Bottom-placed
Espanyol
were left on the brink of being relegated from
La Liga
for the first time in 27 years after they were beaten 1-0 at home by fellow strugglers
Leganes
on Sunday.
Jonathan Silva struck the only goal early in the second half, controlling a long ball and entering the box unmarked to lash past Espanyol keeper Diego Lopez.
The Catalans had substitute
Jonathan Calleri
sent off in the 88th minute for two successive bookings, for a foul and then for arguing with the referee, although striker Raul de Tomas missed a glorious chance to level moments later when his effort flew over the bar.
Espanyol, who have been in the top-flight since winning promotion in 1994, are on 24 points after 34 games. They are 11 points adrift of the safety zone and their fate could be sealed on Monday if 17th-placed Eibar win at Sevilla.
Should they survive that test, they will need to beat champions
Barcelona
on Wednesday to avoid relegation.
Leganes stayed 19th but moved on to 28 points, seven from getting out of the drop-zone.
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