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Coach of matchday 11: Sergio García and Espanyol's 0-1 win at Villarreal as caretaker

Published: 2026-11-036 min. read
Sergio García, RCD Espanyol interim coach, with the Villarreal and Espanyol crests in the background
AI-generated image
Sergio García
Sergio García#19
RCD Espanyol
Coach of the matchday 11

The key coaching takeawayStarting two reserve-team players, Alejandro Santiago on his official debut and Bauzà, then keeping the ball and the lines close after 0-1, with Jan Peries coming on to add composure.

3.60pts× 1.2

3 points for the win × 1.2 multiplier

Villarreal CF
0–1
RCD Espanyol
  • No goals
  • 60' Leandro Cabrera (Espanyol): 0-1. Left-footed finish from a measured Bryan Zaragoza cross after a set piece.
30 October 2026Matchday 11

Matchday podium

Points this matchday

  1. #13.60 pts

    Sergio García

    RCD Espanyol

    0–1 · Villarreal CF

    Away · ×1.2 · Goal difference: +1

  2. #23.15 pts

    Beñat San José

    Rayo Vallecano

    3–0 · RC Celta

    Home · ×1.05 · Goal difference: +3

  3. #33.15 pts

    Edin Terzić

    Athletic Club

    2–1 · Real Sociedad

    Home · ×1.05 · Goal difference: +1

  4. #33.15 pts

    Antonio Hidalgo

    RC Deportivo

    2–1 · CA Osasuna

    Home · ×1.05 · Goal difference: +1

RutaMister coaches standings · Matchday 11

RutaMister's own ranking: cumulative points of the 20 LaLiga 2026/27 head coaches after 11 matchdays.

#MoveCoachPts.
1=
Hansi Flick
FC Barcelona
21.90
2=
Diego Simeone
Atlético de Madrid
21.65
3=
José Mourinho
Real Madrid
20.93
4=
Manuel Pellegrini
Real Betis
20.23
5=
Luis García
Sevilla FC
16.97

Sergio García is 19th with 3.60 pts (= places).

See positions 6 to 20
6=
Pellegrino Matarazzo
Real Sociedad
16.93
7=
Antonio Hidalgo
RC Deportivo
16.92
8=
Edin Terzić
Athletic Club
16.52
9=
Quique Sánchez Flores
Deportivo Alavés
13.20
10=
José Alberto López
Racing de Santander
12.92
11=
Martín Anselmi
Elche CF
11.32
12=
Luís Castro
Levante UD
11.03
13+2
Beñat San José
Rayo Vallecano
10.75
14-1
Claudio Giráldez
RC Celta
9.70
15+2
José Bordalás
Getafe CF
9.45
16-2
Iñigo Pérez
Villarreal CF
8.65
17+1
Juan Francisco Funes
Málaga CF
5.73
18+2
Javier Aguirre
Valencia CF
4.22
19=
Sergio García
RCD Espanyol
3.60
20-1
Jagoba Arrasate
CA Osasuna
2.85

Points = result base × previous-position multiplier. Source: football-data.co.uk. · Photos: credits

The coach's three decisions

RutaMister reading: we analyse three decisions by Sergio García in Espanyol's 0-1 win at Villarreal. We start from the club's report and his post-match comments. The effects described are observable; the tactical intentions are an editorial interpretation, not confirmed instructions from the coaching staff.

1. An eleven with two reserve-team players

Problem: preparing a match at the Estadio de la Cerámica with only three days since Manolo González's sacking. Observed decision: Alejandro Santiago, on his official debut, and Bauzà, both from the reserve team, started in a 4-2-3-1. Effect: Espanyol kept a clean sheet all match and scored in the 60th minute, despite conceding 14 shots to 5. The effect does not show that the eleven caused the win.

2. The double substitution in the 61st minute after 0-1

Problem: Hinojo (41st) and Bauzà (21st) were on a yellow card and Espanyol had just gone ahead. Observed decision: one minute after Cabrera's goal, José Ángel López and Pol Lozano replaced them. Effect: the score stayed at 0-1 until the end. The report does not confirm that the cards were the reason.

3. With the lead, keep the ball and the lines close

Problem: defending 0-1 for half an hour against a home side with more shots. Observed decision: the team set out to keep the ball and bring the lines together. In the 77th minute Jan Peries, from the reserve team and on his debut, came on to add composure, and Puado replaced Zaragoza. Effect: the score did not change until the end. Villarreal kept shooting more, so the result does not prove that the plan slowed their attacks.

1Fortuño2El Hilali3Drkušić4Cabrera5Hinojo6Edu Expósito7Bauzà8Alejandro Santiago9Javi Hernández10Bryan Zaragoza11Roberto Fernández

Starting XI in 4-2-3-1

The match in 90 minutes

Espanyol won 0-1 at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Friday 30 October. Sergio García lined up Fortuño; El Hilali, Drkušić, Cabrera, Hinojo; Edu Expósito, Bauzà; Alejandro Santiago, Javi Hernández, Bryan Zaragoza; Roberto Fernández.

Villarreal were slow to threaten. Their first shot came in the 25th minute. In the 27th, VAR reviewed Cardona going down in the box after a clash with Alejandro Santiago, and there was no penalty.

Espanyol had a goal ruled out after the break. Roberto Fernández finished a counter-attack in the 48th minute. VAR spotted an earlier foul on Pau Navarro and the goal did not stand.

Cabrera put Espanyol ahead in the 60th minute. He finished left-footed from a Zaragoza cross on a set piece. It was the only goal of the match.

Villarreal won the numbers but not the equaliser. They had 14 shots to Espanyol's 5. They also lost Gerard Moreno to injury in the 18th minute and used the bench in the 59th and 80th.

Home goalAway goalSubCard
  1. 18', Sub: Villarreal substitution: Nicolas Pépé replaces the injured Gerard Moreno.
  2. 21', Card: Yellow card for Rafa Bauzà (Espanyol).
  3. 27', Note: VAR review after Cardona went down in the box in a duel with Alejandro Santiago: no penalty.
  4. 41', Card: Yellow card for Roger Hinojo (Espanyol) for handball.
  5. 48', Note: Roberto Fernández's counter-attack goal is ruled out: VAR spots a prior foul on Pau Navarro.
  6. 53', Card: Yellow card for Sergi Cardona (Villarreal).
  7. 56', Card: Yellow card for Santi Comesaña (Villarreal).
  8. 59', Sub: Double Villarreal substitution: Ayoze Pérez and Carlos Romero replace Alberto Moleiro and Sergi Cardona.
  9. 60', Goal: Goal by Leandro Cabrera (Espanyol): 0-1. Left-footed finish from a measured Bryan Zaragoza cross after a set piece.
  10. 61', Sub: Double Espanyol substitution: José Ángel López and Pol Lozano replace the booked Roger Hinojo and Rafa Bauzà.
  11. 75', Card: Yellow card for Bryan Zaragoza (Espanyol).
  12. 77', Sub: Double Espanyol substitution: Javi Puado and Jan Peries (debut) replace Bryan Zaragoza and Alejandro Santiago.
  13. 80', Sub: Double Villarreal substitution: Alex Freeman and Tani Oluwaseyi replace Pau Navarro and Tajon Buchanan.
  14. 88', Sub: Espanyol substitution: Gabriel Moscardo replaces Javi Hernández.
  15. 91', Card: Yellow card for Carlos Macià (Villarreal).

What the coach said

Sergio García spoke of a collective win and of the chance for the reserve-team players. Two lines from him after the match (translated from Spanish):

“It was a team win. The lads were ready and we knew exactly how to hurt them. We saw the best version of this team and we took three very important points at a ground like Villarreal's.”Post-match comments, 30 October 2026 (translation of the original Spanish)
“I want the reserve-team players to toughen up with us and feed the first team. They know they have the chance to get there and that, with work and sacrifice, things come.”Post-match comments, 30 October 2026 (translation of the original Spanish)

The substitutions

MinuteOffOnScore
61'HinojoJosé Ángel López0-1
61'BauzàPol Lozano0-1
77'ZaragozaPuado0-1
77'Alejandro SantiagoJan Peries0-1
88'Javi HernándezMoscardo0-1

Take it to training: giving confidence to the player who joins the group

Task proposed by RutaMister, inspired by the analysis. The exercise is ours, not Sergio García's. Goal: players who are new or from another team feel part of the group and ask for the ball from the first minute.

  • Players: 6 v 6 with goalkeepers; in each team, 2 are guests from another group.
  • Space: 40x30 metres, with two goals.
  • Duration: 3 blocks of 6 minutes, with 2 minutes of rest.
  • Organisation: guests are split between different teams in each block. The regulars explain the team's signals before starting.
  • Rule: a goal counts double if the guest touched the ball in the move.
  • Instruction: the regulars look for the guest with the first pass and let them decide.

Coach's correction: "Give him the ball early, show him you count on him, and support him when he receives it."

What to watch: whether the guests ask for the ball without waiting for permission and whether the regulars keep the same passing rhythm when a guest makes a mistake.

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Previous matchdays

The coaches of the matchday from previous weeks, with their analysis and a task for youth football:

Coach profile

Sergio García de la Fuente · 43 years old · España · RCD Espanyol B (interino del primer equipo, 30-10-2026) since 01/07/2026

Career

  1. Como jugador: Barcelona, Levante, Zaragoza, Betis, Espanyol, Al-Rayyan y CF Montañesa · 2003-2021
  2. CF Damm (juvenil A) · 2022-2025
  3. Selección española sub-17 · 2025-2026
  4. RCD Espanyol B · 2026-actualidad

Honours

  • Eurocopa (como jugador) (Selección española, 2008)
Profile sources: Wikipedia ES · Wikidata Q313201 · RCD Espanyol

About the author

RutaMister logo
Equipo RutaMister
Equipo editorial

Contenido elaborado por RutaMister a partir de experiencia práctica, revisión editorial y enfoque formativo para entrenadores de fútbol base.

Frequently asked questions

How are Coach of the Matchday points calculated?

Each coach starts from a base of 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. That base is multiplied by 1 + (own previous position − opponent previous position) / 40, capped between 0.5 and 1.8: the lower the team started and the higher the opponent, the bigger the multiplier.

Why does Sergio García score 3.6 points?

A win is worth 3 points. The multiplier is 1 + (11 − 3) / 40 = 1.2: Espanyol finished 11th and Villarreal 3rd in 2025/26, and 3 × 1.2 = 3.6. He is ahead of Beñat San José, Edin Terzić and Antonio Hidalgo, all on 3.15. He enters the RutaMister Standings in 19th place.

Why does Sergio García score, and not Manolo González or Eder Sarabia?

Points go to whoever sits on the bench for that match. Manolo González was sacked on 27 October and leaves the table. Eder Sarabia, already announced, watched from the stands and took his first training session on 1 November. When a club changes coach, the new one starts from zero and does not inherit the previous coach's points.

Is this a fantasy game like Biwenger or Mister Fantasy?

No. Coach of the matchday is RutaMister's own editorial ranking of LaLiga head coaches, not players, and requires no squad-building or competing against other users. Biwenger, Mister Fantasy or Comunio are player fantasy games; this is an editorial piece about dugout management.

Sources