Espanyol, on the brink of the abyss: a final against Levante at the RCDE Stadium

Permanence is tinged with drama in Cornellà while rivals press the accelerator.

Monday, April 28, 2026 appears as a date marked in red on the RCD Espanyol calendar. The blue and white team faces Levante at the RCDE Stadium in what has been described as a true 'final'. The need to add the three points is imperative, since any other result could mean one more step towards the abyss of the second division. The fight for permanence has become fiercer than ever, with all the teams involved in the lower zone reaping important results.

Saturday's day left a bittersweet taste for the parakeets. Alavés' comeback against its direct rivals caused a turnaround in the standings, placing Sevilla in relegation positions. This means that Espanyol, with its 38 pointssee the red zone just 4 points away, a figure that reflects the dramatic reduction in their advantage in the last four months, marked by an irregular performance by the Catalan team.

Valencia's victory against Girona also adds more fuel to the fire. The Ché team surpassed Espanyol in the table, leaving Míchel's team in a delicate position. The fight for each point has become desperate, and the Spanish fans will be watching other crucial duels such as Oviedo-Elche and Osasuna-Sevilla. The objective is clear: that the direct rivals do not add, thus relieving the pressure on the blue and white.

However, the slogan in the Espanyol locker room is clear: focus on your own. The team led by Manolo González must go out onto the field with the mentality of winning no matter what. A victory against Levante, a direct rival, would mean taking a giant step towards salvation, leaving permanence practically assured. The rival, Levante on an upward streak after their last victory, arrives at Cornellà with high morale, but with an unfavorable history in the blue and white fiefdom.

The RCDE Stadium has historically been a fortress for Espanyol against Levante. In the 17 matches disputed between both categories, the Catalan team has achieved victory in ten occasionsalso adding five ties. Levante has only been able to celebrate two wins in this historic rivalry, which gives slight favoritism to the hosts in this crucial match.

The last precedent between both teams dates back to February 4, 2024, when they were active in the Second Division. Espanyol won by 2-1 in a vibrant match, with a Braithwaite doublewho sealed the victory in stoppage time with a penalty in the minute 99. That match demonstrated the team's ability to carry out difficult games.

For this Monday's crucial match, Manolo González will be able to count on all his available artillery, except for a last-minute surprise. The squad arrives in good physical and emotional condition to face this decisive match. The fans, loyal to their team in the most difficult moments, prepare a great reception to give maximum encouragement to the players, aware that this match is much more than three points: it is the opportunity to take a firm step towards salvation.