Espanyol Draws Against Levante Amid Injury Concerns for Puado

Espanyol secured a 1-1 draw in their away match against Levante. Under the management of Manolo González, the team fell short of achieving a record of four consecutive away victories, a feat that has eluded them. Nevertheless, the blue-and-white squad did take the lead with an impressive goal from Carlos Romero, leaving a bittersweet taste with the draw.

However, the more pressing concern from the match arose from the early exit of captain Javi Puado, who was forced to leave the pitch after just four minutes of play. Puado had recently returned from a two-month absence due to a knee sprain, a significant injury that had kept him sidelined during a crucial period of the season.

Manolo González addressed the situation post-match, stating, “Puado’s injury is in an area that has been previously affected, but it doesn’t seem severe—at least not to the extent of sidelining him for months. The priority is for him to return when he is fully fit.”

In the previous match against Barcelona, Puado made his return by participating in the final moments of the derby. In this encounter, he re-entered the game as a substitute for Pere Milla in the 69th minute, as González aimed for a victory with Puado’s involvement.

Regrettably, just four minutes later, in the 73rd minute, Puado sustained an injury after a collision with a Levante player, immediately clutching his right knee. Medical staff promptly attended to him, and he was swiftly escorted off the field, heading to the locker room. Moving forward, the team will closely monitor the extent of his injury.