Espanyol are a step and a half closer to reaching the Europa League group stages, as they defeated FC Luzern 3-0 away from home in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.
They were in control throughout the match in Switzerland, going ahead in the 28th minute when Facundo Ferreyra got his head on the end of a floated Oscar Melendo cross for his fourth goal of the team's qualifying campaign.
Espanyol paid tribute to Dani Jarque on the anniversary of his death as they celebrated that goal, and there were two more celebrations to come in the second half.
Both second half goals were excellent, with Didac Vila smashing high into the roof of the net on the hour mark and Matias Vargas hitting a long-distance blast into the top corner just before the 90 minutes were up.
It could even have been four, but FC Luzern goalkeeper Marius Mueller made an impressive one-on-one save against Borja Iglesias in stoppage time.
That shouldn't matter for Espanyol as they have a three-goal advantage ahead of next week's second leg, and they'll expect to make it to the final round of qualifying where they'll face either CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria or Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine.
Jackys
41
And I would love to see the Panda go on for many years, but between the time you see it all, and you are over-priming with its pre-season benefits and that even if it does not go away, it will not renew and the 28 kilos soap opera will always be stalking ... whatever it has to be. We will miss that quality in a year that I hope will have many games, but maybe it is a case of lame money and run. Many talk about Mariano's return ... but if Madrid gets involved with Neymar ... Rodrygo would be credible for sure, and the team has an extra-community place. The market will offer something interesting for sure.
Bigthree
36
We need to sign a guarantee striker in case one is injured or in low form, and as a fourth striker, will explode this year. In the middle we are left over, barn is good, it has experience, and Victor Sanchez has been 7 years of being the best, except last year the first round. But nobody gives value to a player and rotate with giving depending on the opponent. In defense, if the knot continues like this, I don't care who his companion is. And although Calero is good, those millions would be invested in a side that competes with javilo, or already in the forward adding the 14 of the half of borja. We have a team. Only when bad times arrive we have calm and trust. Example, last year.