First Division - Day 19

Espanyol 3 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Espanyol: Toni; Amaya, Lopo, Soldevilla, David García; Maxi (Velamazán 80'), Domoraud, Morales, Roger (Alex Fernández 65'); Tamudo, Milosevic. 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Juanmi; Héctor, César, Donato, Romero; Víctor (Duscher 68'), Sergio, Mauro Silva, Fran (Amavisca 46'); Makaay, Luque (Diego Tristán 25'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Espanyol: Toni, Tamudo for Sergio Sánchez, Alex Fernández / Deportivo: Mauro Silva, Fran, Luque for Duscher, Amavisca, Diego Tristán.

Goals:
0-1. 02. Makaay. Got ahead of defender to turn Luque's cross into net.
1-1. 08. Soldevilla. Ran on to head Roger free kick down past keeper.
2-1. 21. Roger. From left of goal after Juanmi stopped shot from Maxi.
3-1. 27. Morales. From edge of area after Donato failed to clear Roger's corner.

Deportivo La Coruña dropped out of the Champions League spots after losing 3-1 at an improving Espanyol. All four goals came in the first half an hour of the match, with the visitors taking the lead in the second minute when Makaay turned in Luque's cross for his 21st goal of the season. However Soldevilla headed an equaliser from Roger's free kick five minutes later, and soon afterwards Roger put Clemente's side ahead, following up to beat Juanmi from left of goal after the keeper could only get a hand to Maxi's shot.

Six minutes after that Morales got his first goal for the club with a fierce shot through a crowded goalmouth following a corner, and the game was nearly over. Diego Tristán came on for the injured Luque and tested Toni, who was making his return debut at Montjuic after his recent re-signing from Elche, but the keeper was on great form and kept out everything that Depor could throw at him after that. Espanyol move just behind Racing on goal average, and are within a whisker of getting out of the relegation positions having picked up ten points in their last five games since Clemente took over.