Goals either side of half time from Simao and Christian Stuani helped Espanyol to a 2-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga this evening.
Both sides started the game brightly and created a host of goalscoring opportunities before the deadlock was broken in the 30th minute.
Carlos Marchena whipped in a corner and Simao leaped highest to put the hosts in front.
Deportivo had several chances to level before the break. Abel Aguilar almost headed into from Pizzi's cross in the 34th minute and Riki narrowly missed from range five minutes later.
Chances were fewer in the second period, but Raul Baena came close to doubling Espanyol's advantage with an effort from just outside the box on 61 minutes.
Jose Luis Oltra's side had a handful of chances to draw level, with Nelson Oliveira, Aguilar and Pizzi all failing to hit the target during a spell of intense pressure from the visitors.
Diego Colotto could extended Espanyol's lead in the 78th minute when he got his head to Simao's cross, but German came to his team's rescue.
Deportivo threw everything they could at the Espanyol goal in the dying stages, with Oliveira forcing a save out of Francisco Casilla and Aguilar missing the target with a free header.
The hosts sealed the points two minutes from the end when Stuani smashed home Raul Baena's corner to hammer the final nail into Deportivo's coffin.
Mark Langshaw
