Espanyol 3-2 Mallorca Player Ratings: Vedat Muriqi Rated 9/10 as Espanyol Prevail in Five-Goal Thriller

Espanyol emerged 3-2 winners in a breathless La Liga encounter against Mallorca at the RCDE Stadium, in a match that swung wildly and kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

The hosts raced into an early two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández, appearing to take firm control of proceedings. However, Mallorca clawed their way back into the contest just before halftime, as Vedat Muriqi converted from the penalty spot.

The turning point came shortly after, when goalscorer Pere Milla was shown a straight red card, reducing Espanyol to ten men and shifting the momentum firmly in Mallorca's favour.

Muriqi doubled his tally in the second half with a well-taken equaliser, and for a time, it looked as though the visitors might complete the comeback. But Espanyol had one final twist in store. Against the run of play, they were awarded a penalty in the closing minutes. Substitute Kike García stepped up and converted coolly, sealing a dramatic and hard-fought victory for the Catalan side.

It was a chaotic, compelling contest — one that showcased the unpredictability and passion of Spanish top-flight football. Here are Espanyol vs Mallorca Player Ratings:

Espanyol Player Ratings vs Mallorca

Goalkeeper

Manuel Iori - 8.0: Despite conceding two goals, he was outstanding. Made a remarkable eight saves, some of which were genuinely world-class. He kept his team in the game single-handedly at times, especially in the second half. What stood out to us was his incredible reflex save to deny Muriqi late on. A commanding and crucial performance.

Defenders

Carlos Romero - 7.5: A brilliant attacking display from the full-back. He provided a lovely assist for the opening goal with a great run and cross. He was energetic throughout, always offering an outlet on the left. Defensively he was mostly solid, though he did get caught out once or twice. A really positive contribution.

Fernando Calero - 6.5: A mixed bag of a performance. On one hand, his 12 clearances show he was in the thick of the action and throwing his body on the line. On the other hand, he really struggled in the air against Muriqi. He did his job but it was far from a comfortable evening for him.

Ludovic Taillandier - 6.5: So unlucky not to score, rattling the crossbar with a header. That would have been some moment. Defensively, he made 7 clearances and was a battler. However, much like his defensive partner, he found the physical presence of the opposition forwards a real challenge.

Omar El Hilali - 6.0: A steady if unspectacular outing. He was defensively sound for the most part, making a few important recoveries. However, he lost possession far too many times and didn't provide much of a threat going forward. An average performance before being subbed.

Midfielders

Urko González de Zárate - 6.5: A proper midfield engine. He put in a real shift, breaking up play with tackles and interceptions. He kept possession ticking over nicely with a 79% pass accuracy. He wasn't the most creative player on the pitch but provided a necessary and disciplined screen for the defence.

Pol Lozano - 5.0: A day he will want to forget quickly. Conceding a penalty is a cardinal sin, and it completely shifted the momentum of the game. The yellow card that came with it was inevitable. From our perspective, he looked off the pace and was rightly substituted early in the second half.

Javi Puado - 6.0: The captain was surprisingly quiet. We barely noticed him for large spells of the game. He created one key pass but for a player of his quality, we expected so much more influence. It was no surprise to see him taken off.

Forwards

Tyrhys Dolan - 8.5: Absolutely electric. He was the best player in a blue and white shirt. He set up the second goal with a pinpoint cross and then showed great skill and composure to win the match-winning penalty. A constant menace who created three chances and drew four fouls. A truly brilliant attacking display.

Pere Milla - 5.5: The ultimate hero-to-zero story. He scored a fantastic poacher's goal to open the scoring. Then, he inexplicably got himself sent off with a moment of madness just before half-time. He put his teammates in an incredibly difficult position. His goal just about saves him from an even lower rating.

Roberto Fernández - 7.5: A classic centre-forward performance. He was in the right place at the right time to tap in the second goal. He was a real handful for the Mallorca defenders, drawing four fouls and holding the ball up well. A very effective and crucial contribution before he was substituted.

Substitutes

Charles Pickel - 6.5: Came on for Lozano to add some steel to the midfield and did his job well.

Kike García - 7.5: The hero of the hour. Showed immense courage to step up and bury the penalty to win the game. A perfect impact from the bench.

Rubén Sánchez - 6.0: Brought on to add fresh legs and help see out the game.

Manager

J. González Álvarez - 7.0: His team started like a house on fire, but the red card forced a complete change of plan. His decision to bring on Kike García proved to be a masterstroke. He navigated a very difficult second half and came away with all three points, which is a huge credit to his management.

Mallorca Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Goalkeeper

Leo Román - 4.5: A truly tough evening for the young keeper. He conceded three goals and was at fault for at least one of them. What stood out to us was a general lack of confidence and command of his area. A performance that unfortunately cost his team.

Defenders

Johan Mojica - 6.5: A very busy man. He touched the ball 84 times, constantly trying to influence the game from the left flank. He delivered some dangerous crosses but was also guilty of losing possession too often. A mixed but energetic performance.

Antonio Raíllo - 5.0: A captain's performance undone by one huge mistake. He was physical, aggressive, and led from the back, but conceding the late penalty was a disastrous error. He battled hard, winning 7 duels, but that single moment decided the game's outcome.

Martin Valjent - 6.5: The most composed of the Mallorca defenders. An incredible 100% pass completion rate shows his quality on the ball. He read the game well but was part of a defensive unit that ultimately conceded three times. Tidy, but not impenetrable.

Marash Kumbulla - 6.0: Played only the first half and was largely untroubled. He was solid enough, but the manager clearly wanted a more attacking impetus after the break. A decent but short-lived appearance.

Mateu Morey - 6.0: Another player hooked at halftime. He picked up a yellow card and struggled to contain Espanyol's left side in the first half. The double substitution spoke volumes about the first-half defensive performance.

Midfielders

Manu Morlanes - 6.5: A solid and tidy performance in the heart of midfield. He broke up play effectively and used the ball intelligently. He provided a good platform for the more creative players ahead of him. A functional and important role played well.

Sergi Darder - 7.5: The conductor of Mallorca's orchestra. He was excellent, providing a beautiful assist for Muriqi's second goal. He created three chances and was a constant threat with his passing and vision. A high-quality display from the midfielder.

Pablo Torre - 7.0: Very lively and creative, especially in the first half. He created three key passes and his movement caused Espanyol problems. He drew four fouls, showing how much of a nuisance he was. His influence faded slightly as the game went on.

Forwards

Mateo Joseph - 7.0: A very bright spark in attack. He showed great intelligence to win the penalty for Mallorca's first goal. His pace and directness were a constant problem for the home defence. A really promising performance before he was substituted.

Vedat Muriqi - 9.0: An absolutely monstrous performance. It's rare for a player on the losing team to be the best on the park, but he was. Scored a penalty, a fantastic header, and had a staggering 13 shots. He won 11 aerial duels and was simply unplayable. A one-man wrecking crew who deserved so much more from this match.

Substitutes

Pablo Maffeo - 6.5: Came on at half-time and provided more stability and attacking threat than Morey.

Jan Virgili - 6.5: Added some energy and delivered a few dangerous balls into the box.

Abdón Prats - 6.0: Worked hard but didn't have the same impact as Muriqi.

Samú Costa - 6.5: Added some defensive bite to the midfield in the final stages.

Manager

J. Arrasate - 6.5: He should be proud of his team's fightback. His halftime substitutions were spot on and changed the flow of the game. They dominated the second half and were unlucky not to win. Unfortunately, individual errors from his captain and goalkeeper cost them dearly. He got his tactics right after the break.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Vedat Muriqi