Home joy continues as Espanyol go fourth

Espanyol made it a perfect six wins from six at their Cornella-El Prat stadium on Sunday, defeating promoted Hercules 3-0 to move into fourth.

Joan Verdu opened the scoring on 14 minutes and late penalties from Pablo Osvaldo (80 min) and Luis Garcia (90) gave the scoreline a flattering look as Espanyol maintained their 100 percent home record — leaders Real Madrid are the only other team with a flawless 18 points at home — to go a point above Valencia into fourth.

Despite scoring just 12 goals in their 12 league matches Espanyol are now in the Champions League spots as the Barcelona-based club dream of European football after four seasons of mid-table obscurity.

“It doesn’t surprise me how well we are doing,” said Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino.

“I see the group every day and the most important thing is to believe in an idea and a football model. We always have the same mentality of going out to fight for every ball and every match.”

Sevilla missed the chance to leapfrog Espanyol crashing to their first league home defeat of the season with an agonising 2-1 loss against Real Mallorca.

Brazilian international forward Luis Fabiano looked to have stolen a point for Sevilla on 87 minutes after cancelling out Frenchman Michael Pereira’s opener but Cameroon striker Pierre Webo struck the winner two minutes later.

It was particularly disappointing for Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano against the club he left in the summer, however, it was sweet revenge for Mallorca who lost out on fourth place to Sevilla on the final day of last season.

Sevilla stay down in sixth, two points off the top four, while islanders Mallorca climb to seventh two points behind Sevilla.

Elsewhere on Sunday Deportivo La Coruna continued their revival with a 3-0 home win over Malaga.

Depor failed to win any of their first eight league games but have now taken 10 points from the last 12 to move into mid-table.

“A month ago it seemed like we couldn’t beat anyone and now we are much more happy and that breeds confidence,” said Depor coach Miguel Angel Lotina.

Promoted Levante moved away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over 10-man Racing Santander. Ecuadorian international striker Felipe Caicedo, on loan from Manchester City, scored twice to down Racing who had Domingo Cisma sent off on 29 minutes.

Atletico Madrid are in action at Real Sociedad later with Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores glad to have some of his big stars back from injury.

“It is great to have everyone back available as we have had a mountain of injuries all season and finally it is over,” said Sanchez Flores.

At the top, unbeaten Real Madrid lead the standings with a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick sealing a 5-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to ensure they are a point ahead of Barcelona when the two teams meet in the first Clasico at Camp Nou on November 29.

“The difference between Barcelona and Real Madrid and the rest is getting bigger and bigger,” said Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros. “We just have to focus on working well with the youth system and bringing players through.”

Barcelona crushed Almeria 8-0 on Saturday thanks to a Lionel Messi treble and hope for a fifth consecutive Clasico win over their bitter rivals in the Monday night showpiece.

The humiliating home defeat to Barcelona prompted Almeria to sack coach Juanma Lillo with the club lying second from bottom of the table.

Real Zaragoza prop up the table and new coach Javier Aguirre hopes for a winning debut when he takes charge of the team for the first time at Getafe on Monday.