Olot vs Espanyol

Espanyol opened their 2026/27 pre-season campaign with a straightforward 3-0 victory over Segunda RFEF side Olot at the Estadi Municipal d'Olot on Saturday evening, with all three goals arriving in different phases of a match they largely controlled.

How it unfolded

Manolo González's side dominated possession from the first whistle and created the clearer chances inside the opening half-hour. Olot goalkeeper Pol Ballesté kept the scoreline level with three early saves, and the home side also had the woodwork to thank when Kike García's effort came back off the post.

Espanyol's breakthrough arrived in the 28th minute. A well-worked team move saw Jofre Carreras deliver the ball into the area, where Rafel Bauzà — arriving late in the box — slotted home from close range after a deflection fell kindly for him. The goal was Bauzà's first of the pre-season and reward for Espanyol's persistent pressure.

Kike García then played Pere Milla through just before half-time, but the winger's shot drifted narrowly wide, leaving the score 0-1 at the interval.

Both managers changed their entire XIs at the break, as is typical in early friendlies. The pattern of play remained largely unchanged: Espanyol controlling territory and Olot defending deep. Tyrhys Dolan carved through the defence with a solo run but saw his finish go just off target, while Roberto Fernández forced a save from substitute goalkeeper Jordi Saucedo.

In the 66th minute, Marcos Fernández came close from an Omar El Hilali cross, his shot flashing past the post. The second goal finally arrived in the 89th minute — Javi Hernández delivered a pinpoint cross from the left and Marcos Fernández met it with a crisp volley to double the lead.

Deep into added time, Pol Lozano threaded a through ball for Roberto Fernández, who beat his marker, rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an empty net to make it 0-3.

The turning point

The match was already tilted in Espanyol's favour, but the first goal in the 28th minute was critical. Olot had frustrated the visitors for nearly half an hour with Ballesté's saves and the post keeping them level. Bauzà's opener forced Olot to push slightly higher after the break, which created more space for Espanyol's second-half attackers to exploit in the closing stages.

Key performers

• Rafel Bauzà — Opened the scoring with a composed finish and anchored the midfield in the first half. His movement into the box at the right moment broke Olot's resistance. Player of the match.
• Marcos Fernández — Entered at half-time and provided the decisive second goal with a well-taken volley in the 89th minute, showing sharp finishing after a lively second-half display.
• Pol Ballesté (Olot) — Made several important saves in the first half to keep his side level, including three stops from Kike García. Could not be faulted for any of the three goals.
• Javi Hernández — Came on at half-time and delivered the assist for the second goal, curling a precise cross for Marcos Fernández's volley.

By the numbers — interpreted

The provider data records three goals from Espanyol's six shots on target across the 90 minutes, with no cards issued in a clean, pre-season friendly. Espanyol's territorial dominance — reflected in their sustained presence in the Olot half — translated into a 1.0+ expected goals advantage, though the final scoreline arguably flattered the visitors slightly given the late flurry. The 0-1 half-time scoreline understated Espanyol's superiority; Ballesté's saves and the post kept Olot in the match for longer than the gulf in quality suggested.

What it means

Espanyol begin their pre-season with a clean sheet and a win, albeit against a side two divisions below them. Manager Manolo González gave minutes to new signings Álex Calatrava, Justin Hartmann and Javi Moscardó, and the team's structure looked solid for a first outing. Attacker Javi Puado was absent as he continues recovery from an ACL injury. The result carries no competitive weight, but the performance — particularly the late surge — offers a positive early signal.

Espanyol's next friendly is against Sabadell on 25 July. Olot continue their own pre-season build-up ahead of the Segunda RFEF campaign.

Verdict

Espanyol did what a top-flight side should do against a fourth-tier opponent: control the game, create chances and finish strongly. The 0-3 scoreline reflected the difference in class, even if the timing of the final two goals made it look more emphatic than it was for 80 minutes. A solid, professional start to pre-season.