Mallorca 2 - Espanyol 1

Mallorca: Leo Franco; Campano, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Siviero, Miguel Soler; Robles, Paunovic (Ibagaza 71'), Marcos; Eto'o (Carlos 89'), Luque (Novo 80'). 5-3-2.
Espanyol: Argensó; Navas, Lopo, Soldevilla, Rotchen, Ricardo Cavas (Pacheco 66'); De Lucas, Alex Fernández, Roger; Martín Posse, Tamudo. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Mallorca: Leo Franco, Nadal, Paunovic for Roa, Olaizola, Ibagaza / Espanyol: Rotchen, Martín Posse for Munteanu, Pacheco.

Goals:
1-0. 27. Eto'o. Took through ball from Campano and hit low shot across keeper.
1-1. 41. Tamudo. Half volley on far post after long cross from Alex on left wing.
2-1. 65. Luque. Received Marcos pass and shot under keeper on the turn

Mallorca moved away from the bottom spots with only their second home win in six games, a 2-1 victory over Espanyol. Having dropped to within a point of the bottom three, Sergio Kresic's side were motivated right from the start and created several chances in the first quarter of the game. Paunovic had replaced Ibagaza in the starting line up after the Argentine midfielder had complained of an old leg injury shortly before kick off, and he went close twice before Eto'o put the islanders in front, controlling Campano's pass to beat Argensó with a shot from the edge of the area. The goal meant that the Camerooni striker is now the all-time top scorer for Mallorca in the first division. Once they went in front though the home side made the mistake of pulling back, allowing their opponents to take control of the ball. Flores had lined up with three central defenders and he urged his full backs forward, a move which nearly paid off when Ricardo Cavas brought a good save out of the returning keeper Leo Franco with a long shot. A minute later Espanyol were level, Tamudo getting on the end of Alex's long cross to score his thirteenth of the season.

The Catalans kept on attacking in the second half, with Martín Posse celebrating his return to favour with a shot against the post and Leo Franco saving from Tamudo. However that left space at the back, and Luque put the home side back in the lead after Marcos put him through on a counterattack. Flores brought on an extra forward Pacheco, and Alex almost saved a point for his side when he fired a free kick against the post a few minutes later. But Kresic was not going to be caught out a second time, and he instructed his men to slow the game down and keep possession in midfield. The win takes Mallorca three points clear of the bottom spots, in a group of four teams level on 37 points. Espanyol have four more, but after their third defeat in a row they are now seven points away from winning a place in Europe for next season. The pressure is back on Paco Flores, and names are already coming up for his replacement.