Espanyol 2 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Espanyol: Mora; Navas, Lopo, Soldevilla, Ricardo Cavas; Paulo Sousa (Morales 91'), Alex Fernández; De Lucas, Pacheco (Palencia 78'), Roger (Munteanu 70'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Bilbao: Lafuente; Larrainzar, Lacruz, Aitor Ocio, Larrazábal; Orbaiz (Cuéllar 71'), Carlos García; Joseba Etxeberria, Tiko, Yeste (Karanka 58'); Ezquerro. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: Soldevilla, Paulo Sousa, Pacheco for Rotchen, Morales, Palencia / Bilbao: Larrainzar, Carlos García, Ezquerro for Javi González, Alkiza, Urzaiz.

Goals:
1-0. 20. Ricardo Cavas. Ran on from outside of area to hit low shot past Lafuente.
2-0. 92. De Lucas. Bent free kick into top of net from outside of area.

Espanyol extended their unbeaten run to seven games after defeating Athletic Bilbao in the Montjuic stadium. The result was a boost to the Catalan side who still have aspirations of playing in Europe next season, and they moved to within four points of their opponents who currently occupy the last UEFA cup spot. Paco Flores brought in his two winter signings Paulo Sousa and Pacheco, the Portuguese midfielder making his first start since moving to Barcelona. Their opponents were missing the suspended Urzaiz and the injured Alkiza, who failed a late fitness test and had to watch the match from the stands. The Basques have the best away record in the league, but they were a shadow of their usual selves as they allowed the Catalans to dominate from start to finish. Ricardo Cavas started things off beating Lafuente with a low shot in the twentieth minute for his first goal with his new club. Tiko did test Mora with a free kick, but five minutes before half time Espanyol had a chance to go further in front when referee González Vázquez signalled a penalty for a foul by Lacruz on Tamudo. However Lafuente guessed correctly and dived low to save the international striker's spot kick.

For the first quarter of an hour of the second half the home side laid siege to Lafuente's goal. However they were unable to finish off any of their chances, and the fans started to get nervous as Bilbao suddenly realised they could still save a point. There was no Urzaiz though to get on the end of their passes, and with the game coming to an end De Lucas added another million or two to his price tag with a second goal from a well taken free kick which left the keeper no chance. Deportivo's cup victory means that three UEFA spots are now available, the last of which is currently occupied by Heynckes' side. Paco Flores moved closer to them, but if he can't get his team into the top seven by the end of the season they will probably play the Intertoto cup. They have pre-registered for the competition, as have Málaga and Villarreal.