Espanyol 3 - Las Palmas 2

Espanyol: Argensó; Navas, Lopo, Rotchen, David García (Cristóbal 80'); Morales, Sergio; Arteaga, Martín Posse (Oscar 60'), Iván Díaz (Velamazán 70'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Las Palmas: Cicovic; Jaime Molina, Ramón, Schurrer, Paqui, Angel; Josico (Pablo Lago 57'), Moreno (Paquito 70'), Jorge; Guayre, Eloy (Orlando 57'). 5-3-2.

Team changes: Espanyol: Argensó, David García, Iván Díaz for Mora, Cristóbal, Velamazán / Las Palmas: Cicovic, Jaime Molina, Angel, Moreno, Jorge, Eloy for Nacho González, Edu Alonso, Alvaro, Jarni, Samways, Orlando.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Arteaga. Controlled long pass by Lopo before lobbing keeper.
1-1. 29. Schurrer. At third attempt after Argensó blocked two shots.
2-1. 31. Tamudo. Headed down past keeper after Sergio laid ball in from right.
3-1. 36. Martín Posse. Shot into empty net after Tamudo squared in from right.
3-2. 86. Orlando. Took pass and dribbled round keeper before scoring.

Espanyol beat Las Palmas in the only game which had nothing at stake, both teams having already made sure of their places in the first division for next season. That is of course if the Spanish football federation do not decide to overturn results of either team for fielding players with false European passports during the season. The main talking point was whether Segio Kresic would include either of his two Brazilians Alvaro or Baiano, both of whom had been declared illegal aliens by the Canary Island authorities earlier in the week, but with Racing Santander already claiming the three points from their earlier game and threatening to default on their match at Málaga, the manager decided to take no chances and leave them up in the stands. As a result he put out an unedited line up, with Molina and Moreno making rare starts and Eloy returning up front. There was no place though for either Nacho González or for Vinny Samways, presumably penalized after fighting in the changing room at half time in their last game, and Cicovic took over in goal.

Espanyol are also having passport problems, with the return of Delio Toledo for next season scuppered by a six month ban and Navas under investigation. Paco Flores decided to give a game to some of his least used players, with Argensó taking over in goal from Mora, and youngsters David García and Iván Díaz drafted into the side. The manager decided however to leave Galca out of the squad "so that the players can get used to playing without him", the Romanian international sure to move on this summer after the club admitted they could not pay his high salary. Within 30 seconds of the kick off the home side were in front, Arteaga picking up a long pass which Molina missed to beat Cicovic with a lofted shot.

Although Schurrer equalised on the half hour shortly after Ramón had rattled the crossbar, goals by Tamudo and Posse before the break put the Catalans well in front. Tamudo almost made it four in the second half before substitute Orlando pulled one back five minutes from time. The game ended with the crowd applauding the home team players, some of whom may have played their last match at Montjuic, and Espanyol ended the day in ninth place, ending their run of five games without a victory. They could still qualify for the Intertoto cup if other teams give up their place, although it remains to be seen whether they are interested in playing at the beginning of July, when most players are just starting their well earned holidays. Las Palmas drop to fourteenth, safe for now pending the various appeals which are currently doing the rounds.