Espanyol: Cristian Alvarez; Javi López,
Raúl Rodríguez, Héctor Moreno, Didac; Forlín, Javi
Márquez (Dátolo 56'); Sergio García, Verdú, Romaric
(Raúl Baena 86'); Alvaro Vázquez (Pandiani 69'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Casto; Chica, Ustaritz, Mario (Dorado 46'), Nacho
(Jonathan Pereira 76'); Beñat, Iriney, Cañas; Juanma, Santa Cruz
(Tosic 53'), Rubén Castro. 4-3-3.
Goals: 1-0. 74. Pandiani. Got on the end of Didac cross to steer header past Casto.
Yellow cards: Beñat 54', Javi López 63', Pandiani 75', Forlín 80', Verdú 84', Pereira 88'.
Espanyol are up to sixth in the table after a 1-0 victory over Betis on Thursday evening. The Catalans have won their last three games by a single goal, and they find themselves in the Europa League spots after only scoring eight goals in their first nine matches. The two keepers were the stars of the match, Cristian Alvarez saving from Beñat, Cañas and Santa Cruz in the first half, and Casto keeping out Javi Márquez, Verdú and Alvaro Vázquez. After the break Vázquez came up against the visiting keeper again a couple of times, and Sergio García headed against the upright. With twenty minutes to go though Pochettino brought on Walter "The Rifle" Pandiani, and just five minutes later he got on the end of Didac's cross to head home the winner. A fifth defeat in a row for Betis, and their good form at the start of the season is now distant history.