Espanyol 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Espanyol: Kameni; Jarque, Lopo, Pochettino (Fredson 77'), David García; Ito, De la Peña, Juanfran (Jonathan 83'), Luis García, Riera (Corominas 54'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Expósito, Luis Prieto, Murillo, Casas; Orbaiz, Gurpegui; Iraola, Yeste (Etxeberría 75'), Javi González (Tiko 66'); Urzaiz (Lacruz 87'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: David García, Ito, Luis García for Zabaleta, Domi, Edu Costa / Athletic: Casas, Javi González for Lacruz, Dañobeitia.

Goals:
0-1. 26. Luis Prieto. Header on far post down past Kameni from Yeste free kick.
1-1. 88. Corominas. Latched on to loose ball to fire low shot across keeper.

A late goal from substitute Corominas saved a point for Espanyol against bottom club Athletic Bilbao and earned some breathing space for beleaguered manager Miguel Angel Lotina. Both sides had ended last weekend down in the relegation spots, and whereas the Basque club had decided to replace their coach Medilibar with Javier Clemente midweek (Clemente was the man who won the championship for them twice in the early eighties), Lotina had been given a brief reprieve to try and turn round a string of bad results.

Although the crowd showed messages of support to the local manager, things seemed to be going against him when Luis Prieto headed home a free kick from Yeste midway through the first half. Yeste almost got a second against a shaky Kameni, and although the Catalans showed some signs of recovery they went in at the break behind.

Espanyol threw everything forward after the restart as Clemente pulled his players back to defend, with Aranzubia having to save a dangerous De la Peña free kick and Tamudo shooting wide with the goal at his mercy a couple of minutes later. The team captain fired another shot wide of the mark and had a penalty appeal turned down, but time seemed to be running out for Lotina. Then with a couple of minutes to go Fredson headed the ball up into the area, and substitute Corominas came racing in to fire a low shot past the keeper. The coach was out of jail, for a few more days at least, and the crowd celebrated as if they had won the cup.