The Spanish outfit, Espanyol landed the first punch and the last punch of the game, as everyone expected the English Premier League outfit, Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) knocked them out of the second-tier European competition.
When Nuno Espírito Santo’s team, Wolverhampton Wanderers, took a four-goal lead in the first leg of the fixture, the decisive blows had been delivered at Espanyol. Moreover, Wolves had to just finish the Spanish outfit off and they did so swiftly.
The Irish international, Matt Doherty got the visitors’ second equaliser late on. However, the goal was scored by Callwri which was the late winner for the Spanish side. Jonathan Calleri scored a hat-trick but it failed to end Nuno’s Europa League dream. Wolverhampton Wanderers reached the last 16 despite defeat in Spain.
Former Premier League flop Calleri hit a hat-trick at his home ground to earn the hosts a 3-2 win in Barcelona on Thursday, as Wolves progressed 6-3 on aggregate. Wolves winger, Adama Traore, and Matt Doherty netted for the Nuno’s side who now wait for the draw to discover their next opponents in the Europa League.
On the pitch, Portuguese tactician’s side rarely looked in danger of blowing their commanding 4-0 advantage like Barcelona did last year against Merseyside from the first leg in England. The Portuguese tactician had the luxury of being able to rest hat-trick hero Diogo Jota and his countrymen Ruben Neves as he had the four-goal cushion. Nuno handed the debut to their January transfer window signing, Daniel Podence, handing a full debut to £21million buy.
Espanyol fans turned their backs on the team with the RCDE Stadium barely a third full and the club prioritising their LaLiga survival fight over the last-32 tie, but after a sedate opening 15 minutes, the hosts gave themselves hope of an improbable comeback.
Neither side had threatened before Espanyol strung together a flowing move down the left and Adria Pedrosa crossed for Calleri to finish from close range with the game’s first shot on target.
The lead of Espanyol lasted just six minutes, though, as Traore leveled.
The winger who plays as a central striker for Wolves was picked out by new signing Podence and former Westham player Fernando Calero blocked his initial shot. Yet the ball fell back and Adama Traore squeezed a second attempt beyond the grasp of the shot-stopper Andrea Prieto from six yards.
The tie was over as a contest with the hosts needing to score five, but Espanyol – five points from safety at the bottom of LaLiga – kept their belief. Daniel Podence shot over the bar at the start of the second period before Max Kilman gave the home side another lifeline after 55 minutes. Kilman was penalised for a high foot on David Lopez in the box and Federico Calleri sent Rui Patricio the wrong way and converted into the goal from the spot.
Morgan Gibbs-White, making his first start since October for Wolves, fired over, but Wolves barely threatened in the second period.
The Spanish side, Espanyol pressed high against Wolves but their purpose to reach the knockout stage waned as time began to run out. Wolverhampton Wanderers levelled for a second time when Daniel Podence’s low cross was converted by Doherty with 11 minutes left.
The Portuguese international, Pedro Neto then spurned a glorious late chance to equalise and probably to win the game when he astonishingly shot wide of an open goal after rounding the shot-stopper, Prieto.
Former West Ham United player wrapped up the fine scoring details in the stoppage time. The player completed the hat-trick but Espanyol couldn’t create the impact in the end like Liverpool.
Final score: Espanyol 3-2 Wolves
