Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Arbilla, Alvaro González, Héctor Moreno, Duarte; Cañas, Víctor Sánchez; Lucas Vázquez, Sergio García, Paco Montañés (Salva Sevilla 65’); Caicedo (Stuani 49’). 4-2-3-1.
Rayo: Toño; Tito, Morcillo, Zé Castro, Insúa; Raúl Baena (Jozabed 72‘), Trashorras; Embarba, Alberto Bueno, Alex Moreno (Licá 84’); Miku (Manucho 61‘). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
0-1. 29. Insúa. Picked up Bueno return pass and struck low shot past Casilla.
1-1. 80. Héctor Moreno. Cross from right wing which bounced past Toño into net.
Yellow cards: Arbilla 57’, Víctor Sánchez 64’, Toño 64’, Duarte 87’, Cañas 94’, 94’ / red cards: Cañas 94’.
Espanyol missed out on a chance to close up on the European spots after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Rayo Vallecano in this Sunday’s mid-day game. The locals had the better of the opening minutes, Caicedo shooting wide, Toño saving from Sergio García and Arbilla firing a free kick against the crossbar. However the visitors took the lead against the run of play, Insúa running on to Alberto Bueno’s return pass to steer a shot past Casilla with half an hour on the clock. Toño kept out Lucas Vázquez and Sergio García either side of the break, but only a timely tackle by Duarte prevented Miku from getting on the end of an Alex Moreno cross. However with ten minutes to go Héctor Moreno equalized with more than a bit of fortune, his long cross bouncing past everyone into the net. Any hope of a local victory ended though when Cañas was sent off after picking up two bookings in succession, the first for a hard tackle, and the second for complaining to the referee.