Niño Double Stuns Espanyol as 10-Man Elche Win 3-1

Espanyol 1-3 Elche: La Liga Shocker as 10 Men Triumph

Espanyol’s 66% possession counted for nothing as Fernando Niño’s first-half double propelled 10-man Elche to a staggering 3-1 La Liga victory at the RCDE Stadium – a result that defied logic after Federico Redondo’s 6th-minute red card.

Elche’s Nightmare Start Turns to Dream

Chaos erupted inside four minutes when VAR upgraded Redondo’s challenge to a straight red, leaving Elche manager Mauricio Anselmi gripping the dugout railings. But the visitors didn’t just survive – they thrived. Niño announced himself in the 26th minute, latching onto Roy Revivo’s cross to volley past Marko Dmitrović. Three minutes later, the same pair combined again, Niño ghosting between centre-backs to double the lead.

Espanyol’s Possession Without Punch

By halftime, Espanyol had fired 14 shots to Elche’s 4 yet trailed 2-0. Manolo González’s half-time triple substitution screamed desperation – Hartman, Fernández and Zaragoza all withdrawn – but the hosts’ 23 total shots yielded just one goal: Víctor Chust’s 72nd-minute own goal.

Elche’s Stunning Coup de Grâce

Just as Espanyol stirred, German Valera killed the game. The striker timed his run perfectly to meet Tete Morente’s 78th-minute cross, sealing a victory that left the home supporters streaming for the exits. Elche’s 34% possession was the lowest by any La Liga winner this season.

What This Means For Both Sides

For Espanyol, this humiliation compounds early-season woes – just one win in seven. Elche’s heroics propel them into mid-table, with Niño now joint-second in the scoring charts. Next up? A Catalan derby for the hosts against Girona, while Elche host Mallorca – both matches carrying renewed significance after this seismic upset.