The sun isn't shining for Espanyol.

Cornellá de LlobregatThe last time Oviedo visited Cornellà-El Prat was on the day of the San Juan festival of 2024The shortest night of the year. More than one Espanyol fan returned home as the sun rose after celebrating Espanyol's promotion to La Liga, sealed with two goals from Javi Puado, who was absent yesterday due to a long-term injury. Manolo González was there, though, and he has an unforgettable memory of that festive Sunday. Since then, things have changed a lot for the Pericos, who have established themselves in the First Division and are coming off a historic end to 2025. But this year they haven't seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Even at home against the bottom-placed team, an Oviedo side practically relegated, Manolo González's men couldn't achieve their first victory of 2026. Kike García's goal only served to draw (1-1); that's 4 points out of 30 for an Espanyol side in crisis, for whom the league season is going to be very long if they don't win soon.

Espanyol missed the clarity of Edu Expósito, who was suspended; He was replaced by Ramon Terrats. The other major change to the starting eleven was Ngonge, who played in place of Jofre Carreras. From the outset, the most incisive player was left-back Carlos Romero, who came close to scoring on two occasions. The home side needed him, as they were once again fragile at the back, their manager's main concern. By the eighth minute, the hosts were already losing at home against the bottom-placed team in the league. Oviedo, the lowest-scoring team in the competition, only needed a lapse in concentration in the box to score the first goal: Reina, unmarked, blasted past Marko Dmitrovic, who hasn't kept a clean sheet in almost three months.

Kike García scores again

Time was on Oviedo's side, who knew their chances of staying up depended on a win in Barcelona, ​​and only the energy of Tyrhis Dolan and the skill of Cyril Ngonge were trying to disrupt the game's script. It was precisely then that Espanyol's viral and anti-racist winger The game changed with a run and a back pass that Kike García converted into the equalizer. It was the Cuenca striker's second consecutive goal. Manolo González celebrated wildly, aware of the need to banish the ghosts of relegation with three points.

The break cooled the home side's momentum, as they had already done the hard work. And with patience, they almost scored a second: Dolan shot wide after a good combination on the other side between Omar El Hilali and Ngonge. With more than 15 shots in an hour of play, it seemed only a matter of time before Espanyol turned the game around; to that end, Manolo González brought on Roberto Fernández and Pere Milla, who scored but was offside. Fede Viñas also came close, shooting over the bar, as did Ilyas Chaira, who forced a brilliant save from Dmitrovic.

The last 20 minutes were frantic, with Oviedo unleashing counter-attacks and chances at both ends. And Aarón Escandell came to the rescue, preventing Roberto from making it 2-1. The three points were crucial for both teams, but in the end, neither of them managed to secure them. Espanyol's poor run of form is now more than just a minor issue.