MAIORCA 2-1 ESPANYOL

In a heart-stopping clash, Maiorca snatched a dramatic victory over Espanyol, with Muriqi emerging as the hero in a match that had its fair share of twists and turns. The encounter saw two missed penalties, one of which was controversially overturned after a lengthy VAR review, ultimately delivering the win for the home side.

The game kicked off with a vibrant tempo, showcasing opportunities for both Edu Exposito and Dani Rodriguez. Maiorca’s Asano and Morlanes also posed threats, yet Espanyol's Kumbulla stood strong, keeping the first half locked at 0-0.

However, the turning point came early in the second half. In a moment of bad luck for Maiorca, Muriqi unwittingly diverted Edu Exposito's shot into his own net, putting Espanyol ahead 1-0 in the 52nd minute. Just ten minutes later, the hosts were handed a lifeline with a penalty that saw Joan Fernandez utterly bamboozle Muriqi, who fluffed his chance from the spot.

Rather than capitulate, Maiorca fought back in the 65th minute as Asano netted the equaliser, narrowly dodging danger from Puado’s attempt shortly thereafter. The last moments of the match were frenetic, culminating in a penalty awarded to Maiorca in the 88th minute. Abdon Prats stepped up, only to be thwarted once more by the agile Fernandez.

Just when it seemed time was up, a lengthy VAR check would see the penalty retaken due to Espanyol players encroaching into the area. Muriqi returned to the spot, and this time, he made no mistake, scoring the match-winner in the 97th minute. Maiorca’s 2-1 triumph moves them up to seventh place with 40 points, fuelling aspirations of European football, while Espanyol remains perilously close to relegation with a mere 28 points in a crowded bottom tier.

Resource: Sport Mediaset