PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2

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PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2 - 2 RCD ESPANYOL

Honours even at Turf Moor with La Liga opposition

2026-07-29T22:21+01:00

PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2 - 2 RCD ESPANYOL

Honours even at Turf Moor with La Liga opposition

2026-07-29T22:21+01:00

Burnley continued their pre-season schedule with a 2-2 draw with La Liga side RCD Espanyol on Wednesday night, with goals from Aaron Ramsey and Andreas Hountondji at Turf Moor.

The Spanish club took the lead in the fourth minute through Jofre Carreras' strike, before Ramsey pulled the scores level just a minute later.

Half-time substitute Hountondji then put the Clarets ahead two minutes into the second-half, before Kike Garcia headed home the equaliser from a corner with just a few minutes left to play.

Clarets boss Nick Hayen handed a debut to new signing Ugo Raghouber, with the Frenchman lining up in midfield alongside Hannibal and Ramsey.

The away side took an early lead in Lancashire, as Espanyol charged into the area to swarm the Clarets playing out from the back, before winning the ball, with Carreras eventually slotting it home from close range with four minutes on the clock.

However, that lead lasted less than a couple of minutes, as Jacob Bruun Larsen weaved into the area and teed up Ramsey to rifle home into the roof of the net to level the scores.

Burnley created another opportunity shortly after that goal, this time Oliver Sonne picked out Zian Flemming inside the area, but the striker could only steer it wide of the target.

After a lively start, the game very much settled down, with the next real chance of goal coming on the half-hour mark, as Alex Calatrava’s stinging effort was deflected just wide of the post.

There wasn’t much to separate the two sides as the game reached half-time with the scores still level.

Hayen then made a flurry of changes at half-time, with everyone but Max Weiss and Joe Worrall making way.

Following those changes, it didn’t take long for the Clarets to get themselves ahead, as Hountondji bagged the equaliser just a few moments into the second-half.

After great pressing from Hayen’s side and forcing the visitors under pressure, Tresor squared to the Benin international inside the box to fire home and put Burnley in front.

Both sides were limited to any real opportunities after that third goal of the night, with Lyle Foster then introduced just over 10 minutes from time.

Weiss was called into action in the 83rd minute, when the German goalkeeper was forced to push Javier Coarasa's effort.

However, moments later the away side did have their equaliser, as Garcia connected with Coarasa's corner and headed home from close range to ensure a draw.

The Clarets are next in action on Sunday against Torino at Turf Moor, with tickets still available to buy online, over the phone and at the ticket office.

Burnley: Weiss, Sonne (Sambo HT), Walker (Ekdal HT), Worrall, Humphreys (Pires HT), Raghouber (Laurent HT), Hannibal (Brierley HT), Ramsey (Clark HT), Bruun Larsen (Tresor HT), Edwards (Castell HT), Flemming (Hountondji HT) (Foster 79)

Unused substitutes: Cooney, Edwards

Espanyol: Vinas, Hartman, Gonzalez De Zarate, Riedel, Cabrera, Expostio, Fernandez, Milla, Carreras, Caltrava, Hilali

Goals: Carreras 4’, Ramsey 5’, Hountondji 47', Garcia 85'