Three years ago, Wolves were in the middle of a run of six consecutive defeats and promotion to the Premier League was a distant dream.
Today, they have one foot in the last 16 of the Europa League after Diogo Jota struck his second consecutive hat-trick in this competition and Ruben Neves scored a goal worthy of the game’s greatest stages. What a transformation it has been under Nuno Espirito Santo – and nobody will fancy playing them in the next round, assuming there is no spectacular turnaround by Espanyol in next week’s second leg.
Guo Guangchang, the chairman of Wolves’ Chinese owners Fosun, was attending only his second game of the season and his first at Molineux, and what he saw gave him plenty of reasons for optimism. Few who saw Neves’ strike – and the midfielder has made a habit of scoring memorable goals – will forget it: a 25-yard volley that fizzed past goalkeeper Andres Prieto. Neves’ masterpiece crowned Jota’s treble after the Portuguese forward also scored three times in the 4-0 win over Besiktas in December.
Diogo Jota scored a fine hat trick as Wolves earned a thumping 4-0 win over Espanyol
![The Portuguese ran the La Liga strugglers ragged in front of a rampant Molineux crowd](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/21/24996598-8026269-image-a-49_1582235205095.jpg)
The Portuguese ran the La Liga strugglers ragged in front of a rampant Molineux crowd
![Jota ended his goal scoring drought in fine fashion as he scored three times for the home side](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/21/24996144-8026269-image-a-23_1582234548012.jpg)
Jota ended his goal scoring drought in fine fashion as he scored three times for the home side
The margin of victory was fair reward for Wolves’ superiority, while Espanyol midfielder Ander Iturraspe was lucky not be sent off for a clear head-butt at Jota on the brink of half-time.
Asked about the supporters’ increasing hope that Wolves can deliver a first European trophy, Nuno said: ‘Dreaming is for free. It was a good performance – better in the second half. We scored beautiful goals.
‘When we were in the Championship, I was focused on playing against Burton and Birmingham. When you go day to day you don’t think about the future. You just focus on your present.’
For Wolves, this was the first European knockout tie since the 1980/81 season – and their 13th match of a campaign that started on July 25 against Irish club Crusaders, in the first qualifying round.
European football has stretched Nuno’s small squad. For their 43rd competitive fixture of the season, the Portuguese chose his strongest available XI, with Adama Traore – who began his career with Barcelona, Espanyol’s more famous city rivals – and Joao Moutinho restored to the starting XI.
![Ruben Neves thundered home a fine volley to double Wolves' lead against Espanayol](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/21/24995924-8026269-image-a-20_1582234176616.jpg)
Ruben Neves thundered home a fine volley to double Wolves’ lead against Espanayol
![It was a strike straight out of the Neves textbook as he watched his effort crash into the net](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/21/24995912-8026269-image-a-21_1582234191066.jpg)
It was a strike straight out of the Neves textbook as he watched his effort crash into the net
![Neves displays his trademark celebration to a jubilant Molineux after his stunning effort](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/21/24995574-8026269-image-a-19_1582233791764.jpg)
Neves displays his trademark celebration to a jubilant Molineux after his stunning effort
![Diogo Jota opened the scoring for the hosts after hooking home a Raul Jimenez flick on](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24993260-8026269-image-m-3_1582230316300.jpg)
Diogo Jota opened the scoring for the hosts after hooking home a Raul Jimenez flick on
![The Portuguese forward is congratulated by his team-mates at a rampant Molineux Stadium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24993430-8026269-image-a-5_1582230401102.jpg)
The Portuguese forward is congratulated by his team-mates at a rampant Molineux Stadium
Wolves had a clear physical superiority over their opponents, and both Raul Jimenez and Traore squandered good chances after outmuscling Victor Sanchez and Didac Vila respectively. 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.
![Joao Moutinho looks to bring the ball under his control for Wolves in the first half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24993838-8026269-image-a-10_1582231102980.jpg)
Joao Moutinho looks to bring the ball under his control for Wolves in the first half
![Adama Traore sees his effort saved by Andres Prieto after finding himself through on goal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24993776-8026269-image-a-8_1582231002099.jpg)
Adama Traore sees his effort saved by Andres Prieto after finding himself through on goal
![Rui Patricio spares his own blushes after almost conceding a comical goal to Espanyol](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24993958-8026269-image-a-11_1582231211607.jpg)
Rui Patricio spares his own blushes after almost conceding a comical goal to Espanyol
![The Portuguese goalkeeper failed to volley away a looping ball and Ferreyra almost pounced](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24994166-8026269-image-a-13_1582231619560.jpg)
The Portuguese goalkeeper failed to volley away a looping ball and Ferreyra almost pounced
If that goal was unusual, then the incident that nearly gave Espanyol an equaliser was downright bizarre. Attempting to volley the ball clear 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 referee Tobias Stieler for not sending off Ander Iturraspe, who clearly aimed a head-butt at Jota when the pair squared up after a heavy challenge. Despite the presence of VAR there was no move to upgrade the yellow card to a red.
![Moutinho falls to the floor after being struck in the face by Facundo Ferreyra of Espanyol](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24994004-8026269-image-a-12_1582231335176.jpg)
Moutinho falls to the floor after being struck in the face by Facundo Ferreyra of Espanyol
![Espanyol's Ander Iturraspe was lucky to escape a red card after an apparent headbutt on Jota](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/21/24994844-8026269-image-a-15_1582232790691.jpg)
Espanyol’s Ander Iturraspe was lucky to escape a red card after an apparent headbutt on Jota
It was yet another moment to make Wolves feel they are receiving rough treatment from officials, but their spirits were lifted early in the second half by Neves, who added to his collection of spectacular goals since joining Wolves in 2017.
Traore’s cross from the right was headed out of the box by Victor Gomez, where Neves controlled it on his chest before despatching it past Prieto on the volley from 25 yards.
After Wu Lei had headed Gomez’s cross a fraction wide for Espanyol, Jota made the game safe when he raced on to Matt Doherty’s past, held off Gomez and fired into the roof of the net via a deflection off the defender.
![Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo welcomes Espanyol counterpart Abelardo to Molineux](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/20/24993782-8026269-image-a-9_1582231039907.jpg)
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo welcomes Espanyol counterpart Abelardo to Molineux
![Molineux was in fine voice as Wolves embarked on the latter stages of the competition](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/20/21/24995464-8026269-image-a-18_1582233615205.jpg)
Molineux was in fine voice as Wolves embarked on the latter stages of the competition
Espanyol have improved in recent weeks but after their coach Abelardo Fernandez rotated his starting XI, here they looked every inch a side bottom of La Liga. Only the width of a post stopped Wolves scoring a fourth as substitute Pedro Neto’s swerving 30-yard effort beat Prieto and struck the woodwork. Then Jota did make it four with a surging run from the left and a precise finish inside Prieto’s right post nine minutes from full-time.