Osasuna take a 1-0 lead into their Uefa Cup semifinal return leg against holders Sevilla while Espanyol have virtually one foot in the final after a 3-0 demolition of Werder Bremen.
Roberto Soldado got the only goal for the game for Osasuna nine minutes after the interval. Sevilla pushed for an equaliser late on with strikers Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Frederic Kanoute both coming close to snatching what would have been an undeserved draw.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, goals from Moises Hurtado, Walter Pandiani and substitute Ferran Coro gave Espanyol a fully deserved victory against Bremen.
The Bundesliga side finished the match with 10 men after goalkeeper Tim Wiese received a straight red card for hauling down Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo outside the area.
Moises put the home side in front on 20 minutes, heading home from 6m after Ivan de la Pena played a corner short to Francisco Rufete, who delivered a pinpoint cross into the middle of the area.
Bremen’s weakness at set pieces was on show again five minutes after the restart when Pandiani rose unchallenged at the near post to head in a De la Piena corner to make it 2-0.
Wiese received his marching orders on 58 minutes and with Bremen pushing forward looking for an away goal, Coro delivered what is likely to prove the killer blow with a breakaway effort two minutes from the end of regulation time.
Thomas Schaaf’s side now have a mountain to climb in next week’s return leg in Germany if they are to make the final in Glasgow on May 16.
”After the red card it was difficult for us to get back into it,” said Schaaf.
”We are going to have to put in an exceptional performance [in the return leg] if we are to progress.” — Sapa-dpa