Espanyol 2 - Albacete 1

Espanyol: Kameni; Jarque, Lopo, Soldevilla, David García (Morales 84'); Maxi, Ito, Fredson, Amavisca (Oscar Serrano 70'); Dani (Corominas 62'), Tamudo. 4-4-2.
Albacete: Valbuena; Oscar Montiel, Rubén (Gaspar 84'), Santi, Peña; Redondo, Elías Molina (David Sánchez 55'), Viaud, Peralta (Rubén Castro 89'); Pacheco, Francisco. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Espanyol: Amavisca for Alex Fernández / Albacete: Rubén, Peña, Elías, Viaud, Redondo for Gaspar, Buades, David Sánchez, Jaime, Mark González.

Goals:
1-0. 04. Maxi. Got ahead of Valbuena to head long Dani cross into empty net.
2-0. 22. Tamudo. Forced ball in from close up after keeper saved Jarque header.
2-1. 58. Pacheco. Ran past two defenders and fired shot into top corner of net.

Espanyol moved back up into the top four pending Sunday's games after beating struggling Albacete 2-1. Maxi put the Catalans ahead only four minutes in to the game when he got ahead of Valbuena to head home Dani's cross, and Tamudo fired home a second from close range later in the first half after the keeper had blocked Jarque's header following a corner. And Fredson could have got a third for the home side when his long shot rocketed off the post before the break,

The visitors were under new management after Martín Monteagudo took over from the sacked José González during the week, and his half time talk clearly inspired his side. The Manchegans were a different team, and Pacheco put them back in the match with a brilliant individualist goal, picking up the ball in midfield and running on to beat Kameni with a vicious shot from outside of the area.

For a few minutes it appeared they could draw level, but eventually they ran out of steam, and Corominas should have wrapped things up when he shot wide with only the keeper to beat. The defeat leaves the visitors further down in the relegation zone, and Monteagudo will have his work cut out if he is to turn things around.