Espanyol will play Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey after a 3-2 aggregate win over Sevilla.
The visitors lost 1-0 on the night to Unai Emery's side, but went through to the last four courtesy of last week's 3-1 victory.
Substitute Diogo Figueras gave Sevilla a fighting chance late on, but it was too little too late as the visitors held on to secure their passage.
See how the action unfolded below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Espanyol's trip to Sevilla in the Copa del Rey quarter-final.
Team news is already with us here, so let's get straight to that...
Sevilla: Beto; Coke, Pareja, Kolodziejczak, Navarro; Carrico, Iborra, Deulofeu, Denis Suarez; Gameiro, Bacca
Espanyol: Pau Lopez; Arbilla, Alvaro, H.Moreno, Duarte; Canas, V.Sanchez, L.Vazquez, V.Alvarez; Sergio Garcia, Caicedo.
Sevilla subs: Sergio Rico, Diogo, Aleix Vidal, Arribas, Banega, Vitolo, Aspas.
Espanyol subs: Casilla, Salva Sevilla, Stuani, Abraham, Javi Lopez, Colotto, Montanes.
So there we have it, Iago Aspas has been in inspired form in this competition, but the on-loan Liverpool forward is forced to settle for a place on the bench as coach Unai Emery opts for Carlos Bacca and Kevin Gameiro up top in a game that requires them to score twice.
By the way, it seems likely that Villarreal have booked their passage into the last four. They have just scored against Getafe. Live commentary of the final few minutes is here.
Christian Stuani is amongst the substitutes for the visitors this evening, and the Uruguayan admitted recently that he was unsure if he future remained with Espanyol.
"In football you never know but I'm very happy here, which is something I've always said and will say again," he told reporters. "There are rumours and Espanyol are handling the matter, so I'm aware of that. It's a decision the club must take and we'll decide what's best for my future."
On the subject of transfers, Sevilla's Gameiro recently revealed that the club are not interested in selling him, despite reported interest from a number of clubs.
"We discussed it with the club, but they told me that they aren't a selling club and they won't let me leave. It's only a matter of playing time because I feel good with the team and in Sevilla," he told L'Equipe.
We're 10 minutes away from kick off, so let's get a prediction...
PREDICTION: Espanyol were too strong for Sevilla last week, but that crucial away goal could be vital for Unai Emery's side this evening. I think in front of their own support they will have enough about them to squeeze out a 2-0 win and head into the last four on away goals.
RESULT: GETAFE 0-1 VILLARREAL The Yellow Submarine are through to the last four of the Copa del Rey. Catch the match report here.
Both teams are just about ready, so here we go...
KICK OFF: Espanyol get the game underway...
Early free kick for Espanyol on the edge of the box. Victor Alvarez was tripped and it was a clear foul. Good early chance for the visitors here...
CLOSE! What an effort that is from Arbilla. It cannons off the cross bar and bounces to safety. Good start from Espanyol here.
Denis Suarez and Deulofeu combine and they win a corner but the ball is cleared. Really good early tempo to this one then. Let's hope it stays like this, we could be in for an enjoyable night...
Carlos Bacca almost beats the offside trap with a ball over the top, but the Colombian had just strayed offside. Almost for the home side. Tight decision for sure.
More balls over the top from Sevilla, they seem like they're trying to hit the front early and with two goals to retrieve, who can blame them. Pau Lopez gathers comfortably though.
There it is again, Denis Suarez pelts one over the top on the counter, but Deulofeu is nowhere near it. There's a really good atmopshere in the Sanchez Pzjuan this evening. The crowd are really cheering their lads on.
A quick throw in nearly catches Espanyol out as Iborra meets it after being in an offside position but his hooked cross goes begging. Deulofeu then races onto a pass and manages to get one across the face of the goal but again no one is there to try and convert. Bright start for the home side here though. They know what is needed this evening.
BOOKING: Arbilla and Denis Suarez collide and the former goes in the book. It was a rugged challenge, and a yellow was the right decision from the official.
Pau Lopez does really well and anticipates Gameiro's run early and the goalkeeper gathers the ball before the striker can latch onto the ball over the top. Good goalkeeping and that's not the first time the shot-stopper has been alert to race off his line already.
Navarro croses low and it hits Arbilla and goes out for a Sevilla corner on the near side...
The centre is too heavy from Deulofeu though and it goes out for a goal kick after Gameiro is unable to reach it.
CHANCE! First real chance for Sevilla as Bacca gets on the end of Deulofeu's cross. The ball was slightly behind the striker though and he can't direct it goalwards, but perhaps Suarez was better placed and the forward should have left it? Good chance for the home side.
CHANCE! Lucas Vazquez fires in a low effort from the edge of the box and Beto does well to thwart the Espanyol man with his feet. That was a chance for the visitors to give themselves a big advantage in this tie. A moment to ponder for the home side as they were certainly caught on the counter there.
UPDATE: Athletic are currently still goalless with Malaga in tonight's other 9pm kick off. Earlier tonight, Villarreal edged out Getafe to reach the semi-finals.
Sevilla really are doing their utmost to hit the front early. It's unlike what you would normally associate with a La Liga side, but they clearly want to get this opening goal was quickly as possible here.
Victor Sanchez with a cynical foul on Suarez in the Sevilla half. A bit unneccesary that one and the on-loan Barcelona youngster has been the subject of a couple of tasty tackles this evening.
Confusion here from the official who looks as though he has pointed to the penalty spot but instead signals a goal kick. Carlos Bacca is booked for his protests, but there was nothing doing.
CHANCE! Almost a sublime goal from Sergio Garcia. Espanyol have men over on the break and Felipe Caicedo is to his left, but he opts for a chip on the edge of the box, but Beto manages to reach it. It would have been fanstastic, but perhaps he should have played his teammate in.
Pau Lopez again! Off his line quick to deny Bacca. Sevilla need to cushion these balls in behind a little bit better. The goalkeeper deserves credit for his anticipation but a nicely weighted pass would really put Espanyol under pressure.
Sevilla have slowed down their appraoch somewhat and are knocking it about along the back and midfield a bit more. Well see if that brings them any joy
BOOKING Mico Pareja goes into the book for a foul inside Sevilla's half.
Not a whole lot to report on these last few minutes. Espanyol seem content to keep men behind the ball and Sevilla aren't carving out anything in particular.
Hector Moreno is currently down injured with what looks like a shoulder problem. He may not be able to continue here. Although he'll be likely to get to half time and see how the break settles him.
UPDATE: It's half time with Athletic and Malaga. Nil-nil at the break.
HALF TIME: SEVILLA 0-0 ESPANYOL
Well just the one real chance for each side in that opening 45 minutes. Sevilla playing with more urgency, but that is to be expected. Espanyol will certainly be happy with that first half. More is needed from the side though.
While there's a break in play, I'll guide to Sports Mole's dedicated transfer blog that runs daily throughout the transfer window. Catch all the latest news and reports here, in a new window, of course!
As fate would have it, these two teams meet again on Sunday!
So what can expect in the second half? Certainly Sevilla need to create more and possibly show more patience in their approach play and Espanyol may retreat deeper and deeper the longer the game goes on. However, a counter-attack could see them nick a goal and surely that would see them through the semi-finals? We shall see...
The two teams are back out, so we're just about ready for the final 45 minutes in this tie...
SUBS: Figueras and Banega on for the home side as Emery makes two changes to his side.
KICK OFF: Let's see how those changes help Sevilla then, we're up and running...
A short corner from Deulofeu sees the youngster recieve it back but his low cross is put behind for another corner. The ex-Everton winger decides to put it in the box at the second attempt but it is cleared before Suarez fouls an Espanyol man.
Banega fires in a shot from around 22 yards, but the midfielder's effort is comfortably held by Lopez.
Suarez is teases the defence on the left-hand side before poking an effort into the box. It is easily cleared and he gets a second attempt and wins a corner. The resulting centre is too close to Lopez and the goalkeeper is fouled as he gathers.
Almost an opening for Sevilla, but Suarez can't reach Bacca with the through the ball. The Barcelona youngster is struggling to cast his spell this evening. The last few moments in particular have been disappointing.
Better from Sevilla! A few moments of sustained pressure sees Deulofeu get it wide and the youngster has no messing as he shifts and fires it low across the box. It is cleared but this is better from them...
BOOKING: Somehow Carlos Bacca avoids getting a red card. The striker lead the arm and it looked deliberate, but Alvaro goes in the book instead. He's got away with one there the Colombian. That could be a big moment in this tie...
BOOKING: Carrico goes in the book for a firm challenge. Six yellows now in this one, and Espanyol are already showing some signs of time wasting. A bit earlier for all that carry on surely?
BOOKING: Another booking for Alvarez, but this one is perhaps a bit unfair on the Espanyol man. There was little in that but it was given for a raised arm. The official is having a tough time out there.
SHOT! Bacca picks up the ball with his back to goal inside the area, and decides to lay it off to Iborra on the edge of the box but the midfielder hammers it well over the way after slicing it somewhat. A poor effort.
More time wasting from the visitors? Pau Lopez is down after a collision with Bacca, but it didn't look too heavy a challenge. The shot-stopper is back up quickly after a word the referee...
This looks as though it is going to be a defensive display from the visitors for the final half hour, but Felipe Caicedo comes off for Christian Stuani, which is a like-for-like replacement.
CHANCE! Stuani's introduction almost brings about the opening goal after Kolodziejczak is robbed of possession inside the area. However the subsitute's effort is blocked.
CHANCE! Kevin Gameiro goes so close with an excellent volley on the edge of the box. The ball clipped Bacca on the head as he tried to duck and flashed into the side netting.
SHOT! Sevilla move it about midfield and the ball comes to Deulofeu around 30 yards out and his effort goes just wide.
It's a wonderful run from Lucas Vazquez who skips away from three men before laying it off wide to Sergio Garcia but his clipped cross is gathered by Beto. Victor Alvarez comes off for defender Colotto, meanwhile.
Sevilla need something quickly here, we're creeping into the final 15 minutes and the home side need two goals to go through, but they're not creating anything against this well organised Espanyol side.
There's not a whole lot of urgency from Sevilla here, but credit must go to this extremely well organised Espanyol side. They have snuffed out all threats from wide positions time and again but stayed compact enough to thwart the through passes from the likes of Suarez.
CHANCE! An excellent cross from Deulofeu is met by Bacca but somehow the striker fails to nod it on target and even manages to hurt himself in the process. It was good pressure from the defence in fairness, but that was a great ball from Deulofeu. We haven't said that too many times this evening.
GOAL! SEVILLA 1-0 ESPANYOL (DIOGO FIGUERAS)
Stunning strike from the substitute to set up a grandstand finish. He just shifted it on to his favoured right around 25 yards out and curls it into the top corner. Superb strike. Here we go then...
All hands to the pump here! Deulofeu is dancing into the box and feeds Bacca who holds it up but a number of Espanyol players gather round and manage to scramble it clear. Two minutes left here...
ESPANYOL ARE THROUGH TO THE COPA DEL REY SEMI-FINAL
It was too little too late for Sevilla as the visitors hold on and go through 3-2 on aggregate. A bitterly disappointing exit for the home side, no doubt.
So that's that then, the last four of the Copa del Rey is now settled. Barcelona will meet Villarreal, while Athletic Bilbao will clash with Espanyol. One has to strongly favour Luis Enrique's Barca now...
Right, that's all from me this evening, I hope you've enjoyed the commentary.
Written by
Paul Gorst
Paul Gorst
