Espanyol gain promotion to LaLiga after playoff win over Oviedo

Espanyol secured promotion to Spain's La Liga for the 2024/25 season on Sunday with a convincing 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo in the promotion playoff final.

Javi Puado played a crucial role in this triumph, scoring two goals in the first half to secure a 2-1 aggregate win for his beloved club.

This achievement marks Espanyol's immediate return to the top-flight football after being relegated just one season ago.

Interestingly, this is not the first time the Barcelona club has accomplished such a feat.

They previously experienced relegation in 2020 but swiftly bounced back. Prior to that, their last relegation occurred in 1994.

Puado's first goal came from a well-executed corner, where he skillfully evaded his marker and slotted the ball past Oviedo's goalkeeper.

Shortly after, he capitalized on Pere Milla's assist to extend Espanyol's lead before halftime.

Despite Oviedo's victory in the first leg, their hopes of returning to La Liga since the 2000/01 season were dashed by Espanyol's dominant performance in Catalonia.