Hector Moreno's late goal gave 10-man Espanyol a 1-0 win at home over Granada in the Spanish league on Friday, as the Barcelona-based side ended a four-game winless run.
Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez saved Moreno's first two headers from corner kicks taken by Sergio Garcia, but the defender beat him on his third try after Garcia found Moreno unmarked at the near post in the 78th minute.
Espanyol's Victor Alvarez saw a direct red for fouling Youssef El Arabi from behind with only the goalie to beat in the 29th.
But the hosts mustered more scoring chances through Garcia's playmaking and stayed firm in defense, except for El Arabi's shot off the crossbar in the 61st.
Espanyol provisionally moved into eighth place with its first win after losing in the last two rounds and in both legs of its Copa del Rey quarterfinal with Real Madrid.
"The good thing is that we were able to overcome the dismissal and get the three points," said Garcia, who again was Espanyol's best player in attack.
"The team even with 10 men worked very hard. That's how our team is made. We never give up and saw the recompense at the end."
Granada has lost three straight in league play. It remained in 14th place but only four points from the relegation zone before the rest of the teams play in round 23.
A minute of silence was held for former Spain coach Luis Aragones before the match at Cornella-El Prat Stadium. Aragones died on Feb. 1 at the age of 75.
Atletico Madrid leads the league by three points over Barcelona and Madrid. Atletico visits Almeria on Saturday, while Madrid hosts Villarreal. Barcelona visits Sevilla on Sunday.
