Eder Sarabia opens new possibilities at Espanyol

Eder Sarabia's appointment as Espanyol manager after their win over Villarreal could increase playing time for fringe players including Rafa Bauza and Gabriel Moscardo.

Eder Sarabia has taken over as Espanyol manager following the club's 1-0 victory against Villarreal under interim boss Sergio García, which lifted them out of the relegation zone. The managerial change opens opportunities for players who saw limited action under predecessor Manolo González.

Midfielder Rafa Bauza, who impressed on loan at Mirandés in the second tier with four goals and three assists in 38 matches, started against Villarreal and scored 5 points in Mister Fantasy MD after disappearing from González's plans following Espanyol's defeat to Rayo Vallecano. Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, has also been sidelined by Urko González de Zárate and Pol Lozano. Academy product Alejandro Santiago made his debut under García on Friday, providing pace and width on the left wing as Espanyol look to build on their recent improvement.