Espanyol 2 - Celta 0

Espanyol: Gorka Iraizoz; Zabaleta, Jarque, Lopo, Pochettino, Armando Sá; Edu Costa, Fredson (Corominas 85'), De la Peña (Domi 61'); Luis García, Tamudo (Ito 76'). 5-3-2.
Celta: Pinto; Angel, Sergio, Contreras, José Enrique; Oubiña (Iriney 85'); De Ridder, Jorge (Jonathan Aspas 81'), Canobbio, David Silva (Jesús Perera 46'); Baiano. 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: Armando Sá, De la Peña, Tamudo for Domi, Corominas, Pandiani / Celta: Contreras for Lequi.

Goals:
1-0. 13. Tamudo. Tap in from close up after Luis García laid ball across goal.
2-0. 38. Fredson. Bent first time shot into net after picking up De la Peña pass.

Celta missed out on a chance to move back up in to the Champions League spots after they were beaten 2-0 by Espanyol. The Galicians started the weekend just a point behind fourth placed Osasuna, and a win would have taken them above the Pamplona based side for 24 hours at least. But they were pegged back from the start, Tamudo having a penalty appeal turned down and Luis García a header saved before the home side took the lead, Luis García showing excellent control to pull down a long ball from De la Peña on the by-line and roll the ball across for Tamudo to score.

The locals were left with ten men though midway through the first half when Armando Sá picked up a straight red after bringing down De Ridder as he advanced on goal. But before the break they went two ahead when Fredson latched on to De la Peña's square pass to fire a wickedly bending shot past Pinto.

With Jesús Perera on for Silva at the break, Celta pushed forward, Fernando Baiano putting a couple of chances wide and De Ridder having a penalty claim turned down. But Lotina pulled off De la Peña and then Tamudo to defend the victory, and Luis García could even have extended the lead when he had a goal disallowed for offside later on. It was a morale boosting win for the Catalans just a few days before their midweek Copa del Rey semi-final with Deportivo, and they move further away from the drop zone as a result.