Espanyol celebrated a triumphant return to Spain’s top flight football league, La Liga, after securing a decisive 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo in the promotion playoff final on Sunday. The match took place at the Stage Front Stadium, Espanyol’s home ground, and saw Javi Puado, a local hero, emerge as the match-winner with a brace in the second half.
Puado’s goals came in quick succession, just before halftime, turning the tide of the match completely. His first goal, a right-footed finish in the 44th minute, leveled the aggregate score after Oviedo had won the first leg 1-0 last week. Three minutes later, Puado struck again, converting a pass from Pere Milla to put Espanyol ahead.
The dramatic comeback meant that Espanyol, who finished the regular season in fourth place, bounced back to La Liga just one season after being relegated. This marks the second time the Barcelona club has achieved this feat, previously returning to the top flight after being relegated in 2020. Their last relegation before that came in 1994.
Oviedo, meanwhile, will have to wait for another season for their first appearance in La Liga since 2000/01. Despite winning the first leg of the playoff, they were unable to hold on to their advantage after Espanyol’s impressive performance at home.
