Espanyol breathed new life in their European push on Monday with a crucial 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo put them on their way after 35 minutes, but saw Markel Susaeta restore parity moments before the interval. The Catalan outfit were not to be denied, though, and grabbed what proved to be the match winner on 77 minutes when Ivan Alonso pounced. The victory means eighth-placed Espanyol,who had lost nine of their previous 13 matches, move to within three points of seven-placed Athletic with four games remaining.
Espanyol, whose coach Mauricio Pochettinoagreed a new contract tying him to the club until 2014 on Sunday, started well and Alonso and Javi Marquez both brought saves out of visiting goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz early on. The hosts then took the lead when leading scorer Osvaldo netted his 11th league goal of the season, slotting a low shot in off the post. Espanyol enjoyed their advantage for only six minutes though before Athletic drew level through Susaeta, who fired home direct from a free-kick after he had been brought down 20 yards out by Joan Verdu.
Espanyol felt they should have been awarded a penalty just before half-time when Alonso went down under a challenge from Iraizoz inside the area but the referee waved play on, much to the home side’s fury. Athletic sent on star striker Fernando Llorente at the break, with the Spain international having started the match on the bench, but it was Espanyol who continued to look more threatening and Iraizoz was again called into action to deny Jordi Amat and Osvaldo, the first a vital block at point-blank range. Iraizoz was beaten for a second time with 13 minutes remaining though, and that goal would end up earning Espanyol the points. Goalscorer Osvaldo turned provider with a drilled low cross from the right that the sliding Alonso slotted in from close range.
Juventus beat Lazio: Lazio’s hopes of gaining some breathing space in the race for a Champions League place were dashed here on Monday as they lost 1-0 at home to Juventus.
Simone Pepe’s 87th minute goal dealt an unwelcome blow to the hosts – who were reduced to 10 men for the final 10 minutes when Cristian Ledesma was sent-off for a second bookable offence – hopes of Champions League football next season. Lazio only lead Udinese and bitter city rivals AS Roma by a point with three matches remaining while victory kept Juventus hopes of grabbing the last Champions League spot alive, as they are four points adrift of Lazio.
