Espanyol returned to winning form in La Liga after suffering back-to-back defeats, securing a 2–1 victory over Sevilla through goals from Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández Jaén.

A second-half brace—capped by a spectacular long-range strike from Fernández Jaén—earned Manolo González’s side all three points and kept them firmly in the hunt for European qualification, despite a late push from the visitors.

The hosts started brightly and could have taken an early lead through either of their strikers. Kike García came close first, drilling a shot narrowly wide of the post after confusion in Sevilla’s defence. Moments later, Tyrhys Dolan pounced on a loose ball and allowed García to take it on, but the forward’s left-footed effort curled agonisingly wide.

Soon after, Pere Milla had an even clearer chance when he raced through Sevilla’s back line, only to see his low attempt smartly saved by Odysseas Vlachodimos, who won their early one-on-one duel to keep the match level.

Sevilla’s response came through Akor Adams, whose driven attempt from distance forced Marko Dmitrović into a full-stretch save. That effort shifted the momentum, and minutes later Peque struck the post with a deflected effort.

The visitors nearly broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Gabriel Suazo drifted into space at the back post, only to be denied by an outstanding trailing-leg save from Dmitrović that diverted the ball behind for a corner.

Espanyol, who edged the first half on expected goals, continued their aggression after the break and were rewarded just three minutes into the second period. Dolan floated a teasing ball across the area, causing confusion in Sevilla’s defence. Milla, unmarked at the far post, calmly headed home to make up for his earlier miss and register his fifth league goal of the season.

Sevilla pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Chidera Ejuke and substitute Alfon González both threatening, but Fernández Jaén delivered a moment of brilliance in the 84th minute. Picking up the ball at distance, he curled a stunning strike into the top corner to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.

A late goal from Marcão—prodding home after a scramble from a corner—set up a tense finale, but Espanyol held firm to secure the win.

The victory lifted Espanyol into sixth place in La Liga, while Sevilla’s defeat—their third consecutive away loss—dropped them to 11th, leaving them five points adrift of Espanyol in the race for European positions.