Espanyol 3 - Málaga 1

Espanyol: Gorka Iraizoz; Moisés Hurtado, Jarque, Lopo, Domi (Corominas 70'); Edu Costa, Ito; Juanfran (Jofre 83'), Luis García (David García 61'), De la Peña; Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Arnau; Gerardo, Fernando Sanz (Edgar 46'), Litos, Alexis; Gabriel (Chengue Morales 55'), Bovio, Juan Rodríguez, Antonio López; Pablo Couñago (Hidalgo 75'), Salva. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Espanyol: Jarque, Juanfran for Zabaleta, Pandiani / Málaga: Fernando Sanz, Bovio, Juan Rodríguez, Antonio López, Pablo Couñago for César Navas, Jesús Gámez, Edgar, Nacho, Paco Esteban.

Goals:
1-0. 09. Tamudo. Got ahead of defence to head De la Peña free kick past Arnau.
2-0. 20. Tamudo. Turned ball in close to goal from De la Peña's cross.
3-0. 32. Luis García. Controlled Juanfran cross and volleyed past keeper.
3-1. 40. Alexis. Struck long shot which curled away from keeper in off bar.

Málaga dropped to the bottom of the table after losing 3-1 at Espanyol, a result which cost the job of manager Antonio Tapia who was fired a few hours after the game finished. The Catalans were three up within half an hour, with Tamudo starting things off in the ninth minute when he headed an Iván De la Peña free kick past Arnau. The team captain should have had a second from the penalty spot soon afterwards when Gerardo fouled De la Peña in the area, but Arnau saved his kick, as he had done in the first match between the two sides earlier in the season.

Tamudo got his own back though within minutes when he got on the end of De la Peña's cross to turn the ball in on the far post. And Luis García made it three after controlling a cross from Juanfran before beating the keeper. Alexis got one back before the break with a spectacular shot from 35 yards out which Gorka didn't even see, and seeing a glimmer of hope, Tapia went for broke in the second half bringing on Edgar and then Morales. But it was not to be, and after only picking up two points from the last nine games Tapia is history. Technical director Manolo Hierro, brother of Spanish international Fernando, was given his job the following day. On this performance he needs all the luck he can get.