Espanyol victory ends 143-day drought as Pere Milla and Kike García sink Athletic
Espanyol victory over Athletic on May 13, 2026 ends a 143-day drought as Pere Milla and Kike García deliver a dramatic 2-0 win to strengthen survival hopes.
Espanyol end 143-day winless run at RCDE Stadium
The long wait finally ended on May 13, 2026 as Espanyol claimed a 2-0 win over Athletic Club at the RCDE Stadium, snapping a 143-day run without a victory. The result brought relief to a club and fan base that had endured 18 league matches without a triumph earlier in the year. The breakthrough carried weight beyond three points; it injected momentum into a team fighting to secure top-flight status with only two fixtures left to play.
The crowd of 29,943 produced a charged atmosphere as supporters sensed the significance of the night. The win lifted a heavy psychological burden that had been building for months, and it offered a tangible step toward preserving LaLiga position. Manager Manolo González and his players left the pitch with a palpable lift after a game that had been tense and nervy at times.
Pere Milla breaks the deadlock
The decisive opener arrived in the 69th minute when Pere Milla latched onto a weighted pass from Carlos Romero and finished instinctively with a first-time strike. The finish came at a crucial juncture when the home side needed composure and a moment of quality to puncture a stubborn Athletic defence. Milla’s goal triggered a celebration that had been months in the making, with the stadium erupting as the home crowd finally saw the net.
The strike was the product of sustained pressure and tactical adjustments from Espanyol after the interval. The forward’s timing and technique underlined why he remains a key figure for the club, and his run and movement created space at the perfect moment. That goal shifted the rhythm of the contest and forced Athletic into a more urgent posture in search of an equaliser.
Kike García seals victory deep into stoppage
As Athletic pushed forward in search of a response, Espanyol held firm and looked to make that vital second goal count. Substitute Kike García delivered the clincher deep into stoppage time, converting a cross from Ramón Terrats to make it 2-0 and release the tension that had gripped the stadium. The late strike not only confirmed the win but also turned nervous relief into outright jubilation across the stands.
The goal underlined the importance of game management and the impact of fresh legs introduced by Manolo González. It also reflected a pragmatic approach in the closing stages: protect the lead while remaining dangerous on the counter. For the players and supporters alike, Kike García’s finish was a cathartic moment that converted months of pressure into celebration.
Manolo González reshapes the team and tactics
Manager Manolo González made several calculated changes before and during the match, driven by suspensions and the need to generate more attacking impetus. With regular starters absent through disciplinary measures, González started Antoniu Roca and C. Riedel and later introduced Jofre, Pere Milla, Ramón Terrats and Kike García as the contest demanded. Those substitutions altered Espanyol’s shape, adding energy and directness at moments when the team had been stalled.
González’s willingness to tweak his frontline paid dividends as the home side grew in confidence after the break. The coach balanced urgency and caution; he pushed for goals while ensuring defensive stability around goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović. The changes showed a manager attuned to the match’s rhythm and prepared to take risks to secure a result that the club desperately needed.
Athletic hit the woodwork and missed key opportunities
Despite the defeat, Athletic Club left the RCDE Stadium with grounds for frustration after striking the woodwork on multiple occasions. Unlucky breaks and near-misses featured early and often, including at least three moments when poles and crossbar denied the visitors. Unai Simón also made a number of important saves to keep his side in the contest, but the margins were slim and fortune ultimately favoured the hosts.
Athletic’s attacking intent was evident throughout as they created high-quality chances and kept Espanyol under pressure at times. The visitors saw a volley and a close-range effort rebound off the frame of the goal in the first half, moments that could have rewritten the narrative. Those missed opportunities, combined with Milla’s timely strike, proved decisive in a match where fine lines separated victory from disappointment.
What the win means for Espanyol’s relegation battle
The victory provided crucial breathing room in the fight against relegation, reducing the immediate strain on a club that had spent weeks under severe pressure. As of May 13, 2026 Espanyol moved further away from the drop zone, with the margin to the relegation places narrowed to a single-digit fight that will be decided over the club’s remaining fixtures. The psychological value of the win may prove as important as the three points on the table.
Players and staff acknowledged the result as a turning point while remaining mindful that nothing is secured yet. The fixture list leaves little room for error and demands consistency over the final two matches to guarantee survival. For the supporters, the result offered renewed hope and a reminder of the club’s resilience under duress.
Match details attendance and individual performances
Marko Dmitrović’s clean sheet and key saves were central to Espanyol’s defensive resilience and provided a foundation for the team to press forward. The goalkeeper’s interventions, combined with the defensive contribution from players such as Carlos Romero and R. Sánchez, helped neutralize Athletic’s best moments. Offensively, Pere Milla’s composed finish and Kike García’s late strike stood out as match-defining contributions.
The referee for the contest was Francisco José Hernández Maeso and the match was witnessed by 29,943 spectators at the RCDE Stadium. Substitutions played a clear role in changing the match’s dynamics, with the home side’s bench options delivering decisive returns. The attendance underlined the emotional investment of the fan base, which played a part in maintaining intensity and pressure throughout the encounter.
Espanyol’s 2-0 victory over Athletic on May 13, 2026 offered a powerful jolt to a season that had been marked by anxiety, and it provided a platform from which the club can approach its remaining fixtures with renewed belief. The result will be dissected for tactical lessons, but above all it will be remembered as the night when a long drought ended and survival hopes were given fresh life.
