First Division - Day 29

Espanyol 3 - Deportivo 1

Espanyol: Kameni; Sergio Sánchez, Jarque, Pareja, David García; Moisés Hurtado, De la Peña; José Callejón (Rufete 78'), Iván Alonso (Román 72'), Nené; Tamudo (Luis García 86'). 4-2-3-1. Deportivo: Aranzubia; Laure, Lopo, Pablo Amo (Pablo Alvarez 68'), Filipe Luis; Ze Castro, De Guzmán; Guardado, Verdú, Lafita (Valerón 60'); Lassad (Riki 73'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: Moisés Hurtado, José Callejón, Iván Alonso for Chica, Lola, Luis García / Deportivo: Pablo Amo, Ze Castro, De Guzmán, Lassad for Colotto, Juan Rodríguez, Sergio, Riki.

Goals:
1-0. 12. Iván Alonso. Ran on to De la Peña pass and battled past keeper to score.
2-0. 39. De la Peña. Cut in from left and curled shot wide of Aranzubia to far post.
2-1. 42. Lassad. Drove low shot across Kameni after Lafita laid ball back.
3-1. 93. Lopo (own goal). Turned ball in to own net trying to clear Rufete shot.

Yellow cards: Lopo 44', Jarque 53', Nené 83'.

With Villarreal and Atlético Madrid both losing, Deportivo had a chance to close up on the European spots when they visited bottom club Espanyol. However they failed to take advantage, and ended up in eighth spot after a 3-1 defeat. The Catalan side had not won at home in the league since the beginning of November, but Iván Alonso put them ahead after running on to De la Peña's pass and charging down Aranzubia's clearance to score.

The keeper made up for his mistake with a good save from Alonso a few minutes later, but he could do nothing when De la Peña picked up a wide free kick and cut in to curl a shot inside the far post. Tamudo tested Aranzubia again almost immediately, but youngster Lassad pulled one back shortly before half time with his first goal for the first team after Lafita played Guardado's cross in to his path.

Jarque came close to a third on the hour mark when his header was cleared off the line by Filipe, and Guardado shot wide and Zé Castro brought a good save out of Kameni at the other end. And with the game coming to an end Rufete broke free on a counter-attack, and ex Espanyol defender could only deflect what appeared to be a wayward shot in to his own net. Still bottom and six points away from survival, but Espanyol are not down yet.