Espanyol 2 - Málaga 1

Espanyol: Toni; Torricelli, Lopo, Soldevilla, David García; Morales, De la Peña (Milosevic 84'); Maxi, Oscar (Martín Posse 66'), Roger; Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Contreras; Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta, Valcarce (Rojas 09'); Manu, Romero, Sandro (Arnau 42'), Musampa (Miguel Angel 76'); Darío Silva, Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Espanyol: Morales for Domoraud / Málaga: Josemi, Fernando Sanz, Roteta for Rojas, Bravo, Litos.

Goals:
1-0. 53. Tamudo. Hooked ball into net after De la Peña shot blocked.
1-1. 78. Manu. Took pass from Dely Valdés and turned ball past Toni.
2-1. 93. Tamudo (penalty). After Romero handled ball on line.

Espanyol finally climbed out of the bottom three after beating Málaga 2-1. Javier Clemente's side had been in the bottom three since they lost to Valencia in day eight, exactly half a league ago, but their double over the Andalucians takes them up above Alavés and Osasuna to sixteenth place. After a dull first half hour the game picked up, with Roger shooting just wide and Toni making a spectacular one handed save at the other end from Romero. The Málaga players claimed that the Uruguayan midfielder had been fouled in the area by Oscar during the move, but referee Muñiz Fernández waved away the penalty appeals. A minute later though he had no doubts in sending off Contreras as he came out of the area to block Tamudo, and Peiró had to take off Sandro to bring on reserve keeper Arnau.

Espanyol quickly took advantage of their numerical superiority, Tamudo hooking the ball into the roof of the net early in the second half after De la Peña had two shots blocked. The "Little Buddha" should have scored himself soon afterwards but he ran the ball too far when free in front of Arnau and allowed it to go out of play. It looked like it might have been an important miss when Málaga's most on-form player Manu ran on to a Dely Valdés pass to stab the ball wide of Toni for an equaliser. However Muñiz awarded a last minute penalty to the Catalans and sent off Romero after he stopped a shot from substitute Martín Posse on the line with his hand, and Tamudo put behind him last week's miss at Huelva to strike a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. It was a fitting tribute to ex president Francesc Perelló, who died earlier in the week, and gives the fans hope that they could save their season after all. Málaga return home empty handed, but must pick themselves up in time for Thursday's UEFA cup tie at Boavista.