Caicedo and Espanyol destroy El Madrigal

RCD Espanyol beat Villarreal CF 3-0 on matchday 30 in the Liga BBVA, with Felipe Caicedo proving decisive for the visitors, scoring two goals. This victory at the normally imposing El Madrigal sees Sergio González’s side move up to ninth place and on to 38 points, while Marcelino García Toral’s side remain sixth, on 50 points.

In the first half both sides tried to dominate the game by maintaining possession. The first clear chance came in the 16th minute, with Sergio Asenjo producing a magnificent save to keep out Víctor Álvarez’s header from Sergio García’s cross. However, the hosts’goalkeeper could not prevent Espanyol from opening the scoring in the 24th minute. Lucas Vázquez took a free-kick from the left and it deflected off a player and towards Felipe Caicedo, who made the most of the opportunity in the six yard area.The host meanwhile struggled to trouble Kiko Casilla and the score remained 1-0 to the visitors when the half-time whistle blew.

Marcelino’s side came out after the break with renewed hunger, and two minutes into the second period Manu Trigueros headed Luciano Vietto’s cross towards goal, but Casilla tipped the shot away for a corner. Villarreal continued pushing for an equaliser but it was Espanyol who struck next, with Caicedo pouncing again, beating Asenjo at the near post with a powerful effort after controlling a pass on the edge of the area. The Ecuadorian’s second strike was a sucker punch to Villarreal, and in the 78th minute they shipped another goal when Víctor Sánchez gobbled up the rebound after Asenjo had spilled a shot into the midfielder’s path.