Sevilla strengthened their hopes of avoiding relegation from La Liga after Nigerian striker Akor Adams scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 comeback victory against Espanyol on Saturday.
The result at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium handed the Andalusian club a major lift in one of the tightest relegation battles in recent Spanish top-flight history, with only a handful of matches remaining in the season.
Adams, introduced from the bench in the 75th minute, proved decisive deep into added time as he completed Sevilla’s turnaround and sparked celebrations among the home supporters.
Sevilla had fallen behind earlier in the second half and were facing another damaging result in a difficult campaign. However, the hosts responded late in the match, with defender Castrín equalising before Adams struck the winner to secure all three points.
The goal marked Adams’ ninth in La Liga this season and could play a significant role in Sevilla’s fight to remain in the division.
The Nigerian forward’s contribution was widely praised after the match. According to Sofascore, Adams received a rating of 7.8 for his cameo appearance, reflecting the impact he made after coming on as a substitute.
Fellow Nigerian international Chidera Ejuke, who featured throughout the match, was also influential and earned a 7.3 rating for his performance.
The victory moves Sevilla further away from the relegation zone at a crucial stage of the campaign. Spanish reports described the win as an important boost for a side that has faced increasing pressure in recent weeks following a disappointing season.
Sevilla, seven-time UEFA Europa League champions, have spent much of the campaign battling near the bottom of the table, a situation few would have expected for one of Spain’s most successful clubs in European competition.
Their recent improvement, however, has revived hopes that they can preserve their place in the top flight and avoid what would be a shock relegation.
The battle for survival in La Liga remains highly competitive, with several clubs separated by only a small number of points heading into the closing weeks of the season. Every result is likely to have major implications as teams fight to secure their status for next season.
For Espanyol, the defeat leaves them in an increasingly difficult position. The club’s winless run in 2026 continued with the loss in Seville, adding further pressure ahead of the final stretch of the campaign.
Espanyol remain deeply involved in the relegation struggle and now face a tense conclusion to the season as they attempt to reverse their poor run of form.
Sevilla, meanwhile, will hope the dramatic nature of Saturday’s victory can provide momentum at a decisive moment in their campaign. Adams’ late intervention may yet prove to be one of the defining moments in the club’s battle for survival.
