Espanyol were beaten 1-3 by Elche at the RCDE Stadium.

The LaLiga encounter on 18 September 2026 took place at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. Both sides entered the match looking to secure points, but the early dismissal of an Elche player set the tone for a dramatic encounter.

How it unfolded

The match opened with an immediate shock when Federico Redondo of Elche was shown a straight red card in the 6th minute, leaving the away side with ten men for the majority of the game. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Elche continued to press.

Four minutes later, Fer Niño of Elche received a yellow card for a bad foul in the 22nd minute. The booking did not deter him, and just four minutes after that he opened the scoring. In the 26th minute Fer Niño fired a left-footed shot from the left side of the box into the high centre of the goal, assisted by Roy Revivo, to give Elche a 1-0 lead.

Three minutes on, Fer Niño struck again. In the 29th minute he completed a right-footed finish from the right side of the six-yard box, again after a precise pass from Roy Revivo, extending Elche’s advantage to 2-0. The quick double put Espanyol under pressure as the first half progressed.

Just before the break, Espanyol’s Edu Expósito was booked for a bad foul in added time of the first half (45'+4'), receiving a yellow card. The half ended with Elche comfortably ahead.

The second half began with an unexpected twist. In the 72nd minute Víctor Chust, attempting to clear a cross, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, resulting in an own goal that gave Espanyol a 1-2 scoreline. The own goal offered a brief glimmer of hope for the home side.

However, Elche restored their two-goal cushion six minutes later. In the 78th minute Germán Valera received the ball on the left side of the box and unleashed a left-footed shot that beat the goalkeeper, the move set up by José Antonio Morente (listed as Tete Morente) on a fast break. The goal made it 1-3 and effectively sealed the result.

Espanyol’s frustration grew as the game entered its final stages. Clemens Riedel was shown a yellow card for a bad foul in the 82nd minute, while Elche’s Lucas Cepeda received a yellow for a bad foul in stoppage time (90'+1'). No further goals were added, and the match concluded with Elche winning by a two-goal margin despite playing most of the contest a man down.

Standout performers

  • Fer Niño (Elche) – Scored both of Elche’s opening goals, demonstrating composure and finishing ability inside the box.
  • Roy Revivo (Elche) – Provided the assist for each of Fer Niño’s strikes, linking midfield and attack effectively.
  • Germán Valera (Elche) – Added the third goal with a well-timed finish after a rapid transition, completing the away side’s tally.
  • José Antonio Morente (Elche) – Delivered the decisive assist for Valera’s goal, showcasing vision on the counter-attack.
  • Víctor Chust (Espanyol) – Though unfortunate, his own goal was the only goal credited to the home side.

Match facts

  • Final score: Espanyol 1-3 Elche
  • Scorers: Fer Niño (26’, 29’), Víctor Chust (own goal, 72’), Germán Valera (78’)
  • Bookings: Fer Niño (22’), Edu Expósito (45'+4’), Clemens Riedel (82’), Lucas Cepeda (90'+1’)
  • Sending-off: Federico Redondo (6’, straight red)
  • Venue: RCDE Stadium, Barcelona

What it means

The result hands Elche three points and a clear away victory, while Espanyol returns home with a single point and will look to address defensive lapses and disciplinary issues in upcoming fixtures.