Raúl Jiménez refusing to take struggling Espanyol lightly | OneFootball

Wolves eased into the Europa League knockout rounds and are just nine days away from their round-of-32 tie with Spanish outfit Espanyol.

Though their opponents won Group H over Ludogorets, Ferencváros, and CSKA Moscow, they are currently rock-bottom of LaLiga on 18 points.

Despite Espanyol conceding a league-high 40 goals this season, Wolves striker Raúl Jiménez refuses to underestimate their opponents.

“Of course I know it, many Mexican players have played there,” Jiménez said.

“It’s a team that’s talked about a lot in Spain, and we know it’s going to be a tough match.

“It’s going to be hard, but they also have their own weaknesses and we can take advantage of them.

“We’ll still have to watch videos on them, to get to know how they’ll play when the day comes.

“I know they’ve had a tough season, they are fighting in the last positions, but we can never give a win away thinking they’re dead.

“We have to play every game like it’s our last.

“They’re a team that’s been improving. They have been doing things better and in the same way, because they’re fighting relegation.

“They want to get wins wherever they can, so it’s important not to focus too much on individualities, or else that will allow their collective to be stronger.”

This is only the second time Wolves are facing a Spanish side in European competition. Back in 1960, Wolves fell 9-2 to Barcelona on aggregate in the European Cup quarter-finals.