Espanyol 0 - Deportivo 2

Espanyol: Mora; Cristóbal, Soldevilla, Pochettino, Toledo; Navas (Velamazán 60'), Sergio, Morales, Arteaga (Iván Díaz 83'); Serrano (Martín Posse 64'), Tamudo. 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina (Songo'o 68'); Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Helder, Capdevila; Mauro Silva, César Sampaio; Scaloni, Djalminha (Valerón 85'), Fernando; Makaay (Pandiani 80'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: / Espanyol: No change / Deportivo: Helder, Romero, César Sampaio, Scaloni, Djalminha, Fernando, Makaay for Donato, Capdevila, Emerson, Víctor, Valerón, Turu Flores, Diego Tristán.

Goals:
0-1. 47. Fernando. Header across keeper after Scaloni cross from right wing.
0-2. 54. Makaay. Rounded keeper after taking pass from Djalminha.

Deportivo La Coruña proved the old saying that you have to have a strong squad to win anything, with manager Irureta making no less than seven changes in the end against Espanyol but still winning comfortably to move back to the top of the Spanish first division for the first time in nine weeks. Víctor had flu, Donato had an ankle injury, Capdevila failed a late fitness test and four others were rested, but at Deportivo everyone knows their role in a formation that Irureta has been using to great effect for two seasons now, and the pieces slot together whatever the name on the team shirt. They easily defeated an unchanged Espanyol side, fresh from a run of six games without a loss, with two goals in a seven minute period in the second half without reply.

It didn't always look that way though, as Espanyol had the better chances in the first half. Pushing his back four up to the half way line, Paco Flores left little room for the creative Deportivo forwards, and his side felt that they should have taken the lead in the 38th minute when Pochettino's header was cleared off the line by Scaloni, referee Mejuto González ruling that the ball had not crossed the line. Right after the restart though Depor took the lead, Fernando coming in from deep to place a powerful header wide of Mora from Scaloni's cross. Sampaio had the ball in the next again three minutes later but from an offside position, and before Espanyol had time to react Makaay scored the second, the Dutch striker running on to a delightful flick by Djalminha to round Mora and push the ball into the empty net. It was Makaay's first start since returning from injury, and Irureta has a problem now which many managers would give their right arm for, four on-form strikers Makaay, Tristán, Pandiani and Turu Flores fighting for one place in attack.

Djalminha was on his usual form, and he set up a goal chance with another deft backheel, Mora finally making a good save from Scaloni's shot. Espanyol put on two substitutes, Velamazán and Posse, to try and regain control, but didn't vary the game plan. Missing the injured Galca in midfield they were no threat to the Deportivo goal, and even when Molina had to off with a strained leg muscle, Songo'o came on to continue his good work. This was the Camerooni international's first appearance this season, and he has threatened to leave next month if he is not given more games, having agreed at the start of the season to give up playing for his country to stay on for another year. Turu Flores and Duscher may leave too, targets of Atlético Madrid for the transfer window which opens up shortly, and others such as Ramis are unhappy. Espanyol for their part are in need of someone to play alongside Tamudo up front, and their new signing from Japan Aki Nishizawa was in the crowd, hoping that he will be able to hold down that spot when he is registered to play in mid-December.

Deportivo's win takes them two points clear of Valencia at the top of the table, and they go back home to their Wednesday night Champions League game against Milan in great spirits. Their recent games against Espanyol have brought them good fortune, winning the league title against them in the last match of the season at the Riazor stadium, and gaining the Spanish super cup for the first time in a double header before the season began. In fact Espanyol have not even scored against Deportivo in six games, and today's defeat sends them back down to tenth, level on 18 points with Celta and Las Palmas. They have a hard week ahead, with a virtual lost cause at Oporto in the UEFA cup on Thursday night, followed by a local derby in Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium on Sunday. As they say in Spain, the days of the thin cows have arrived.