Espanyol take no prisoners against Elche

RCD Espanyol beat Elche CF 3-1 in Sunday's first game on matchday 27 of the Liga BBVA.

Two minutes were all Javier Aguirre's team needed to take the lead in the 100th official game in the Cornellà-El Prat. The first attack from the blanquiazules resulted in a corner that Simão Sabrosa sent to the front post for David López to head past Manu Herrera. Espanyol, who were superior throughout, continued their hunt for goals to wrap up the match, and they found one with a similar move to that of the first. It was Simão once again, from another set-piece, who crossed the ball into the box, this time it was Diego Colotto's turn to provide the finish with a powerful shot.

In the second half Espanyol continued to dominate the pitch in the Cornellà and to search for another. Pizzi was the man who found it after a shot that struck Alberto before settling in the back of Herrera's net. It was the Portuguese striker's first Liga BBVA goal. Elche found their only goal of the match in the dying minutes after Juan Fuentes cleared into his own net. The win means that the Catalans are perched comfortably below the European spots, while Elche end the weekend in a tricky situation at the bottom end of the Liga BBVA table.