Villarreal 0 - Espanyol 1

Villarreal: Reina; Belletti (Josico 62'), Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Battaglia (Sonny Anderson 62'), Pedro Martí (Roger 84'); Guayre, Riquelme, José Marí; Víctor. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Lemmens; Torricelli (Tayfun 55'), Domoraud, Pochettino, David García; Fredson, Morales; Maxi, De la Peña, Wome (Raducanu 70'), Oscar (Jordi Cruyff 61'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Víctor for Sonny Anderson / Espanyol: Torricelli, Fredson, Morales, Wome, Oscar for Lopo, Alex Fernández, Jordi Cruyff, Vignal, Tamudo.

Goals:
0-1. 89. Raducanu. Got on the end of Maxi's cross to slide the ball in past Reina.

Villarreal started the day with hopes of making it up to fourth place, but in they end dropped out of the European spots completely after a 0-1 defeat at the hands of next to bottom club Espanyol. The locals were unable to find the route to goal against a well ordered defence, and although they had most of the play, only José Marí caused any problems for Lemmens in the first half. Reina had to save from Oscar and Maxi either side of half time, and it was only when Floro brought on Sonny Anderson and Josico that the locals tested the visiting keeper again.

But with the game coming to an end, new signing Raducanu got on the end of Maxi's cross to slide the ball past Reina for the winner only minutes after coming on to make his debut. The result takes the Catalans to within four points of safety, and there is now some light at the end of the tunnel. The match could have ended in tragedy though when a wall collapsed as visiting supporters celebrated and Raducanu threw his shirt at the crowd, but luckily nobody was seriously hurt.