JOTA HITS HAT-TRICK AS WOLVES RUN RIOT
Hat-trick hero puts Wolves in command
DIOGO JOTA struck another Europa League hat-trick and Ruben Neves scored a goal worthy of football’s greatest stages to help Wolves take another step towards European glory.
With his team 1-0 up in this first leg of their last-32 tie, Neves produced a moment of rare beauty early in the second half: a 25-yard volley that fizzed past goalkeeper Andres Prieto and put Wolves in a powerful position for next week’s second leg in Barcelona.
It was Jota’s second treble in as many Europa League matches, having hit three in the 4-0 win over Besiktas in December.
This was Wolves’ first European knockout tie since the 1980-81 season and their 13th match of a campaign that started on July 25 in the first qualifying round.
European football has placed a huge strain on Nuno Espirito Santo’s small squad. For their 43rd competitive fixture of the season, the Portuguese chose his strongest available XI, with Adama Traore and Joao Moutinho restored to the starting XI.
With Guo Guangchang, chairman of Wolves’ Chinese owners Fosun, watching from the stands for only the second time this season, the home side were happy to allow their opponents time and space, and they might have been made to pay early on had Wu Lei done better when Matias Vargas’ far-post cross found him unmarked.
Wolves had a clear physical superiority over their opponents, with both Raul Jimenez and Traore squandered good chances after outmuscling Sanchez and Didac Vila. Jimenez overran the ball as he tried to outwit Naldo, while Traore’s effort from 12 yards was saved by Andres Prieto with his feet.
By that time, Wolves were 1-0 up. Traore won a corner on the right and played it short to Moutinho, who drilled to the near post for Jimenez to flick into the path of Jota. Jota’s first-time volley deflected off Sanchez and flew past Prieto — the first time Wolves had opened the scoring in a match since they beat Besiktas 4-0 here on December 12.
If that goal was unusual, then the incident that nearly gave Espanyol an equaliser was downright bizarre. Attempting to clear the ball on the volley from the left-back position in the 31st minute, Jimenez could only slice the ball back towards goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Perhaps fearing he would be penalised for using his hands, Patricio miskicked his attempted clearance and then fluffed a backheel — presenting the ball to Facundo Ferreyra. Somehow, Patricio scrambled back to save Ferreyra’s effort from six yards.
Two minutes before half-time, Wolves were furious with German referee Tobias Stieler for not sending off Iturraspe, who aimed a butt at Jota when the pair squared up after a heavy challenge. It was another moment to make Wolves feel they are receiving rough treatment from officials, following the Willy Boly goal controversially disallowed by VAR in last Friday’s 0-0 draw with Leicester here.
But their spirits were lifted early in the second half by Neves, who added to his collection of spectacular goals since joining Wolves three years ago.
Traore’s cross from the right was headed out by Gomez and Neves controlled it on his chest before dispatching it past Prieto on the volley from 25 yards.
The South Bank exulted, though Wolves were nearly caught napping moments later when Wu drifted between Romain Saiss and Conor Coady to head Gomez’s cross a fraction wide.
Jota extended the lead 15 minutes later when he raced on to Matt Doherty’s pass, held off Gomez and fired into the roof of the net via a deflection off the defender.
Doherty had played a neat onetwo in the build-up with substitute Leander Dendoncker, who had replaced Traore shortly beforehand as Nuno switched to 3-5-2. Traore was not quite himself in this one but Wolves proved they can prosper without him — a clear warning to those who share their European aspirations.
Jota made it four with a surging run from the left and a precise finish inside Prieto’s right post.
WOLVES (3-4-3): Rui Patricio 6; Boly 7, Coady 6.5, Saiss 6.5; Doherty 6.5, Moutinho 6.5, Neves 7.5, Jonny 5.5; Traore 6.5 (Dendoncker 61, 6), Jimenez 6 (Neto 75, 6), Jota 7 (Podence 83). Subs not used: Ruddy, Jordao, Campana, Kilman. Scorer: Jota 15 67, Neves 52. Booked: Moutinho. Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 6.5. ESPANYOL (4-4-2): ): Prieto 6.5; Gomez 6.5 (Darder 76), Naldo 6, Calero 6, Didac Vila 5.5; Wu 6.5, Sanchez 6, Iturraspe 5 (David Lopez 62, 6), Vargas 6; Ferreyra 5.5, Melendo 6 (Calleri 62, 6). Subs not used: Diego Lopez, Pedrosa, Cabrera, Embarba. Booked: Iturraspe, Gomez, Sanchez. Manager: Abelardo Fernandez 6. Referee: Tobias Stieler (Ger) 5. Attendance: 30,435.