Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Arbilla, Alvaro González, Héctor Moreno, Duarte; Cañas, Abraham (Víctor Sánchez 68‘); Lucas Vázquez (Paco Montañés 85’), Sergio García, Víctor Alvarez; Stuani (Caicedo 63’). 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Iraizoz; Iraola, Gurpegui, Laporte, De Marcos; Mikel Rico (Ibai Gómez 57‘), San José; Iñaki Williams, Beñat, Viguera; Guillermo (Susaeta 57‘). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 40. Sergio García. Headed on Alvarez pass and clipped shot past Iraizoz.
Yellow cards: Stuani 33’, Laporte 38’, De Marcos 86’, Víctor Alvarez 88’.
With Villarreal and Málaga losing ground, several teams are still in with a chance of reaching the last European spots, Espanyol getting the edge on the rest after a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao later in the evening. There were few chances in the opening minutes, the best a shot wide by Beñat and a couple of efforts by Stuani. With five minutes to go to the break however Víctor Alvarez got to a loos ball and poked a pass through for Sergio García to run on and beat Iraizoz. The visitors improved after Valverde brought on Ibai Gómez and Susaeta a quarter of an hour in to the second half, Ibai in particular coming up against Casilla and then crossing in for De Marcos to head wide, but Espanyol held on to take their unbeaten run to five games. The result takes the Catalans a point above their opponents, and also gives them a little bit of revenge for that semi-final cup defeat earlier in the season.