OFFICIAL: Espanyol sack current coach Abelardo Fernandez for team's poor results

Abelardo Fernandez has been sacked by Espanyol after the team's poor results, especially in the last two games.

Espanyol, who will host Real Madrid on Sunday, have decided to try one last throw of the dice in order to try and stay in LaLiga Santander, but things do not optimistic as they currently sit bottom of the table, eight points from safety, with seven games left.

Coming in to replace Abelardo until the end of the season is the club's sporting director, Francisco Rufete.

The optimism about Los Periquitos avoiding the drop seemed to evaporate on Thursday after losing 1-0 away at Real Betis, which followed a 3-1 home defeat to Levante.

Still, the club are hoping for a miracle.

Abelardo took charge of Espanyol at the end of December and debuted at home to Barcelona, a match that ended in a 2-2 draw.

Since then, he oversaw 13 games in LaLiga Santander - 17 in all competitions - as they picked up 14 points.

By appointing Rufete, this means that Espanyol have now had four coaches this season, with Abelardo joining David Gallego and Pablo Machin as having been sacked during the 2019/20 campaign.

Espanyol will train under Rufete for the first time at 18:00 CEST on Saturday.

"RCD Espanyol de Barcelona report that Abelardo Fernandez has been removed from his responsibilities as coach of the men's first team," Espanyol's statement read.

"The club has taken this decision as a result of the sporting performance of the first team and with the clear will of achieving salvation in LaLiga.

"The rest of the coaching staff, Tomas Hervas and Inaki Tejada, have also been removed from their posts."