Espanyol Dominates Levante 3-0 in La Liga Opener
On August 17, the 2026/27 La Liga season kicked off with its first matchday. RCD Espanyol, playing at home, faced Levante. Thanks to an efficient attacking performance, the home side secured a comfortable 3-0 victory, marking a successful start to their new campaign.
Roberto Fernández’s First-Half Brace
Espanyol showed strong attacking intent from the start. Just five minutes in, Edu delivered a free-kick into the box. Forward Roberto Fernández rose for a header, which deflected off a defender. He quickly reacted to the rebound and slotted it home, giving Espanyol a dream 1-0 start.
After taking the lead, Espanyol continued to dominate the game, putting Levante’s defense under immense pressure. In the 40th minute, Javier Hernández sent a precise low cross from the wing. Roberto Fernández, well-positioned in the box, tapped it in to complete his brace for the match. Espanyol went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Dolan Seals the Win with a Solo Effort
Levante’s defensive errors continued after the break. In the 49th minute, a crucial mistake from the visiting goalkeeper led to Dolan intercepting the ball in the final third. He cut inside and curled a shot that went just wide of the post, missing a chance to extend the lead. In the 57th minute, the lively Roberto Fernández laid the ball off for Calatrava, whose powerful shot was securely saved by the keeper.
As the match neared its end, Espanyol did not let up their attack and eventually converted their dominance into another goal. In the 80th minute, substitute Bauzá played a horizontal pass to Dolan. Dolan received the ball, skillfully dribbled past several defenders, and unleashed a powerful strike to make it 3-0, effectively ending any suspense.
Pre-match Tribute and a Look Ahead
Notably, before the match began, the entire stadium, including fans and players from both teams, observed a minute of silence to honor the RCD Espanyol club members who passed away last season, paying deep respect and remembrance to the late supporters.
In the second half, Espanyol’s coach made several substitutions to maintain energy on the pitch. In the 72nd minute, Bauzá and Lozano came on for Calatrava and Urko, respectively. Later, Carreras, Pere Milla, and Marcos Fernández were also brought on, further solidifying their defense and control of the game.
With this convincing 3-0 win, Espanyol has laid a strong foundation for the 2026/27 season. They will face a tough test in their next La Liga match on August 23 against the formidable Real Madrid.
