Espanyol move up in Spain's la Liga

Espanyol climbed into the Primera Division's top six after coming from behind to defeat ten-man Racing Santander 3-1 at Estadi Cornella-El Prat tonight. Goals from Joan Verdu, Phillippe Coutinho and Hector Moreno secured a second win in succession for the Barcelona club, who are now back in the European berths. Racing took the lead through Christian Stuani before Espanyol fought back, while the second-half dismissal of Marcos Gullon hit their hopes as they chased the game. Racing have now gone nine games without a win dating back to 15 January, a run that has left them second-bottom of the standings. The visitors nevertheless made a flying start to the match and put themselves on target to bring an end to their miserable run when they took the lead on 12 minutes. Adrian Gonzalez provided the assist from the left, his cross met by Stuani with a firm left-footed finish beyond Espanyol goalkeeper Francisco Casilla. Sergio Garcia forced Tono into action at the other end of the pitch as Espanyol sought an immediate response, and with 26 minutes gone the equaliser arrived. Garcia started the move with a pass inside, and when Verdu received the ball, he took aim from the edge of the area with a firm drive into the top-right corner. With 32 minutes gone Gullon picked up his first booking of the night for a foul on Moreno, while a minute later Espanyol found themselves ahead in the match when Coutinho picked the ball up outside the box and fired a low effort into the right corner of Tono's goal. Racing's hopes of getting back on level terms were hit in the 52nd minute when they were reduced to ten men when Gullon picked up his second caution following a tangle with Verdu. Gonzalez forced Casilla to parry with a long-range drive on 62 minutes as Racing pushed forward despite their disadvantage, while Kennedy Bakircioglu twice had efforts inside the final 20 minutes as the visitors pushed for an unlikely point. Coutinho blazed over for the hosts on 77 minutes as holes began to appear at the back for Racing, and with ten minutes remaining the visitors were finally seen off when Vladimir Weiss' corner was unconvincingly punched by Tono and Moreno was on hand to head home from six yards.