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2-1: Back-to-back team wins

RCD Espanyol prevail against RCD Mallorca thanks to a Martin Braithwaite brace

RCD Espanyol won 2-1 in an outstanding performance against RCD Mallorca on Saturday.

Back at the RCDE Stadium in front of the blanquiazul fans, Saturday saw the return of César Montes in the heart of defence, alongside a home debut for Fernando Pacheco. Mallorca sat in eighth going into the clash while the hosts looked to rise up mid-table and push on for the top half.

The first chance of the match fell to Mallorca’s Dani Rodríguez who hit his effort just wide. Espanyol took the lead with 21 minutes on the clock when Aleix Vidal picked up a loose ball and squared it to Martin Braithwaite, and the striker pounced on it to draw first blood for the hosts.

They came close to doubling their lead when Javi Puado collected the ball on the edge of the box, but his shot flew over the target. That allowed Mallorca to strike back and equalise just before the break, as Vedat Muriqi curled it into the top corner to leave it all square at half-time.

Nico Melamed’s introduction for the second half gave Espanyol a new lease of life, as the number 21 almost scored and got an assist within five minutes of his arrival.

He would not have to wait long for his eventual impact though. Melamed controlled the ball in the box and played it through to Braithwaite, who was there to slot it home to restore Espanyol’s lead with his second goal of the afternoon.

Up for a set piece, Sergi Gómez almost extended that lead but was denied from close range by Predrag Rajković. The visitors were not out of it, but Espanyol were resilient in defence, as well as standing strong in the crucial aerial duels across the pitch.

For all that Mallorca pushed, the hosts would not let up and fought until the very final minute for the win. Espanyol saw out the result to make it consecutive victories in a defiant display at the RCDE Stadium.

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Match information

RCD Espanyol: Pacheco, Óscar Gil, S. Gómez (Cabrera 90’), C. Montes, B. Oliván, Vini Souza, Denis Suárez (Gragera 71’), Darder, Aleix V.C (Nico M.R 46’), Braithwaite (Pierre-Gabriel 88’), Puado (Joselu 71’).

RCD Mallorca: Rajković, Maffeo, Valjent (Ángel 69’), A. Raillo, Nastasić, J. Costa (Morlanes 90’), Kadewere (Amath 69’), Dani Rodríguez (Abdón 90’), R. De Galarreta, Lee Kang In, Muriqi.

Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas

Goals: 1-0 Braithwaite 22’, 1-1 Muriqi 41’; 2-1 Braithwaite 51’

Bookings: Gragera 74’, Nico M.R 83’; R. De Galarreta 62’, Rajković 83’

Attendance: 21,403