Getafe struck two late goals to beat Espanyol in La Liga this evening and get the better of the Catalans.

Espanyol were keen to gain revenge following that cup exit and had most of the play in this match, but the Catalans were unable to avenge that disappointment with goals and Getafe took all three points thanks to strikes from Francisco Javier Casquero and Pedro Rios in the last 12 minutes.

Getafe beat Espanyol 2-0 at home in the first leg of the teams' cup tie and secured passage to the next round of that competition with a professional 1-1 draw at Cornella.

Coach Michel said he would employ exactly the same game plan in this match to stifle Mauricio Pochettino's side.

But the locals, with Raul Tamudo restored for only his third league start following a bitter contract row with the club, looked dangerous early on and almost went ahead after 10 minutes, when Ivan Alonso headed against the post following a corner.

Jose Callejon and Tamudo missed good chances with tame efforts later on in the half as Espanyol looked to turn their superiority into goals.

But Getafe were defending well and had their moments in attack, too.

Adrian Gonzalez came close after half an hour, but was frustrated as Javi Chica got in a crucial block.

The two teams went in on level terms at the break and that was probably about fair, although Espanyol will have felt they should have done more with their possession.

And if the first half was poor, the second period was a dull and insipid affair.

Neither side looked likely to score at all as the game wore on and a draw seemed the most probable outcome.

Espanyol looked slightly more dangerous and created a couple of half chances with 10 minutes left.

First, Ivan Alonso drilled a low shot wide of the target, and then substitute Ben Sahar blasted a fierce effort just over the bear.

That woke the crowd up, but they will not have liked what came next as Getafe took the lead after 78 minutes.

Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni could only spill Roberto Soldado's shot and Casquero - praised by Michel this week for his fine performances of late - was on hand to slot home the rebound from close range.

Espanyol, having seen their unbeaten seven-match run ended with a loss at Sporting Gijon before the international break, were now staring another defeat in the face.

The Catalans tried to come back, but Getafe were well on top now and Manu Del Moral should have made it two when he fired wide with only Kameni to beat.

But Getafe duly wrapped up the points in added time, when Pedro Rios headed home Manu's cross to kill off Espanyol and seal a fine win for the Madrid-based outfit.

The win sees Getafe move above Espanyol (ninth) into 10th place after 11 rounds of matches.