Murcia 4 - Espanyol 0

Murcia: Carini; Mejía, Ochoa, Cuadrado, Peña; Movilla (Richi 52'), Kabous; De Lucas (Pina 62'), Abel, Dani Aquino (Goitom 73'); Iván Alonso. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Kameni; Zabaleta (Rufete 71'), Jarque, Torrejón, David García; Valdo, Moisés Hurtado (Jordi Gómez 54'), Angel Martínez, Riera (Coro 54'); Luis García, Tamudo. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Murcia: Cuadrado, Movilla, Abel, Dani Aquino for De Coz, César Arzo, Pablo García, Goitom / Espanyol: Kameni, Angel Martínez, Tamudo for Lafuente, Lola, Ewerthon.

Goals:
1-0. 36. Iván Alonso (penalty). After Jarque pushed over Alonso inside area.
2-0. 46. Iván Alonso. Got between markers to head Abel cross wide of Kameni.
3-0. 62. Abel (penalty). After Zabaleta tripped Alonso inside penalty area.
4-0. 84. Richi. Headed past keeper after Alonso headed across long centre.

Espanyol drop out of the UEFA Cup spots after a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Murcia. After only picking up one point in ten games new coach Javier Clemente seems to have found the formula, a more usual 4-2-3-1 formation with Iván Alonso alone up front. The striker was a constant menace, bringing a good save out of Kameni and going close a couple more times before he won himself a penalty which he converted ten minutes before the break.

Carini had to save from Angel before half time in a rare attack by the visitors, but Alonso got his second of the night just a minute in to the second half, heading Abel's cross wide of the keeper. And a quarter of an hour later he was awarded a second penalty after Zabaleta scythed him down, this time Abel slotting home the kick.

Espanyol tried to get back in the game, Carini punching out a Luis García free kick and Tamudo shooting wide when free on goal. But with six minutes to go it was that man again Alonso who headed a long cross over to Richi for him to head the ball in to the net. A glimmer of hope for Murcia, but they are still six points away from safety with nine games to go.