Spanish Primera Division report: Espanyol frustrated by Rayo Vallecano

Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano's hopes of qualifying for the Europa League were dented as they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Power8 stadium.

Former Liverpool left-back Emiliano Insua put the visitors ahead just before the half-hour mark from a a well worked move but Hector Moreno grabbed a deserved equaliser with 10 minutes remaining, but Jose Canas was sent off in stoppage time for dissent.

Espanyol moved on to 46 points but missed the opportunity to go level with Athletic in seventh spot, while Rayo earned a second consecutive draw, just their fourth of the season, and drop down to 12th, five points behind Athletic.

Espanyol dominated the opening 20 minutes, hemming the normally attack-minded Rayo into their own half.

Felipe Caicedo had the hosts first attempt on goal after Sergio Garcia dispossessed Tito, but the Ecuadorian's shot fizzed wide.

Then it was Garcia's turn to shoot at goal, firing first-time at Tono from just inside the area. The Catalans came closest to scoring from a free-kick taken by former Rayo man Anaitz Arbilla. The right-back hammered the bar and then smashed the rebound wide when the ball dropped back towards him on the edge of the area.

Rayo eventually found their composure and began to hold onto the ball better, and soon found a goal. Insua burst forward from the left to midfield and played a smart one-two with Bueno outside the area before shooting below Kiko Casilla and into the far bottom corner, scoring his first ever league goal.

The left-back had another scoring opportunity before the break, but fired wide, and a minute later Casilla saved from Adrian Embarba.

Espanyol reasserted themselves in the second half, forcing Rayo back again, but were kept at bay by the visiting defence.

However, the Catalans upped the intensity as the game started to wind down. Tono was forced into a save by Garcia and a minute later Moreno beat the impressive goalkeeper with a curled effort from the right hand side of the area which flew into the top corner.

The home fans were lifted and urged their team to get a second, which almost arrived moments later.

Lucas Vazquez burst his way past a couple of Rayo players and Tono came rushing out of his goal to make himself big and block the forward's shot.

The final minutes were heated, with Espanyol players complaining about Rayo's time wasting, and with the game almost over Canas picked up successive yellow cards for repeatedly venting his fury at the referee.