The La Liga fixture on 5th March 2023 at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla, was an eye-catching contest between Real Valladolid, the home team, and Espanyol, which concluded with the former clinching a narrow 2-1 victory.

Analysing the statistics, key areas of the game that had a significant impact on the match's outcome were shots on target, fouls, and corner kicks.

Real Valladolid showed greater efficiency in front of goal, with five shots on target compared to Espanyol's two. The effectiveness of Gonzalo Plata was imperative for Valladolid's attack. He set up both goals, one in each half, for Ivan Sanchez and Alvaro Aguado, thereby directly influencing the final score.

Despite having an equal number of off-target shots (10 each), Valladolid capitalized on their on-target attempts, indicating better finishing and precision in their final third. Furthermore, Valladolid had the upper hand with nine corner kicks compared to Espanyol's six, facilitating more scoring opportunities, which ultimately could have contributed to their victory.

The statistics also highlight the contended nature of the match. The home team incurred three yellow cards – to Roque Mesa Quevedo, Sergio Escudero Palomo, and Martin Hongla – all in the first half. Espanyol earned two yellow cards with the likes of Oscar Gil and Joselu being booked.

Interestingly, Espanyol committed 11 fouls compared to Valladolid's four, indicating their proactive and often aggressive defensive approach. However, this also suggests that Espanyol kept conceding possession, allowing Valladolid more opportunities to attack.

The away team’s solitary goal came late in the game courtesy of Martin Braithwaite, assisted by Sergi Darder Moll. This suggests that, while their overall goal threat was lower, they were able to rally and create scoring opportunities in the latter part of the game.

In conclusion, the precision in front of the goal, with superior shots on target and effective utilisation of corner kicks, along with disciplined defensive play, resulted in Real Valladolid clinching a victory over Espanyol. The team cohesion and performance of key players, particularly Gonzalo Plata, were pivotal in defining the course of the match. Despite Espanyol’s more aggressive approach, evidenced by the higher number of fouls, their lack of effective finishing and shots on target proved decisive in the match outcome.

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