Controversy surrounded the match between Espanyol and Atlético de Madrid after Atlético had poached several key players from the Catalan side in the close season. Although the signing of keeper Toni had been an open secret for most of last season, fans were particularly upset at the signing of young full back Joan Capdevila, a lifelong Espanyol supporter who eventually was enticed away by Jesus Gil's team for a succulent contract. Pochettino was also close to signing and other Espanyol youngsters were rumoured to have been approached. As it was, it was Capdevila who took the brunt of fans anger, with placards around the ground accusing him of selling out. It was however Miguel Angel Brindisi's team who had the last laugh, with Espanyol running out 3-1 winners after falling a goal behind. Both teams were unchanged, with Argentina's Chamot serving the last of his four match suspension for Atleti. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink opened the scoring for the Madrid side in the fifteenth minute, his third goal in the league, connecting well with a long through ball from Baraja. Two goals in three minutes just before half time turned the match around, with first Tamudo, celebrating an improved contract with Espanyol, knocking in the rebound after De Lucas's shot hit the crossbar, and then Benítez scoring his fourth of the season after a defensive mistake by Capdevila. José Mari came on for Atleti in the second half, but Rotchen added the third for Espanyol shortly before the hour to round off a miserable night for Claudio Ranieri, who has yet to win against Espanyol. The Catalans move up to fourth in the league equal with Celta on 12 points. Atleti sink back to bottom place, below Sevilla and Valencia on goal average.

Zaragoza are quietly climbing up the league table, and they moved up to fifth with a 2-0 victory against Real Sociedad. Txetxu Rojo brought in Juanele for his first start with his new team, and brought back Aragón for José Ignacio. Bernd Krauss kept the same side with no less than eight players in the starting line up who had come through the junior teams, with four more on the bench. Only Juan Gómez, Sa Pinto and Bonilla came from outside, and Kühbauer was once again left out of the squad. Real Sociedad started off well, and only Juanmi and the woodwork (twice) kept out efforts from De Pedro, Sa Pinto and Bonilla. Zaragoza also hit the crossbar twice, and they eventually took the lead in the 61st minute, when Acuña's pass was deflected off Milosevic's back and in to the path of Santi Aragón, who shot past Alberto. Both players didn't know it then, but they were only to play a short part in the remaining proceedings. Aragón put Marcos Vales through ten minutes later, and the Real Sociedad keeper had no choice but to bring him down, getting a red card from the referee for his troubles for the first time in his career. Krauss brought on young keeper Iker Alvarez for Aranburu for his first match with the first team. Two minutes later it was Aragón's turn to be sent off, referee Megía Dávila producing the red card for a hard tackle on Idiakez. With the match into injury time, Zaragoza substitute Jamelli beat the offside trap and striker Milosevic turned his pass in to an empty net. Real Sociedad drop back down the table to twelfth place.