Espanyol secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Levante at the RCDE Stadium.

The hosts, Espanyol, welcomed Levante to the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona for a LaLiga clash on 16 August 2026. Both sides entered the match looking to add points to their campaign, but the early tempo favoured the home side, who soon imposed their rhythm on the visitors.

How it unfolded

The opening moments were decisive. In the fifth minute, Roberto Fernández opened the scoring for Espanyol with a right-footed shot from very close range that found the top right corner after a set-piece situation, putting the home side 1-0 up. The quick strike set the tone and forced Levante onto the back foot.

The first half continued with Espanyol maintaining pressure. At the 37th minute, Urko Gonzalez received a yellow card for a bad foul, the first booking of the match. Just three minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead: Roberto Fernández struck again, this time from the centre of the box, firing a right-footed shot into the centre of the goal. The goal was neatly assisted by Javi Hernández, who supplied the decisive pass.

The second half saw Levante struggling to create clear chances, while Espanyol’s discipline wavered slightly. Cala was shown a yellow card in the 63rd minute for a bad foul, followed by another booking for the home side when Javi Hernández was cautioned in the 68th minute, also for a bad foul. Despite the cautions, Espanyol kept their attacking intent.

The final blow came in the 80th minute. Tyrhys Dolan, after a swift counter-attack, delivered a left-footed shot from the centre of the box that curled into the bottom right corner. The move was set up by an assist from Rafael Bauza, who had driven forward on the break to provide the decisive pass. The goal sealed a comprehensive 3-0 win for Espanyol.

Standout performers

Roberto Fernández was the clear offensive catalyst, scoring twice – once from a set-piece rebound and again from open play – and showcasing composure inside the box. Javi Hernández contributed an assist for the second Fernández goal, linking play effectively before picking up a yellow card later in the match. Tyrhys Dolan added the third goal, finishing a rapid transition with a clinical left-footed strike. Rafael Bauza’s assist for Dolan highlighted his impact on the counter-attack, providing the final piece in Espanyol’s attacking puzzle.

Match facts

  • Final score: Espanyol 3-0 Levante
  • Scorers: Roberto Fernández (5’, 40’), Tyrhys Dolan (80’)
  • Assists: Javi Hernández (40’), Rafael Bauza (80’)
  • Bookings: Urko Gonzalez (37’), Cala (63’), Javi Hernández (68’)
  • Venue: RCDE Stadium, Barcelona

What it means

The three points lift Espanyol’s tally in the LaLiga season, while Levante return home without any reward, leaving both sides to regroup ahead of their next fixtures.