Espanyol 1 - Valladolid 0

Espanyol: Mora; Navas, Lopo, Rotchen, Roger; Nan Ribera (Iván Diaz 63'), Sergio, Galca, Arteaga (Morales 58'); Serrano (Martín Posse 53'), Tamudo. 4-4-2.
Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, Peña, Santamaría, Marcos; Turiel, Eusebio (Lozano 60'); Caminero, Fernando, Fernando Sales; Alberto (Pachón 65'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: Navas, Roger, Nan Ribera for Morales, Soldevilla, Velamazán / Valladolid: Peña, Santamaría, Eusebio, Fernando Sales for García Calvo, Heinze, Ricchetti, Antonio López.

Goals:
1-0. 80. Tamudo. Shot past Bizzarri after Martín Posse pulled ball across area.

A boring match at the Montjuic stadium, with a late Tamudo goal giving Espanyol their first win in six games. Disgruntled fans were already leaving the stadium when Tamudo scored after being set up by substitute Martín Posse, the young striker's ninth goal of the season. The victory gave manager Paco Flores a bit of breathing space and sets them well on the way to his first objective, getting the 40 points needed to keep them in the first division.

Flores had changed his team around with Cristóbal injured and Delio Toledo on his way to play in Paraguay until his passport problem is sorted out, and Navas and Roger come in at full backs. Nan Ribera got a rare start replacing the suspended Velamazán on the right of midfield. Pancho Ferraro had more problems putting together his side, with no less than four players suspended, and Peña and Santamaría played together in the middle of the defence for the first time this season.

Up to half time Valladolid had had the better chances, with Mora forced to save from Caminero and Sales early on. However Serrano wasted Espanyol's best chance of the game just before the interval, and a frustrated Floro brought on Posse in the second half to immediate effect. The Argentinian forward staked his place for a return to the side with a good performance, and could have had his name on the scoresheet if Bizzarri had not been on his best form. The defeat was a body blow for Valladolid, who after this weekend are the only team without a win away from home, and they drop to fifteenth, with the relegation places now in sight.