Espanyol Barcelona have secured their final ticket for the 2024/25 La Liga season. Real Oviedo’s 1-0 lead from the first leg was rendered worthless on Sunday thanks to a double strike just before the break
After a year in La Liga 2, long-established club Espanyol Barcelona will play in the top flight again next season. The UEFA Cup finalists from 1988 and 2007 won the second leg of the promotion round 2:0 against Real Oviedo. Espanyol had lost the first leg 0:1.
A double strike from Javi Puado shortly before half-time turned the tie around 180 degrees. First, he got away from his opponent Seo after a corner and volleyed home (44′), then, after Cabrera’s long ball and Pere Milla’s pass, he raced in and completed a quick one-two (45.+2).
Even Santi Cazorla’s substitution does not help
In the second half, the fourth-placed team in the table from the previous second division season played it out in largely commanding fashion. Even the substitution of gray-haired veteran Santi Cazorla for Oviedo (63rd) did not help the visitors – only a great chance through Borja Baston (90.+3) from close range. Former Barca striker Martin Braithwaite was the most prominent name at Espanyol
CD Leganes and Real Valladolid were the top two teams in La Liga 2 to be promoted directly. The following four teams will contest a round of semi-finals and finals in Spain for the third promotion place. Sixth-placed Oviedo had eliminated third-placed Eibar in the semi-final
