Espanyol sack Manolo González hours after Sestao River's 121st-minute Copa stunner

Espanyol sacked head coach Manolo González on Tuesday 27 October 2026, hours after a humiliating 4-3 Copa del Rey defeat at third-tier Sestao River — a result sealed by defender Jon Rojo’s goal in the 121st minute, just as the tie appeared destined for penalties.

Played in heavy rain on a near-unplayable pitch at Estadio Las Llanas, the match swung back and forth across 120 minutes. Marcos Fernández gave Espanyol an early lead from the spot, but Sestao hit back through Adri Carrión and Andoni Ugarte — both assisted by Eneko Delgado Ginés — to lead 2-1 at the break. A second Espanyol penalty levelled things in the 90th minute, Gabriel Moscardo put the visitors ahead in the 96th, and Ander Laka equalised two minutes later. Then Rojo forced home a loose ball from a G. Zorrilla assist to end it.

The statistics told a story of dominance without reward. Espanyol held 61 per cent possession, completed 321 accurate passes to Sestao’s 140, and goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović made five saves. Sestao, however, managed nine shots on target to Espanyol’s six. Ugarte was rated the best player on the night with a score of 8.5.

The Copa exit compounded a dire run of form in La Liga. According to AFP, Espanyol had taken just one point from their previous 15 available in the league before the tie. Their last six results across all competitions read five defeats and one draw, with losses to Racing Santander, Atlético Madrid, Elche and Rayo Vallecano, and a 1-1 draw with Málaga.

By contrast, Sestao River — coached by Ángel Viadero — have won five and drawn one of their last six matches. The victory over a top-flight side was the peak of that run.

González’s dismissal ended a tenure of more than three seasons. He had reached his 100th official match in charge against Sevilla on 7 September, making him the ninth-longest-serving coach by appearances in Espanyol’s history. The club finished 11th in La Liga in 2025/26 under him, recording 12 wins, 10 draws and 16 defeats — a campaign after which sporting director Monchi had publicly backed him to continue.

On the eve of the Sestao tie, González acknowledged results had been poor but said he would keep fighting until his final day. That day came sooner than he may have expected.

Espanyol must now regroup without a permanent head coach ahead of a La Liga trip to Villarreal on Friday 30 October.