Espanyol 1 - Betis 2

Espanyol: Lemmens; Domoraud, Lopo, Pochettino, David García (Tayfun 46'); Alex Fernández (Morales 61'); Maxi (Oscar 82'), De la Peña, Jordi Cruyff, Vignal; Tamudo. 4-1-4-1.
Betis: Prats; Varela, Juanito, Lembo, Mingo; Ito, Arzu; Joaquín, Fernando (Rivas 90'), Denilson (Ismael 75'); Alfonso (Cañas 77'). 4-2-3-1. Team changes: Espanyol: Vignal for Morales / Betis: Prats, Mingo, Arzu for Contreras, Luis Fernández, Benjamín.

Goals:
0-1. 09. Mingo. Took pass from Arzu and fired long shot over head of Lemmens.
0-2. 30. Fernando (penalty). After Vignal fouled Alfonso in the area.
1-2. 64. Tamudo (penalty). After Lembo pushed over Maxi inside the box.

A disappointing result for next to bottom club Espanyol, who are now seven points away from safety after losing 1-2 at home to Betis. Luis Fernández's side found themselves behind in the ninth minute after a spectacular strike by Mingo, the young full back's first goal in first class football. And the visitors went further ahead with a Fernando penalty on the half hour mark after referee Pérez Burrull ruled that new signing Vignal had committed an infringement, commentators not clear whether for touching the ball with his hands or for a foul on Alfonso.

Tamudo got one back after the break, also from the penalty spot after Pérez decided that Lembo had pushed over Lopo. It was their first of the season after nine against, but their luck ended there when the unfortunate Vignal got himself sent off for a late tackle on Fernando soon afterwards, the fourteenth red card shown to an Espanyol player this campaign. Betis came away with three valuable points against a direct rival for relegation, and they are finally starting to move clear of danger.