Espanyol blew the race for European qualification wide open by dismantling Athletic Club 2-0 at the RCDE Stadium — a statement victory that saw the hosts dominate possession and ruthlessly punish their Basque visitors when it mattered most.
The first half proved a cagey affair, with Athletic Club pressing high but Espanyol controlling territory without carving out clear-cut chances. The visitors, fresh from their substitution of Yeray Álvarez at the interval, emerged with renewed intent after the restart, yet the hosts' defensive resolve — anchored by the imperious Marko Dmitrović in goal — kept them at bay. It was a game on a knife-edge, waiting for a moment of quality to settle it.
That breakthrough arrived on 69 minutes when Pere Milla, introduced at the hour mark, rose highest to meet Carlos Romero's delivery and swept home the opener. The goal transformed the fixture entirely. Espanyol, sensing blood, poured forward with renewed confidence, and Athletic Club — increasingly bereft of ideas — found themselves undone by a combination of defensive lapses and the hosts' sharp attacking play. Inside the final moments, Kike García applied the coup de grâce on 90+2 minutes, receiving Ramón Terrats's pass and drilling past the helpless Athletic Club goalkeeper to seal a thoroughly professional afternoon's work.
Dmitrović was colossal throughout, earning the man-of-the-match accolade with a rating of 8.7 — his commanding presence and distribution from the back a constant reassurance for the home defence. The Serbian 'keeper made crucial saves when required, yet more than that, his sweeping and ball-playing helped Espanyol recycle possession and frustrate their opponents. Urko González, operating across the midfield, provided tireless defensive cover with a rating of 7.9, whilst Milla's late entry proved decisive, capping an impactful cameo with the opening goal.
With 75 per cent possession, Espanyol dictated play throughout, though they were precise rather than profligate — just four shots on goal from 11 attempts. Athletic Club, by contrast, registered five efforts on target from 12 total shots, yet lacked the clinical finishing or defensive fortitude to trouble their hosts when it mattered. The visitors' substitution pattern — withdrawing five players across the second half, including the injury-plagued Yeray Álvarez — suggested a side managing resources ahead of the run-in rather than chasing an unlikely comeback.
The win lifts Espanyol to a significant position in the table with two games remaining, whilst Athletic Club's European hopes remain intact but now under considerable pressure. Espanyol host their next opponent on matchday 37, whilst Athletic Club travel away seeking an immediate response.