Espanyol 2-1 Sevilla Player Ratings: Suazo Rated 8.5/10 as Espanyol Edge Out Sevilla in a Tense 2-1 Win

What a nail-biter that was. Espanyol managed to grind out a vital 2-1 victory over Sevilla in a match that had us on the edge of our seats right until the final whistle. The game, held at the RCDE Stadium, was a classic La Liga encounter, full of drama and moments of individual brilliance. From our perspective, while Sevilla created a flurry of chances, they just lacked the clinical edge that their opponents possessed.

The deadlock was broken just after halftime. Pere Milla rose highest to head home a perfect cross, sending the home fans into a frenzy. It felt like that goal was coming. What stood out to us was how Espanyol then absorbed pressure before substitute Roberto Fernández unleashed a thunderbolt to make it 2-0. Sevilla fought back bravely, with Marcão pulling one back late on, but it was too little, too late. This thrilling encounter showed Espanyol's resilience and Sevilla's frustrating inability to convert their opportunities.

Here are Espanyol Vs Sevilla Player Ratings

Espanyol Player Ratings vs Sevilla

Here are Espanyol Player Ratings vs Sevilla

Goalkeeper

Manuel Iori - 7.5: We noticed he was a commanding presence in his box. He made five crucial saves, several of which kept his team in the game during the first half when Sevilla were knocking on the door. He couldn't do anything about the goal he conceded, a point-blank header. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but his shot-stopping was top-notch today. A very solid performance from the keeper.

Defenders

Fernando Calero - 7.0: A really solid, no-nonsense performance at the back. He made six clearances and was generally in the right place at the right time to snuff out danger. We felt he formed a strong partnership with Cabrera. He wasn't flashy, but he did his defensive duties effectively and with minimal fuss. A reliable showing.

Leandro Cabrera - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was a rock defensively, making crucial clearances and winning his duels. What stood out was his contribution going forward, even creating a big chance with a great pass. He was composed on the ball and organised the backline well. A true captain's performance from our perspective.

Carlos Romero - 6.0: A difficult evening for the fullback. He seemed to struggle with Sevilla's wide players and gave away possession far too often for our liking. He committed three fouls and just looked a bit off the pace throughout. He worked hard, but it was a performance he will want to forget quickly.

Omar El Hilali - 6.5: A steady if unspectacular game. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but was mostly solid in his defensive tasks. He won four of his six duels which shows he wasn't easily beaten. He kept it simple and did his job without making any glaring errors. An average, but dependable, performance.

Midfielders

Urko González de Zárate - 7.0: He quietly went about his business in midfield but made the decisive contribution for the second goal. His assist for Roberto Fernández's strike was perfectly weighted. He battled hard, recovering the ball four times and helping to break up play. A disciplined and effective game.

Edu Expósito - 6.5: He had a mixed game before being substituted just after the hour mark. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and seemed to struggle to impose himself on the match. He worked hard off the ball but his passing wasn't as sharp as usual. An okay performance, but not his best.

Ramón Terrats - 7.0: We were impressed with him during his time on the pitch. He was creative, setting up two chances for his teammates, including one big chance. His energy in midfield was noticeable and he looked like one of the players who could unlock the Sevilla defence. It was a surprise to see him taken off, honestly.

Tyrhys Dolan - 8.0: What a livewire. From our perspective, he was Espanyol's most consistent attacking threat. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal and created two other chances as well. His dribbling caused problems all night for the Sevilla backline. A fantastic, energetic performance that was key to the win.

Forwards

Pere Milla - 7.5: The goalscorer. He took his header brilliantly to give Espanyol the lead at a crucial time. He was a constant nuisance for the defenders, although he will be disappointed to have missed a big chance earlier. His goal was the defining moment of his performance, and he worked tirelessly until he was subbed.

Kike García - 6.5: A frustrating night for the forward. What stood out to us was his incredible work rate and physicality; he won a surprising number of duels. However, his end product was lacking, and he lost possession too frequently. He fought for everything but couldn't provide the cutting edge required.

Substitutes

Pol Lozano - 6.0: Came on and helped see the game out. He picked up a late yellow card but did his job in midfield, adding fresh legs to disrupt Sevilla's rhythm.

Roberto Fernández - 8.0: The perfect impact substitute. He came on and scored an absolute screamer from outside the box to secure the win. You can't ask for much more than that. His goal was worthy of winning any match. A game-changing cameo.

Manager

J. González Álvarez - 7.5: He got his tactics spot on. The team was organised and resilient, and his substitutions were inspired. Bringing on Roberto Fernández, who went on to score the winner, was a masterstroke. He set his team up to be hard to beat and clinical on the counter, and it paid off perfectly.

Sevilla Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Here are Sevilla Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Goalkeeper

Odysseas Vlachodimos - 6.5: From our perspective, he couldn't have done much about either goal. The header was well-placed and the second was a rocket from distance. He made three saves to keep his team in it but was ultimately left exposed by his defence on the goals. A decent outing in a losing effort.

Defenders

Gabriel Suazo - 8.5: Simply outstanding. It’s rare for a player on the losing team to be the best player on the pitch, but he was. He created an incredible five chances, got an assist, and was a defensive powerhouse with eight ball recoveries. He was a constant threat down the left flank. A phenomenal individual performance that deserved more.

Juanlu Sánchez - 8.0: Almost as impressive as his fellow fullback. He was fantastic, creating four chances and winning all five of his tackles. He dominated his side of the pitch both defensively and offensively. He was a huge part of why Sevilla created so much, but like his teammates, was let down by the finishing.

Marcão - 7.0: A real mixed bag from the captain. He scored a good header to give his team a lifeline late in the game. However, he also missed a gilt-edged chance right at the end that could have salvaged a point. He was solid for most of the match but that late miss really soured his performance for us.

Andrés López Gallo - 6.5: A solid and tidy performance. His passing was excellent, and he was strong in his defensive duties, winning most of his duels and tackles. He did pick up a late yellow card. He didn't make any major mistakes but wasn't able to influence the game in a big way either.

Midfielders

Rubén Vargas - 5.5: His game was unfortunately cut short by an injury early in the second half. Before that, he struggled to get involved and lost the ball a few times. It's tough to rate him properly, but he didn't make a positive impact in his time on the pitch. We hope the injury isn't serious.

Peque Fernández - 7.0: He was a real bright spark for Sevilla. He was unlucky to hit the post in the first half and was a constant creative force. His dribbling and movement were causing problems for the Espanyol defence. We were a bit surprised when he was substituted, as he looked like one of the most likely to score.

Batista Mendy - 7.0: A very tidy and effective performance in the heart of midfield. He barely misplaced a pass and was a calming presence, winning the ball back and recycling possession effectively. He protected the back four well for the most part. A really solid, underrated display.

Djibril Sow - 6.5: His passing accuracy was almost perfect, which is impressive. However, from our perspective, he played it a bit too safe. He kept the play ticking over but rarely looked to make a killer pass or drive forward. He needs to be more influential in the final third.

Adnan Januzaj - 6.5: Another player whose night was ended by injury. In his 34 minutes, he looked sharp, creating a few chances and showing glimpses of his quality. It's a shame he had to go off as he seemed to be growing into the game. A promising start with an unfortunate end.

Forwards

Akor Adams - 5.0: A really poor performance from the striker. He was isolated, ineffective, and lost possession an alarming 12 times. He had a few shots but never really troubled the goalkeeper. His mistake also led to a goal-scoring opportunity for the opposition. Just a day to forget for him, he was the worst performer by a distance.

Substitutes

Chidera Ejuke - 6.0: Came on for the injured Januzaj and was very direct. He had a couple of shots but his end product was wasteful. Added some pace but not enough quality.

Alfon González - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on. He forced a save with a good shot from distance and tried to make things happen. A decent cameo.

Manager

M. Almeyda - 6.0: His team played some good football and created plenty of chances, but they couldn't find the back of the net until it was too late. Defensively, they were exposed twice and paid the price. He'll be frustrated that his side's dominance in possession and territory didn't translate into points.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Suazo