Real Sociedad 0 - Espanyol 2

Real Sociedad: Riesgo; López Rekarte, Luiz Alberto, Labaka, Garrido (De Paula 67'); Aranburu, Mikel Alonso (Arteta 46'); Karpin (Xabi Prieto 78'), Nihat, Rossato; Kovacevic. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Kameni; Ibarra, Lopo, Pochettino, David García; Alex Fernández, Ito; Maxi (Corominas 82'), Fredson (Soldevilla 92'), Oscar Serrano (Amavisca 86'); Dani. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real Sociedad: No change / Espanyol: Fredson, Maxi for De la Peña, Tamudo.

Goals:
0-1. 52. Maxi. Intercepted pass and ran on to strike shot into far top corner of net.
0-2. 75. Maxi. Latched on to loose ball on edge of area and fired low shot into net.

Espanyol are back in the European spots after a 0-2 win at Real Sociedad, who themselves are now only two points from the drop zone as a result. In the absence of the injured Tamudo, Lotina was expected to bring in De la Peña, but he opted for the return of Maxi, with Fredson playing further back to strengthen midfield. It proved to be an inspired decision, as the Argentine attacker was to score both goals to take him to six for the season.

The first half was a boring affair with few scoring chances, the league's current top keeper Kameni keeping out a shot from Karpin, and Dani shooting wide at the other end. Amorrortu brought on Arteta at the break to liven things up, but the ex Barcelona and Rangers midfielder was instrumental in the visitors' first goal, giving the ball away to Maxi for him to run on and shoot into the top corner of the net.

Nihat could have levelled the match soon afterwards, his shot coming down off the crossbar and being cleared by the defence. But Espanyol finished things off a few minutes later after the defence only partly cleared Oscar Serrano's cross, Maxi once again coming from behind to fire a shot past Riesgo from outside of the area. It was a first win in Anoeta in six years for the Catalans, and it appears their struggles of recent years are now behind them.