Four of the players that helped Espanyol to a respectable 10th-place Liga finish last term departed the Catalans for pastures new and left Sergio Gonzalez with a spine to rebuild. Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla left to join Real Madrid, defender Hector Moreno joined PSV Eindhoven, midfielder Christian Stuani left for Middlesbrough, while top goalscorer and striker Sergio Garcia left for an adventure in Qatar.
