Espanyol edge towards last 32

RCD Espanyol picked up a valuable point in Copenhagen against Brøndby IF in a UEFA Cup Group B game where both sides finished with ten men.

Late dismissals
Espanyol, on five points, led Brøndby by a point before the start of play meaning victory for either side would have offered significant chance of progression. However, it was not to be as Raúl Tamudo´s 42nd-minute goal was cancelled out by a deflected header from Morten Skoubo midway through the second half. Espanyol's Fredson Camara Pereira was dismissed moments later, shortly before Dan Anton Johansen followed for the home side.

Dup return
Espanyol coach Miguel Ángel Lotina handed a UEFA Cup debut to Carlos Kameni, while Alberto Lopo and Iván de la Peña both returned to the starting lineup after missing the weekend match against Club Atlético de Madrid through injury and tactical reasons respectively.

Opening goal
The game began at a frantic pace, with Thomas Rytter the key man for Brøndby in the opening stages while the trio of De la Peña, Raúl Tamudo and Luis García were carrying the threat for Espanyol. Martin Retov and Kasper Lorentzen both had chances for the Danish side before Raúl Tamudo put Espanyol ahead just before the break. The Spanish international latched on to a pass from Luis García to apply a right-footed finish from close range.

Equalising strike
Luis García spurned a good chance to increase the visitors' advantage after the restart, before substitute Kim Daugaard hit Espanyol's crossbar with Idriss Kaméni off his line. The pressure finally told on the visitors' defence after 66 minutes. Full-back Pablo Javier Zabaleta conceded a free-kick and the set-piece was floated into the box where it was flicked on by Skoubo and deflected off Lopo before crossing the line.

Numbers reduced
As the pressure mounted Fredson was sent off for violent conduct after 70 minutes, followed shortly by his coach Lotina for dissent. Ten minutes later, Brøndby were also reduced to ten men with centre-half Johansen sent off for a tackle on De la Peña.

Progression nears
Brøndby had the better of the closing stages, with Mads Jørgensen seeing an effort cleared off the line by Lopo, but neither side was able to strike a winner, leaving both teams knowing only victory in their respective final group games will guarantee qualification.