Espanyol 3 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Espanyol: Argensó; Fran, Lopo, Rotchen, Ricardo Cavas; Alex Fernández, Morales; Velamazán (Bruno Saltor 83'), Palencia (Munteanu 80'), De Lucas; Tamudo (Martín Posse 59'). 4-2-3-1.
Rayo: Imanol Etxeberria; Alcázar, Corino, De Quintana, Graff; Helder (Peragón 75'), Quevedo; Azkoitia (Glaucio 65'), Michel, Arteaga; Bolo (Bolic 59'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: Alex Fernández, Palencia, Tamudo for Oscar, Martín Posse, Aganzo / Rayo: De Quintana, Helder for Hernández, Roy.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Palencia. Headed into far corner after long cross from Fran.
2-0. 61. Velamazán. Ran on to score after keeper handled outside area.
2-1. 76. Lopo (own goal). Deflected Michel's free kick past own keeper.
3-1. 85. De Lucas. Whipped ball past keeper after Martín Posse pass.

Problems at Rayo Vallecano after they lost 3-1 to Espanyol in Barcelona. The weekend began with manager Andoni Goikoetxea and goalkeeper Julen Lopetegui almost coming to blows at the airport, and Goiko left Hernández and Cembranos back in Madrid after complaining that an anonymous player had accused him in the press of amateurish methods. With Roy suspended, De Quintana and Helder came in to the starting line up for the first time this season, with Arteaga returning to the ground where he played last season.

Espanyol were back to something like full strength, with first choice forwards Palencia and Tamudo both returning after injury. Palencia went close twice before beating Etxeberria at the third try, his header from Fran's cross finding the bottom corner of the net. Rayo should have scored twice at the other end, but Quevedo and then Azkoitia put their efforts wide from close up. With an hour gone Posse replaced the limping Tamudo, and within a minute the home side were two up, Etxeberria getting caught out of his area and trying to catch the ball to stop play. However referee Iturralde González waved play on, and De Lucas left it for Velamazán who ran past the keeper to score.

Rayo got one back when Lopo deflected Michel's free kick past his own keeper, but De Lucas put the Catalans two ahead again with his fourth of the season, making him the league's joint top scorer to date. It was a much needed victory for Espanyol, who had slipped down into the bottom three after their defeat at Real Madrid. Rayo are in big trouble in next to bottom spot with one point from their five games, and with all the problems off the field as well, everything points to a change of manager this week.