Villarreal 0-1 Espanyol: Leandro Cabrera wins it after González exit

Leandro Cabrera scored the only goal as Espanyol won 1-0 at Villarreal on Friday night, three days after sacking Manolo González. Interim coach Sergio García was in the dugout while new head coach Eder Sarabia, serving a ban, watched from a private box at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

Match facts

• Result: Villarreal 0-1 Espanyol (half-time 0-0)
• Competition: LaLiga EA Sports, Matchday 11
• Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal
• Scorers: Espanyol - Cabrera 60'
• Red cards: None
• Next: Villarreal v Paris Saint-Germain, Champions League, Tuesday 3 November; Espanyol v Deportivo, LaLiga, Saturday 7 November (16:15 local); Villarreal v Getafe, LaLiga, Sunday 8 November (17:30 UK)

How the match unfolded

Espanyol threatened first when Roberto Fernández headed wide in the second minute. Villarreal lost captain Gerard Moreno to injury in the 18th minute, with Nicolas Pépé replacing him.

Ángel Fortuño saved from Georges Mikautadze in the 26th minute, and moments later Villarreal appealed for a penalty when Sergi Cardona went down under a challenge from debutant Alejandro Santiago. No foul was given after a VAR check. Péter Gulácsi kept out Bryan Zaragoza in the 29th minute, Fortuño blocked Cardona's shot from a tight angle five minutes later, and Pépé twice shot off target before the break.

Roberto Fernández had the ball in the net in the 48th minute, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review for a foul in the build-up. Fortuño then saved from Mikautadze and Pépé in the 55th minute.

Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez sent on Ayoze Pérez and Carlos Romero in the 59th minute, and a minute later Espanyol scored. Zaragoza crossed after a set piece and Cabrera, a centre-back, finished left-footed into the top corner from the centre of the box.

Villarreal had 62.8% of the ball and 14 shots to Espanyol's five, but rarely troubled Fortuño in the final half-hour. Jan Peries came on for his debut in the 77th minute, and Gulácsi saved from substitute Javi Puado ten minutes later.

What does the win mean for Espanyol?

The win lifts Espanyol to 12th on 11 points for now after a difficult week. The club dismissed González on 27 October after a Copa del Rey exit against fourth-tier Sestao, and EFE reported that the team had won only four games in 2026. Earlier this month they lost 1-0 at home to Atlético Madrid to a late Álex Baena goal.

Sarabia, a former Espanyol player, has signed until June 2028. He carries a two-match ban from his time at Elche, and sporting director Monchi said: "The immediate priority is to move out of our current position." Next up is a home game against Deportivo, who were beaten 1-0 by Atlético Madrid last weekend.

What happens next for Villarreal?

The defeat was Villarreal's third at home in the league this season, and they stay 10th on 12 points. Iñigo Pérez's side host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday before Getafe visit on 8 November. More results are in our La Liga section.

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