Espanyol 1 - Valladolid 0

Espanyol: Kameni; Sergio Sánchez, Lacruz, Jarque, Beranger; De la Peña (Sielva 81'), Moisés Hurtado, Román Martínez (Angel Martínez 68'); Valdo (Coro 56'), Tamudo, Luis García.. 4-3-3.
Valladolid: Sergio Asenjo; Pedro López, Luis Prieto, García Calvo, Marcos; Borja (Víctor 46'), Alvaro Rubio; Aguirre (Ogbeche 72'), Vivar Dorado, Jonathan Sesma; Goitom (Kike 46'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 47. Luis García. Picked up De la Peña pass and beat Asenjo with angled shot.

The new season got under way this weekend, with Espanyol and Valladolid kicking off in the first match. The locals had not won their opening game in the league for six seasons, and last year they lost at home to the same rivals. B team coach Tinitin Márquez was now in charge after Valverde left in the summer, and although he lost Zabaleta and Riera to the Premier League in the last couple of days, his side were strong enough to come away with the three points.

Opportunities were few and far between in the first half, Sesma shooting wide for the visitors and new signing Román Martínez was active at both ends for the home side, volleying a shot wide but also getting the benefit of the doubt in two penalty appeals, for a possible hand ball and a trip on Borja.

The turning point came though at the start of the second half, an excellent De la Peña sending away Luis García for him to cut back past Pedro López and drill a low shot wide of Asenjo. Tamudo wasted a good chance to make it two when free in front of goal, but in the end the anxious fans were calling for the final whistle as substitute Ogbeche headed against the post then brought the save of the night out of Kameni. A good start for the Catalans though, and a promising debut for 17 year old Oscar Sielva, who came on for De la Peña late on.