Roberto Fernández bags a brace as Espanyol claim first away win with 0-2 victory at Osasuna

Espanyol snapped their away-day drought with a statement win at El Sadar. A quick-fire double from Roberto Fernández inside the opening 19 minutes secured a 0-2 victory over Osasuna and handed the Catalan side their first triumph on the road since the opening weekend, when they beat Levante 3-0 at Cornellà-El Prat. The Cordoba-born striker, now on five goals in five league games, has become the focal point of Manolo González's attack and a genuine contender for the Spain squad Luis de la Fuente will announce on Friday.

• Roberto Fernández opened the scoring in the fourth minute after an assist from Marcos, who was making his first LaLiga start.
• The striker doubled the lead in the 19th minute, capitalising on a costly mistake from Osasuna defender Catena.
• Osasuna had a penalty appeal for a challenge by Riedel on Raúl García waved away by the referee and VAR in the 12th minute.
• Espanyol had not won away since their 3-0 triumph over Levante, making this result particularly valuable.
• Kike Barja and Budimir led the hosts' attacking efforts, but goalkeeper Dmitrovic held firm throughout the evening.

A lightning start: Roberto Fernández strikes twice in 19 minutes

The contest was barely four minutes old when Espanyol took the lead. Omar released Marcos behind Rico and the young striker from Cambrils, handed his first top-flight start after scoring against Sevilla, squared the ball for Roberto Fernández to sweep home from the heart of the Osasuna box. The early connection between the two forwards silenced a stunned El Sadar crowd.

Osasuna responded with intent rather than collapsing. In the 12th minute, Raúl García went down inside the area after a tangle with Riedel and the home fans roared for a penalty. Referee Luis Bestard waved play on and VAR backed his call, much to the disbelief of the 19,302 supporters in attendance.

Catena's costly mistake and Roberto Fernández's fifth goal in five matches

Just five minutes after the penalty shout, Espanyol struck again. Omar reached the byline this time and delivered a low cross that Roberto Fernández finished with ease, punishing a glaring error from Catena in the build-up to the opener. The Osasuna centre-back, also at fault for the first goal, endured an evening to forget while the Cordoba-born forward celebrated his fifth goal in five league appearances. Roberto managed just six goals across the entirety of last season, a tally he is now closing in on within a matter of weeks.

Osasuna push through Barja and Budimir, but Dmitrovic stands firm

The 0-2 deficit did not extinguish the hosts' attacking spirit. Kike Barja, their most dangerous outlet, set up Rubén García moments after the second goal in a move that could have halved the deficit, only for the ball to have drifted out of play. The home crowd, still nursing wounds from the 5-2 defeat at Mendizorroza a week earlier, grew restless as chances came and went.

Barja and Budimir persisted in their efforts to reduce the arrears, while Roberto Fernández came close to what would have been his first professional hat-trick with a forced header from yet another right-wing cross. Osasuna remained fragile at the back but continued to generate danger in the opposing half.

Substitutions fail to rescue Osasuna as Espanyol manage the lead

Osasuna coach Ramis attempted to stem the bleeding at the break by bringing on Bretones for Rico, but the change did not pay off. In the 50th minute, another glaring defensive mistake left Dolan through on goal, only for Sergio Herrera to react quickly and smother the English winger's attempt. The substitutions did little to help Osasuna, whose only real chances in the second half were a long-range strike from Rubén García that Dmitrovic gathered in two attempts and a point-blank effort from Dubasin straight at the Serbian goalkeeper.

Espanyol managed the lead with maturity and collected three crucial points that ease their position in the table. The 0-2 win at El Sadar restores confidence to a side that had gone too long without an away victory and now looks to Roberto Fernández as their main attacking weapon in the push up the LaLiga standings.

Spain call-up on the horizon for Roberto Fernández

With five goals in five LaLiga matches, Roberto Fernández has surged into contention for the next Spain squad. Luis de la Fuente will announce his list on Friday and the Cordoba-born forward's name is being mentioned with growing insistence among the league's most in-form attackers. If the national team coach rewards his recent displays, Espanyol would once again have a player in the Spain setup after a spell without representation.