2 0
10 MF Spain ESP Luis García 41 15 36+1 13 4 2
11 MF Spain ESP Albert Riera 39 4 30+6 4 3 0
12 GK Spain ESP Kiko Casilla 4 0 3+1 0 0 0
12 DF Spain ESP Albert Serrán 2 0 1 0 1 0
13 GK Spain ESP Javi Ruiz 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 GK Spain ESP Iñaki Lafuente 9 0 5 0 4 0
14 MF Spain ESP Ángel 30 2 21+7 2 2 0
15 MF Brazil BRA Fredson 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 FW Brazil BRA Ewerthon 8 1 5+3 1 0 0
17 MF Morocco MAR Moha El Yaagoubi 11 0 3+6 0 1+1 0
18 MF Spain ESP Francisco Rufete 11 0 5+5 0 1 0
19 DF Spain ESP Marc Torrejón 39 1 36 1 2+1 0
20 FW Spain ESP Coro 28 3 13+13 2 1+1 1
21 DF Spain ESP Daniel Jarque 32 1 30+1 1 1 0
22 MF Spain ESP Moisés Hurtado 37 0 32+2 0 1+2 0
23 FW Spain ESP Raúl Tamudo 29 11 22+3 10 0+4 1
24 FW Spain ESP Jonathan Soriano 27 3 8+16 2 3 1
25 MF Serbia SRB Milan Smiljanić 34 0 16+14 0 4 0
31 MF Spain ESP Jordi Gómez 3 0 0+3 0 0 0
33 MF Spain ESP Miguel Palanca 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players who have left the club after the start of the season:
MF Brazil BRA Jônatas 9 0 2+7 0 0 0

References

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  1. ^ a b "Espanyol Barcelona » Appearances Primera División 2007/2008". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  2. ^ Atkin, John (17 May 2007). "Palop lauds perfect performance". UEFA. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Espanyol Barcelona – Real Valladolid 0:1 (Primera División 2007/2008, 1. Round)". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Espanyol Barcelona » Fixtures & Results 2007/2008". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Recreativo Huelva – Espanyol Barcelona 2:1 (Primera División 2007/2008, 4. Round)". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Primera División 2007/2008 » 18. Round". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  7. ^ "UD Almería – Espanyol Barcelona 1:0 (Primera División 2007/2008, 19. Round)". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Primera División 2007/2008 » 38. Round". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Olympiacos turn to Valverde". UEFA. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  10. ^ "'Tintín' Márquez, nou entrenador de l'Espanyol" ['Tintín' Márquez, new Espanyol manager] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  11. ^ "Espanyol Barcelona » Squad 2007/2008". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Espanyol Barcelona » Appearances Copa del Rey 2007/2008". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
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