Mallorca showed attacking intent as the quarter-hour mark approached after a slow start to proceedings. However, Dani Rodriguez’s effort from a promising position spun harmlessly wide, and Kang-in Lee’s strike gave Fernando Pacheco greater concerns before ultimately sailing off target.
Predrag Rajkovic then offered the hosts a gift that was gratefully accepted, as the goalkeeper’s pass was intercepted by Aleix Vidal, who teed up Martin Braithwaite for a simple finish.
Espanyol had another glorious opportunity when Mallorca failed to convincingly clear Sergi Darder’s free-kick delivery, but Javi Puado failed to capitalise and fired off target.
In a game that had been competitive, Vedat Muriqi provided a moment of true quality in the 41st minute. With an imaginative first-time strike from Rodriguez’s pass, the striker swept his shot out of Pacheco’s reach from the edge of the box, taking the Kosovo international into double digits in a league campaign for the first time since his Fenerbahce days of 2019/20.
Diego Martinez responded by bringing on Nico Melamed and changing the Periquitos’ shape ahead of the restart.
His reward came a mere six minutes later,as Melamed provided the assist for Braithwaite to restore Espanyol’s lead with a clinical finish that marked the Dane’s seventh LaLiga goal this campaign - his best league goalscoring tally since 2016/17.
With the hosts searching for breathing room, Braithwaite couldn’t quite get a clean contact on Puado’s cross with the chance of a hat-trick before the hour mark, while Sergi Gomez was denied by a strong save from Rajković.
Seconds after being introduced from the bench, Angel looked destined to find the bottom corner before Pacheco clawed his attempt away.
Cesar Montes then put in a superb last-ditch challenge on Amath Ndiaye, as Espanyol valiantly held out to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
They sit five points above LaLiga’s relegation zone for now, while Mallorca have lost five consecutive away league matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Martin Braithwaite (Espanyol)
