Espanyol 2 - Real Madrid 1

Espanyol: Mora; Navas, Lopo, Soldevilla, Ricardo Cavas (Fran 80'); Alex Fernández, Morales; De Lucas, Palencia (Rotchen 85'), Roger (Martín Posse 65'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Karanka, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera, Flavio Conceiçao (Munitis 69'); Figo, Raúl, Solari; Morientes (Guti 56'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: De Lucas for Martín Posse / Madrid: Flavio Conceiçao, Solari for Makelele, Zidane.

Goals:
0-1. 01. Raúl. Tucked ball inside Mora's far post after cross from Flavio.
1-1. 33. De Lucas. Shot into top corner after good work by Palencia.
2-1. 74. Tamudo. Shot into roof of net after Soldevila played ball on in area.

Leaders Real Madrid lose their place at the top of the first division after losing 2-1 at Espanyol, their first defeat in ten league matches. Missing their two French internationals, Zidane through injury and Makelele with a one match ban, Flavio and Solari came in to Del Bosque's line up in his 100th game in charge. Raúl gave the visitors the best possible start, scoring the second fastest goal of the season with only 24 seconds on the clock after Flavio passed the ball in. However they were unable to build on their lead, and De Lucas levelled the scores later in the half with a shot from the edge of the area after good work from Palencia. Madrid were starting to look tired after their exhausting midweek cup victory against Athletic Bilbao, and with the home side giving 100% after four weeks without a win, they started to control the game.

Only Raúl was causing any problems for Mora, and Del Bosque took off a disappointing Morientes to bring on Guti, replacing Flavio with Munitis a few minutes later. Tamudo was starting to find space between Karanka and Pavón, and after sending a header over the bar, he took advantage of a ball which fell kindly to him to beat Casillas from close range. The visitors had nothing left in the tank to reply, and Flores ordered his men to slow things down, bringing on an extra defender Rotchen for the last few minutes just to make sure. With the teams immediately above them failing to win, the victory takes Espanyol up six places in the league to eleventh, once again taking the pressure off Flores. Madrid slip a place to second, behind Celta on goal average, and with four teams only separated by one point the title race is wide open again. They have not won now in their last six outings between cup and league, and the question must be raised as to how long Del Bosque can keep playing with the same players in every match. Even the superstars run out of steam in the end.