Sarabia's Espanyol debut will have to wait 21 days

Sarabia's Espanyol debut delayed 21 days due to a four-match ban carried over from his Elche spell for insulting referees.

Eder Sarabia has been appointed Espanyol manager on a two-year deal until 2028, but will not make his debut for three weeks. The Bilbao-born coach is serving a four-match suspension imposed by the Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary committee during his time at Elche. After Elche's 2-1 defeat to Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, Sarabia was sent off for verbally abusing referee Isidro Díaz de Mera. He completed two matches of the ban at Elche, leaving two remaining.

Espanyol face Villarreal tonight in their first match since Manolo González's departure, with Sergio García, the club's B-team manager, taking charge. Sarabia's presentation will take place next Tuesday at RCDE Stadium. His competitive debut will come on 20 November when Espanyol visit Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés, after the second international break of the season.