Espanyol 3 - 2 FT Mallorca

Cornellà Erupts: Espanyol Survives Mallorca's Siege in Five-Goal Masterclass

Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. When Espanyol went down to ten men after Pere Milla's 45th-minute red card, the mountain seemed insurmountable; yet the home side remounted from numerical disadvantage to claim a victory that crystallizes both teams' season trajectories in this stakes-laden six-pointer.

Intensity Unleashed From the First Whistle

The Cornellà was a powder keg from kickoff. Espanyol arrived riding a perfect run (three wins in four games, third place, ten points), while Mallorca came desperate: 19th position, just one point on the board. The intensity was immediate. Pere Milla struck in the 20th minute with surgical precision, assisted by Carlos Romero. Minutes later, Roberto Fernández Jaén doubled the lead through Tyrhys Dolan's playmaking at the 34th. Espanyol breathed easy at 2-0.

Then chaos arrived. In the 45th minute, Vedat Muriqi converted a penalty to halve the deficit, but what shifted everything was Milla's dismissal for dissent. With ten men and 45 minutes remaining, the balance shattered. Mallorca smelled blood. The Kosovo striker completed his brace in the 65th, assisted by Sergi Darder, leveling at 2-2. The mountain had been climbed.

The Super Sub Seals the Epic

With the match wide open and 33 combined shots carving through Cornellà's air, the importance of each action was brutal. Enter Kike García from the bench in the 72nd minute, who executed a lethal penalty in the 81st to restore order. Espanyol 3, Mallorca 2. The substitute's goal was the final dagger in a battle that changed hands three times.

Muriqi (8.3 rating) was Mallorca's warrior soul with his brace, yet it proved insufficient. Dolan (8.2) orchestrated from midfield for Espanyol. The numbers tell the tale: 24 shots for Mallorca against 9 for Espanyol, 62% possession for the visitors, but only Espanyol converted when it mattered. Five goals, two penalties, one red card, and three lead changes: this was the crunch match La Liga demanded.

Espanyol Look to Cement European Ambitions

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 38/100. A clash of contrasting objectives sees a top-six chasing Espanyol host a Mallorca side desperate to find breathing room above the danger zone.

The Setup

As the action heads to the stadium on September 15, 2025, the gulf in momentum is clear. Espanyol currently occupy 6th place, sustained by a Form that has yielded seven victories this season. Conversely, Mallorca languish in 16th, struggling to find the tactical Balance needed to turn draws into wins. The Stakes are high for both; one seeking to validate their status as continental contenders, the other fighting to avoid a downward spiral. The Stars in the home lineup have been the difference-makers in tight matches, providing the creative spark that the visitors have lacked throughout the campaign.

Key Battle

The game will be won or lost in the middle of the park. Espanyol’s midfield unit focuses on high-volume passing and quick lateral shifts to tire out opposition blocks. Mallorca’s defensive unit must remain disciplined and avoid being pulled out of position, relying on a compact shape to frustrate the hosts. If the home side can find the early breakthrough, Mallorca’s conservative approach will be forced to change, likely exposing their back line.

Our Prediction

Expect Espanyol to dictate the tempo from the opening whistle. Their superior technical quality in the final third should eventually overwhelm a Mallorca side that has struggled for consistency away from home. A controlled performance from the hosts will likely lead to a 2-0 victory, as they exploit spaces left behind when the visitors eventually chase the game.