Espanyol 0 - Sporting Gijón 1

Espanyol: Kameni; Sergio Sánchez, Lacruz, Jarque, Beranger; Coro, Moisés Hurtado (Román Martínez 47'), Angel, Nené (Valdo 61'); Luis García, Tamudo (Jonathan Soriano 57'). 4-4-2.
Sporting: Cuéllar; Sastre, Gerard, Iván Hernández, Canella; Matabuena, Camacho; Pedro (Barral 65'), Carmelo (Andreu 74'), Diego Castro; Bilic (Kike Mateo 81'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: Sergio Sánchez, Coro for Finnan, Valdo / Sporting: Pedro, Carmelo for Luis Morán, Barral.

Goals:
0-1. 29. Carmelo. Ran on from midfield and fired long shot wide of Kameni.

Yellow cards: Moisés 46', Jonathan 58', Lacruz 66', Román 70', Luis García 76', Kike Mateo 82'.

Espanyol coach "Tintin" Márquez became the third top flight manager to lose his job this season after his side lost 0-1 to Sporting Gijón. The coach had been promoted from the B team to take over from Valverde in the summer, but after a string of poor results he needed a win this weekend. His side started poorly though, and they went behind when Carmelo fired an impressive shot past Kameni from well outside of the area.

The Catalans tried their best after that, Nené bringing a good save out of Cuéllar before the break and Román, Coro and Luis García all going close after the restart. But to add to their woes team captain Tamudo limped off with an injury which will keep him out for a couple of months, and Luis García picked up a fifth booking which means he misses the next match.

The result takes the Asturians up to the top half of the table and leaves their hosts just a point above the drop zone. Whoever takes over at Montjuic has first to restore the team's morale following a fourth defeat in a row. On this showing that is not going to be easy.