Espanyol 2 - Real Sociedad 2

Espanyol: Kameni; Ibarra (Dani 81'), Lopo, Soldevilla, David García; Jarque, Ito; Maxi, De la Peña (Oscar Serrano 77'), Amavisca (Fredson 70'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Real Sociedad: Riesgo; Zubiaurre, Labaka, Brechet, Garrido; Aranburu (Gabilondo 87'), Mikel Alonso; Karpin, Uranga, Xabi Prieto (De Paula 71'); Kovacevic (Mladenovic 90'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: De la Peña, Amavisca for Oscar Serrano, Dani / Real Sociedad: Zubiaurre, Brechet, Garrido for López Rekarte, Luiz Alberto, Rossato.

Goals:
1-0. 24. Kovacevic. Headed down across Kameni from Karpin free kick.
1-1. 37. Tamudo (penalty). After Tamudo pulled down by Riesgo inside area.
2-1. 56. Tamudo (penalty). After Zubiaurre pulled Tamudo back by shirt. .
2-2. 78. De Paula. Struck long shot which ballooned off Soldevilla over keeper.

Espanyol missed an opportunity to return to the Champions League spots after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Real Sociedad, and they had to settle for fifth place in the end. The match got off to a lively start, Jarque and Uranga missing easy chances at either end in the opening minutes. The Basque side had never lost to the Catalans in Barcelona since they moved to the Montjuic stadium though, and Kovacevic headed them into the lead from Karpin's free kick midway through the first half, his fifth goal against them in the last four visits.

The visitors could have gone further ahead when Lopo cleared off the line from Uranga with Kameni beaten, but a few minutes later Tamudo won himself a penalty after running on to Iván De la Peña's precision through ball and being brought down by Riesgo. The team captain converted the kick himself, and Maxi could have put his side in front when his effort was blocked by the keeper close to half time. And minutes after the restart Riesgo was in action again when he flew to his left to push a dangerous Amavisca free kick away for a corner.

Espanyol did take the lead though ten minutes in to the second half with another Tamudo penalty, referee Daudén Ibáñez deciding that Zubiaurre had pulled back the striker as he ran on to another pass from De la Peña. But with just under fifteen minutes to go substitute De Paula equalised with a shot which took a deflection off Soldevilla to fly over the head of Kameni. It was a blow to the hopes of Lotina's side in their push for a place in the Champions' League, and it was scant consolation that they had equalled their best ever run in Montjuic of ten games without defeat.