Espanyol 1 - Valladolid 0

Espanyol: Sergio Sánchez; Bertrán, Lopo, Soldevilla, Navas; Maxi (Oscar 83'), Domoraud, De la Peña (Alex Fernández 65'), Roger (Velamazán 61'); Milosevic, Tamudo. 4-4-2.
Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez, Gaspar, Peña, Marcos; Colsa, Jesús (Santamaría 71'); Fernando Sales, Oscar González; Antonio López (Oscar Sánchez 35'); Aganzo (Sousa 70'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: Soldevilla, Navas, Domoraud, De la Peña, Tamudo for Amaya, Ricardo Cavas, Morales, Alex Fernández, Martín Posse / Valladolid: Gaspar for Mario.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Milosevic. Took headed Tamudo pass and hit volley in off bar from far out.

Javier Clemente started off his third term at Espanyol with a 1-0 win over Valladolid, who played for much of the second half with nine men. The ex Spanish international manager took over from Ramón Moya midweek after the side dropped to next to last place (Moya staying on as his number two), and immediately made several changes to the line up, bringing back Iván De la Peña and moving Domoraud up into midfield to support twin strikers Milosevic and Tamudo. Clemete had to watch the game from the stands for administrative reasons, but he was delighted when Milosevic struck a thunderous volley into the net off a cross bar in only the seventh minute of the match.

Things seemed to be going even more Espanyol's way when Marcos tripped Tamudo as he advanced on goal, and referee González Vázquez produced the red card. However Maxi shot way wide when presented with a good chance, and home side keeper Sergio Sánchez almost let in Colsa when he failed to hold on to a long cross. Milosevic hit the bar after the break as the Catalans pushed for a second, and a few minutes later Valladolid were left with nine men after Peña picked up a second booking.

Even then though Espanyol could not score, and a shaky Sergio Sánchez let a long Colsa free kick through his hands and on to the crossbar. Clemente brought on Oscar for his first appearance in ten months but he failed to beat Bizzarri when alone in front of goal, and in the last few minutes substitute Velamazán also shot wide after breaking free with two team-mates with no defenders in sight. This time the three points went to the Barcelona based side, but Clemente has work to do if he is to see them safe by the end of the season.