Clemenete continues to wave magic wand at Espanyol
Former Spanish national coach Javier Clemente continued to work his magic at Espanyol as the Barcelona-based side beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 on Sunday.
Former Spanish national coach Javier Clemente continued to work his magic at Espanyol as the Barcelona-based side beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 on Sunday.
Espanyol have now won three of their five games since Clemente took over last month, compared to having won just three before he arrived as the club's third coach since the start of the season.
Despite Sunday's victory, they stay in the relegation zone but move up one place to 18th in the Spanish first division, but there is now a genuine belief that Espanyol can avoid relegation.
The Spanish first division's leading scorer Roy Makaay took his tally to 13 for the season, giving Deportivo the lead after just two miunutes.
Espanyol didn't panic and got back on level terms within just six minutes, Toni Soldevilla connecting with a Roger Garcia cross.
Roger changed his role from provider to goal scorer to put Espanyol into the lead after 21 minutes and then switched back six minutes later to send in the corner that Angel Morales finished off at close range.
Bottom club Recreativo got just their third win of the season, coming from behind to beat fellow strugglers Rayo Vallecano 2-1.
Rayo got in front quickly, Ramon De Quintana firing home a Javier Camunas cross less than two minutes into the game.
Recreativo's Xisco Munoz equalised early in the second half and then Loren Monzon got the winner for Recreativo six minutes from time.
A change of president and coach - who became one and the same on Monday in the shape of the Ukraine-born American real estate magnate Dimitry Piterman - did Racing Santander no good and they lost their fourth consecutive game, going down 3-1 at Osasuna.
Ivan Rosado put Osasuna in front after 12 minutes and while Juanma Delgado brought Racing back level seven minutes before the break, goals early in the second half by Gerardo Rivero and Alfredo Sanchez ended Piterman's dream of a winning start to his reign.
Racing only stay out of the relegation zone on goal difference while Osasuna give themselves some breathing space after winning for the first time in five games.
At the other end of the table, a lacklustre Valencia struggled to overcome Sevilla 1-0, who despite their lowly position can still boast of the best defence in the first division.
Valencia's Argentine striker Pablo Aimar got the only goal of the game after 33 minutes when he trapped a Ruben Baraja cross with his chest and then blasted in the half-volley.
Real Sociedad maintain their place at the top of the league, where they have been since mid-October, with a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
The Basque team extended their unbeaten run with second half goals from Tayfun Korkut and Darko Kovacevic, the latter responding to an Atletico equaliser by Luis Garcia.
Sociedad have 43 points from their 19 games. Second placed Real Madrid are five points adrift after their 1-1 against Athletic Bilbao.
Brazilian World Cup winner Denilson scored two spectacular goals in Real Betis' 2-1 win over Villareal, a win which sees the Seville-based side leapfrog over Deportivo into fourth place.
Betis were in control for the majority of the match but had an uncomfortable final few minutes after Carlos Aranda got one back for the visitors with a header seven minutes before the whistle.
Barcelona visit Celta Vigo later on Sunday, with the job of Barca coach Louis van Gaal in jeopardy.
The Catalan club lie down in 10th after having lost more games than they have won this season.