Espanyol 2 - Deportivo La Coruña 0

Espanyol: Lemmens; Domoraud, Lopo, Pochettino, Wome; Fredson (Jordi Cruyff 85'), Alex Fernández; Maxi (Morales 66'), De la Peña, Hadji (Velamazán 78'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Munúa; Héctor, Andrade, Pablo Amo, Capdevila; Sergio (Fran 46'), Mauro Silva (Duscher 55'); Scaloni, Valerón, Luque (Munitis 61'); Diego Tristán. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: De la Peña for Torricelli / Deportivo: Munúa, Valerón for Molina, Djalminha.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Pochettino. Controlled De la Peña's pass and hit shot on turn past keeper.
2-0. 74. De la Peña. Shot inside post after Hadji cross not cleared by defence.

Espanyol followed in Celta's footsteps from the day before and climbed out of the bottom three for the first time in 32 weeks after beating Deportivo La Coruña 2-0. With nothing to play for and a gruelling Champions League defeat fresh in their minds, the Galicians put out a weakened line up, and they fell behind early on when Pochettino picked up a pass from De la Peña to score. Maxi had already tested Munúa earlier on, and De la Peña put a free kick over the bar as the Catalans continued to dominate.

Tamudo had been playing (unbeknown to him) with a broken toe from a tackle by Mauro Silva in the second minute, but a pain killing spray allowed him to play on. The Spanish international striker was a constant menace for the visiting defence, going close two or three times and having a penalty appeal turned down. With a quarter of an hour to go De la Peña made it two with his first goal for the club, following up after Tamudo had failed to turn in Hadji's cross. Depor finally woke up, Lemmens having to save from Pablo Amo and Diego Tristán hitting the bar with a free kick. But it was too late, and Espanyol finally have a lifeline to cling on to.