Espanyol take on Mallorca in La Liga's real-life Silksong

On Monday, they face Mallorca – but is the daily grind of top-flight football a stimulus or a source of intimidation?

The debate over difficulty isn't just on the pitch. Recently, social media erupted over the long-awaited release of the video game Hollow Knight Silksong, announced in 2019 and only hitting screens this year.

Fans' anticipation boiled over, capturing the imagination of BeSoccer's illustration team, who couldn't resist blending art, challenge and football into one.

Back to reality: La Liga matchday four concludes on Monday, and both Espanyol and Mallorca know all too well the strain of top-tier football.

The Islanders are enjoying their fifth consecutive season in La Liga, guided by Jagoba Arrasate, a specialist in continuity. Meanwhile, Espanyol, buoyed by record attendances and fresh reinforcements from sporting management, have started 2025/26 in high spirits under Manolo Gonzalez.

Mallorca have had their turbulence, from Javier Aguirre's affection-winning tenure to a late-season wobble that exposed a lack of ambition.

Arrasate now faces the task of moving past controversies, including the Dani Rodriguez chapter, while chasing the first win of the season.

Espanyol, meanwhile, have tasted recent triumphs over Atletico Madrid and Osasuna, and the RCDE Stadium roar promises to lift them once more. Both sides crave a smooth ride in the top flight, yet their recent journeys couldn't be more different.

Espanyol's yo-yo history haunts their supporters, but victories, smart transfers and fan devotion have rekindled hope. A win on Monday could catapult the Catalans into third place, not "sleeping third" but legitimately staking a claim among the league's elite.