Espanyol vs Villarreal preview - Romaric looking forward

Posted Sunday, November 06, 2011 by PA

Espanyol midfielder Ndri Romaric has urged his team to move on from their controversial defeat to Malaga when they take on Villarreal on Sunday.

The Barcelona-based club were beaten last weekend when a wrongly awarded penalty handed Malaga a 2-1 victory.

Referee Carlos Delgado Ferreiro pointed to the spot after he mistakenly judged the ball had struck Ndri Romaric on the hand rather than his face, prompting coach Mauricio Pochettino to say it was `easier to make a mistake against Espanyol than against Real Madrid or Barcelona'.

Romaric admits the decision still hurts but is aware the result cannot be changed.

He told a press conference: "When he said to me it was a penalty I thought it was a joke, but now we have to turn the page.

"The whole team was very upset, but now we are thinking about Villarreal and need to forget what happened in Malaga."

The Ivorian is also wary of Villarreal, despite their poor recent form and unenviable injury list.

"They are one of the best teams in Spain and have always been in and around the Champions League places for the past few years," he said.

"Right now they are having a few problems but that doesn't mean it won't be difficult because they always play good football and are very dangerous."

Romaric will be without regular midfield partner Javi Marquez, who misses out due to an ankle problem.

Villarreal were mathematically eliminated from the Champions League in midweek and, after a terrible start to the season at home and abroad, coach Juan Carlos Garrido is hoping to at least get their domestic campaign going in the coming weeks.

He told the club's website: "We are only thinking of catching up with those in the top positions in the league.

"Logically we have to win the next few matches, but for now the most important one is Espanyol.

"We need to realise that this is an important step for the future. If we win we can look at the table with more excitement and this is the incentive that we have to start believing in."

Garrido will at least have Bruno Soriano back in the squad after the midfielder missed the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday due to a stomach bug, while Marco Ruben has also been declared fit.

However, Cristian Zapata, Giuseppe Rossi, Nilmar and Cani are all long-term absentees through injury.