Lokomotive Moscow 0 - Espanyol 1

Lokomotive: Ovchínnikov; Bugaev (Ruopolo 68'), Pashinin, Sénnikov, Asatiani, Gurenko; Bikey, Lima, Izmáilov, Bilialetdínov; Lebedenko. 5-4-1.
Espanyol: Iraizoz; Zabaleta, Jarque, Lopo, Pochettino, David García (Moisés 76'); Ito, Fredson (Costa 66'), De la Peña; Luis García (Corominas 70'), Tamudo. 5-3-2.

Goals:
0-1. 54. Tamudo. Ran on to Zabaleta through ball to turn shot past keeper.

With Sevilla scheduled to rest on the opening day of the league stage, only Espanyol were in action this week. And the Catalans got off to the best possible start, beating their group's top seeds Lokomotive Moscow 0-1 to take their first three points in the competition.

Lotina went back to a five man defence, with Pochettino returning to the side after an injury. And they had plenty of work to do early on, with Izmailov, Bugaev and Lebedenko shooting wide and Gorka Iraizoz saving from Asatiani. The Spaniards' only real reply in the first half was long shot from Fredson which Ovchínnikov collected at the second attempt.

The only goal of the match came somewhat against the run of play ten minutes in to the second half, Tamudo running on to a long ball from Zabaleta to squeeze a shot past the Russian keeper. Gorka was in action after that to keep out efforts from Izmailov and Ruopolo, but there was never much of a threat from an opponent who has not won in the Russian league now for a couple of months.

Tamudo was lucky to be let off a penalty appeal when the ball hit him on the arm, and soon afterwards had another effort saved by Ovchínnikov. And with Gorka saving from ex Espanyol midfielder Bikey the game came to an end. A good result for the visitors, and one which Lotina will be hoping puts an end to their bad run of form.