Espanyol 1 - Real Sociedad 3

Espanyol: Argensó; Navas, Soldevilla, Domoraud, Amaya; Maxi (Velamazán 70'), Morales, Alex Fernández, Roger (Luque 46'); Tamudo, Milosevic (Fredson 46'). 4-4-2.
Real Sociedad: Westerveld; López Rekarte, Jauregui, Schürrer, Aranzábal; Xabi Alonso (Tayfun 71'), Aranburu; Karpin, Nihat, Gabilondo (Boris 85'); Kovacevic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Argensó, Alex Fernández, Milosevic for Sergio Sánchez, Boghossian, Crusat / Real: Gabilondo for De Pedro.

Goals:
0-1. 41. Kovacevic. Headed home corner taken by Gabilondo from left.
0-2. 55. Aranburu. Beat Argensó from close up after through ball from Gabilondo .
1-2. 79. Tamudo. Won ball outside area and cut through defence to score.
1-3. 89. Kovacevic. Turned ball past keeper after cross in from Nihat.

Real Sociedad stay in second place, within the group of five teams topping the table on maximum points, after defeating Espanyol 1-3 in Montjuic. Missing only De Pedro with tonsillitis from the line up which won against Bilbao the week before, Raynald Denoueix's side were more than a match for the Catalans, who have yet to beat Real in the Montjuic stadium since they moved there six years ago.

After their defeat in the cup midweek, Espanyol have got off to a bad start under their new manager Juande Ramos, and the changes he introduced for this match only served to create more confusion. The visitors broke up any attempt they had to string more than three passes together, and the on-form Nihat almost put his side in front with a thunderous shot against the bar. The turning point came though when Soldevilla was sent off for a second bookable offence ten minutes before the break, and before the half time whistle Kovacevic took advantage of the gap in the back four to head home Gabilondo's corner.

Ramos made two changes at the break, leaving Tamudo alone up front to plug the hole in defence, but it made little difference as Aranburu added a second soon after the restart. It was left to team captain Tamudo to pick up the pieces, and he pulled one back with an individualist goal ten minutes from the end. Half time substitute Fredson hit the post near the end, but in the last minute Nihat crossed in from the right wing for Kovacevic to score his second of the night. Espanyol are one of four teams yet to pick up a point, and to make matters worse they must visit city neighbours Barcelona next weekend. Iván De la Peña may make his debut in that match: he could be Juande's last hope.