The late winner arrived less than 15 minutes after the young forward entered the pitch in the 80th minute. With the score locked at 1–1, Espí reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area after Kylian Mbappé attempted a dribble, turning it home to seal all three points for the visitors in Cornellà-El Prat.
Espí strikes in 91st minute to sink Espanyol
Late tactical change pays off in Cornellà-El Prat
González’s prophetic warning confirmed
Espanyol manager Manolo González had singled out Espí during his pre-match press conference on Friday, identifying the summer addition as a specific danger designed to break down low defensive blocks. González noted that opponents often struggle against deep-lying structures, making the inclusion of a traditional reference striker a vital tactical countermeasure.
A continuation of remarkable scoring form
That analysis proved prophetic. Espí’s decisive intervention continued a remarkable scoring run extending back to the previous campaign, during which he netted in each of Levante’s final three fixtures of the 2025–26 season against Mallorca, Real Betis, and Leganés to help secure survival. He also found the net during Real Madrid’s pre-season friendly against Ferencváros in Budapest after stepping off the bench.
Securing momentum in LALIGA EA Sports
The hard-fought result keeps Real Madrid moving forward in LALIGA EA Sports, while highlighting the immediate utility of a squad option specifically recruited to alter matches against stubborn defensive setups.
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