Leandro Cabrera
ESY
Ruled out with pending suspension
Cabrera was withdrawn from Espanyol's squad shortly before Sunday's season opener against Levante after being ordered to serve a pending suspension from the 2024-25 season.
Analysis: Cabrera was sent off against Barcelona in May 2025 for an altercation with Lamine Yamal and was given a four match ban, but he served only one match before Spain's Sports Administrative Tribunal granted a stay on the remaining three, allowing him to play the entire 2025-26 season under that provisional measure. That stay was lifted this weekend, and Cabrera must now serve his remaining three matches immediately, ruling him out of matches against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Cabrera is expected to be available again for the visit of Sevilla on September 6 once his suspension is complete. Unai Nunez and Clemens Riedel stepped in as the starting central defensive pairing against Levante as a result of his unexpected absence.
Signs contract extension until 2027
Cabrera signed a contract extension with Espanyol until June 2027 after a renewal clause included in his existing deal was automatically triggered following the club's La Liga survival and the number of appearances he made during the campaign, the club announced.
Analysis: Cabrera featured in 37 of 38 La Liga fixtures this season, continuing to demonstrate that he remains one of the most reliable and commanding defenders in the division despite his advancing years. Cabrera has now made 245 official appearances for Espanyol since joining in January 2020, placing him among the 20 players with the most outings in the club's history, while also contributing seven goals across recent top-flight campaigns through his threat from set pieces. The extension secures the continuity of one of the club's most emblematic figures both on and off the pitch, with coach Manolo Gonzalez having relied on him as the undisputed leader of the defensive line throughout what has been a demanding survival battle season.
Starting Thursday
Cabrera (undisclosed) is in the starting XI for Thursday's match against Rayo Vallecano.
Analysis: Cabrera is no longer dealing with his discomfort and is deemed fit again, as the defender is not just on the team sheet but is starting immediately. With 31 starts in 31 appearances this season, he should continue as a starter moving forward to the end of the season, a part of seven clean sheets this season.
Dealing with discomfort
Cabrera is a late call for Thursday's match against Rayo Vallecano due to discomfort, according to manager Manolo Gonzalez, per Santi Olivan of Marca. "He has a little discomfort, but in principle, he is there to play. We will evaluate the situation until the end and decide."
Analysis: Cabrera is the only player for Espanyol to enter Thursday's match questionable, set to be tested until game time due to some discomfort. With the defender starting in 30 games this season, this will be something to monitor, as they could be without a regular starter. If he were to miss out, Carlos Romero and Clemens Riedel would likely start in the middle of the defense.
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