As it happened: Jota hat-trick stuns struggling Espanyol (4-0)

I've been Will Laing and that's all from me, thanks for joining me and make sure to follow VAVEL UK for live coverage on all the rest of the Europa League fixtures.

Check out Ruben Neves thundering Wolves into a two goal lead over Espanyol.

His volley absolute stunned Molineux.

Oh Ruben Neves, behave yourself 🔥

Chest and volley from outside of the box, a stunning goal!

Molineux is rocking! 🐺 pic.twitter.com/o4l1rbgPXs

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 20, 2020

With a four goal deficit, Espanyol will be struggling to turn it around when it comes round to the second leg.

Unfortunately, the Catalonian club is caught up in a relegation battle and are two points adrift from safety.

Maybe, despite the disappointment, this result can be a catalyst in there charge to safety in La Liga.

A wonderful night at Molineux comes to a conclusion and it is Wolves who will take the four goal advantage over to Barcelona for the second leg.

The question that is begging itself is whether or not Wolverhampton can wander all the way to the final.

90+3' The whistle is blown to signal the end of a magical night at Molineux.

90+1' The fourth official has confirmed that there will be three minutes added on.

87' Maybe it's time to finally settle in the game.

Wolves are taking hold of possession, acknowledging that the tie is most likely over.

83' Jota receives a standing ovation from the crowd as he makes his way to the touchline.

What an influential performance he has had.

Daniel Podence comes on for the last few minutes.

81' That's it, back to back hat-tricks for Diogo Jota in Europe.

The wide man comes in from the left, and finds his way to the edge of the box.

Surrounded by Espanyol defenders he strikes the ball into the bottom left corner.

77' What a way to announce yourself.

Pedro Neto picks up the ball in the middle of the park, strides forward, and unleashes a wonderful effort.

The thunderous effort clatters the wrong side of the post.

It could have easily have been the goal of the game.

75' Hard working Raul Jimenez is given a well deserved rest.

Pedro Neto is brought on in his place.

72' Wu Lei's number came up on the fourth official's board but Gomez throws his hand up to say he is suffering from cramp.

Last second it is legend Sergi Darder who enters the field in the place of Gomez.

68' Matt Doherty comes inside from his right back position and slips through Jota.

The winger takes his touch round the outside of his man, allowing the Portuguese international to fire his shot past the helpless Prieto at his near post.

67' Gomez is the first in the book as he pulls back Diogo Jota on the break.

There's little to complain about there.

64' Calleri is already down the area holding his face.

He has been caught by Boly.

61' Melendo now leaves the field for ex-West Ham forward Jonathan Calleri. Iturraspe also replaced by David Lopez.

61' Adama Traore makes way for Dendoncker.

The Spaniard has been crucial in this game.

58' Gomez tries a speculative effort from the right corner of the area. It has nothing on Neves' effort and flies over the bar.

52' Adama Traore bursts past his defender down the right hand side.

His cross is seemingly headed away from danger, but little did Espanyol know it was falling for Ruben Neves.

The midfielder takes it on his chest and strikes the volley deep into the right corner, leaving the keeper with absolutely no chance.

51' Wu Lei is slipped through again by Ferreyra. 

Unluckily he is unable to cut inside and find the space to get a shot away.

49' Wu Lei gets his chance. The Chinese international's header from the centre of the box challenges Patricio but the ball creeps past the right post.

46' We're back underway here at Molineux.

45+3' Stieler brings the first half to a close.

Wolves go into the break with a one goal lead.

44' VAR have confirmed nothing was deserved of a red card and play shall continue.

It will be interesting to see how that will be interpreted by the Wolves camp.

43' Iturraspe is given a yellow card for a challenge on Diogo Jota.

Shortly after the tackle, the Spaniard leans into the Portuguese winger with his head.

VAR shall check this.

40' Not much has been created from an Espanyol point of view but Vargas gets an opportunity to unleash a shot on the edge of the box.

The Argentinian's effort is easily blocked before any danger materialised.

38' Naldo passes the ball straight to Jota in the middle of the park.

The Portuguese winger brings the ball inside and in an attempt to cross the ball, he loops the ball over Prieto's crossbar.

35' They may not have the ball but Wolves are controlling this game.

The compactness of their midfield and defence is preventing Espanyol from getting forward.

34' Espanyol may be the team coming into this the underdogs but Wolves are sitting back and waiting for the travellers to expose themselves.

32' Unbelievable.

Facundo Fereyra is gifted the ball around six yards from goal but he slides the ball straight to Patricio in the Wolves goal.

It really should be a goal a piece.

30' Adama Traore creates some space down the right hand side. However, the Spaniard fires his cross behind the goal and away from any kind of danger.

29' The game is now comfortably being controlled by the hosts.

27' Jimenez gives chase to a long ball but the Espanyol defenders deal with it and they concede a throw in.

23' A cross comes into Wolves' box but it is dealt with.

Oscar Melendo is the one to send a shot towards goal but he is visibly disappointed by his effort.

20' Jimenez finds Traore through the middle.

The Spaniard bursts through but his effort strikes the keeper on the head and he is unable to double Wolves' lead.

15' A short corner is played to Neves who whips the ball into the middle of the area.

Diogo Jota finds the space to place the ball into the right-hand corner.

14' Adama is proving a handful already down the right.

12' Neither side are able to find any sort of rhythm in this game.

Passes are flying astray all over the place.  

4' Wolves have had the better of the ball but there has been nothing to shout about from either side.

1' We're off at Molineux, let's see what this Europa League tie brings.

I'll be back around an hour before kick off with updates on team news from both sides.

It goes without saying that Espanyol have attacking threat in Europe. Wu Lei and Facundo Ferreyra have a tidy share of 15 goals between them so far this season.

However, the threat out wide could be one to look out for Wolves.

Youngster Óscar Melendo has scored the last two of his sides opening goals in the Europa League. If he does the same tonight, it could prove to be a very important away goal.

Since his introduction in the league, Pedro Neto has looked extremely lively.

It is likely that Diogo Jota will be rested tonight and that leaves Neto with the freedom to shine under the lights at Molineux tonight.

The Portuguese winger has three goals and four assists to his name, but no doubt he has the potential for producing a lot more.

Although they are rock bottom of the league in Spain. Espanyol have a ridiculous record on the road.

The Catalonian side are yet to lose on their European travels, a run that has stretched to 13 games in all European competitions.

On the three occasions in which Wolves have scored the first goal in Europe, they have seen out the game and kept a clean sheet.

Those three games have been backed up domestically as well. The hosts have won five of the six games in which they have managed to open the scoring.

Despite being in torrid form domestically, the Spanish visitors managed to top their respective group.

Espanyol's three wins was enough to guide them to the knockout stages - of those wins included a 6-0 hammering  of second place Ludogorets at the RCDE Stadium back in  November.

Unfortunately however, they are currently residing at the bottom of the La Liga table.

 

The hosts tonight arrive in the knockout stages having amassed an impressive 13 points from their six games.

The midlands side lost just once on their journey to the Round of 32 and that was in their opening round fixture at home to S.C. Braga.

Since that loss they have won all but one of their Europa League games.

Hello and welcome to VAVEL UK's live text commentary of Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Espanyol in the UEFA Europa League. I'm Will Laing and I'll be taking you through tonight's game which is set to kick off at 20:00 GMT.