

Relegation-threatened Espanyol defeated Rayo Vallecano 4-0 in La Liga on Friday thanks to two goals in the first fifteen minutes. The outcome, which was just Espanyol's second away victory of the season, continued a run in which the team has only lost once in six league games and moved up to 15th position, five points above the relegation zone.
After eleven minutes, Leandro Cabrera headed in from a corner kick to give the Catalan team a 1-0 lead. Roberto Fernández doubled the lead four minutes later by taking advantage of shoddy defence. Pere Milla initiated and completed the play that resulted in an incredible fourth in stoppage time, and Javi Puado scored three goals from the penalty spot in the 72nd. The result was a blow for Rayo, whose good run of form had it dreaming of European football next season. The Madrid club slipped to eighth place.