Osasuna 1 - Espanyol 3

Osasuna: Sanzol; Izquierdo, Cruchaga, Josetxo, Antonio López; Valdo (Bakayoko 70'), Puñal, Pablo García, Moha; Morales (Webó 66'), Aloisi (Muñoz 79'). 4-4-2.
Espanyol: Lemmens; Domoraud, Lopo, Pochettino, Torricelli; Fredson, Alex Fernández (Morales 74'); Maxi, De la Peña (Velamazán 58'), Hadji; Tamudo (Wome 84'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Osasuna: No change / Espanyol: Torricelli, Alex Fernández, Maxi for Vignal, Wome, Jordi Cruyff.

Goals:
0-1. 42. Tamudo. Bundled ball into net after Sanzol blocked Maxi shot.
1-1. 46. Pablo García. Long shot which went through hands of Lemmens into net.
1-2. 62. Alex Fernández. Centre-come-shot from left which rolled past everyone.
1-3. 71. Maxi. Picked up pass from Tamudo and hit low shot inside near post.

There were several surprise results this weekend which shook up the top and bottom spots, but perhaps none more so than at Osasuna, where the hosts fell to a 1-3 defeat by Espanyol just a week after they beat Real Madrid 0-3 in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Thanks to that victory Javier Aguirre's side were given a standing ovation, red handkerchiefs included, as they came out on to the pitch at the start. However luck was against them this time, and after Morales and Valdo let their opponents off the hook, Pablo García rattled the crossbar with a free kick.

The visitors had given a warning that they could be dangerous though when De la Peña sent Maxi away twice, and the two combined again just before the break, this time Sanzol only managing to beat out Maxi's effort as far as Tamudo, who forced the ball back in to the net.

It didn't take the Pamplona based side long to react, Pablo García levelling the scores just seconds after the restart with a long shot which Lemmens let under his body, and then hitting the bar again a few minutes later with another free kick.

But the visitors went ahead again on the hour mark, ex Osasuna midfielder Alex Fernández playing a speculative ball into the area from the left wing which ended up in the back of the net after Sanzol misread it. And Maxi made it three soon afterwards after Tamudo set him up on a quick breakaway, after which there was no way back for the locals.

The Catalans had recorded a vital win which takes them to just two points behind Mallorca and safety. Osasuna meanwhile held on to sixth place thanks to defeats for the teams around them, although several more sides are closing up on them as a result. Last week's result is already history.