Sestao River eliminates Espanyol 4-3 and dismisses Manolo González

RCD Espanyol suffered a dramatic 4-3 elimination from the Copa del Rey against lower-tier Sestao River on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Estadio de Las Llanas in Bizkaia, a result that immediately ended the tenure of Manolo González.

Las Llanas Delivers a Copa del Rey Upset Under Heavy Rain

Playing away in Vizcaya under heavy rain and on deteriorating turf, the top-flight visitors entered the fixture hoping to rebound from domestic struggles. Superdeporte noted that Espanyol had slipped back into the LaLiga relegation zone just 272 days after escaping it, adding immense pressure to a squad facing an opponent from a lower category in the Spanish football pyramid. Sestao River, meanwhile, entered the match as the leaders of Group 1 in Segunda RFEF under the guidance of Riojan manager Héctor Urquía. Despite the gulf in divisions, the hosts capitalized on defensive errors and relentless set-piece pressure to punish their LaLiga opponents.

Early Lead Gives Way to First-Half Defensive Collapse

The match began positively for the visitors when Marcos Fernández earned and converted a penalty kick after being brought down inside the area, giving Espanyol a 1-0 advantage. However, Sestao River responded through sustained pressure. Carrión leveled the score by rounding goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović after taking advantage of a slip by defender Hinojo, according to match reports. Just before halftime, the hosts seized the lead when Ugarte rose completely unmarked to head home a corner kick delivered by Delgado, putting the non-league side ahead 2-1 at the break.

Late Drama Forces Extra Time in Vizcaya

Trailing in the second half, coach Manolo González turned to his bench, introducing substitutes including Roberto and Bryan Zaragoza to spark a comeback. The tactical changes paid off temporarily when Moscardo struck a powerful low shot from the edge of the box to put Espanyol ahead 3-2 in extra time. Yet, Sestao refused to relent. Laka equalized once more by heading in a free-kick delivered by Chicharito. As penalties loomed in the 121st minute, a scramble in the penalty area saw Jon Rojo latch onto a loose ball to poke home the winner, sealing a 4-3 triumph for the hosts.

Club Dismisses Coach Following Knockout Exit

The elimination proved terminal for the coaching staff. The club acted swiftly following the final whistle, issuing an official statement to announce the departure of Manolo González from the managerial post. The club thanked the outgoing coach for his years of service and wished him success in his future endeavors. The dismissal leaves Espanyol searching for a new leader to steady the team as they return to LaLiga competition, while Sestao River advances to celebrate one of the most memorable nights in the club’s modern history.