Kalu Uche struck a hat-trick as the form book was thrown out the window at Estadi Cornella-El Prat where struggling Espanyol crushed Rayo Vallecano 5-1 to pick up a welcome victory.
Espanyol had claimed just two points from their previous five games, culminating in last weekend's 5-0 defeat at Real Madrid, whereas promoted Rayo had been charging up the La Liga standings after winning four of their last five matches.
However, it was the Barcelona-based side who took the spoils thanks to a blistering start which saw Uche and Phillippe Coutinho both net first-half braces.
Rayo pulled a goal back after the break through former Espanyol favourite Raul Tamudo but Uche completed his treble soon after to end any faint hopes of a comeback from the visiting side.
Espanyol had the points all but wrapped up inside the opening 23 minutes as they raced into a 3-0 lead.
Uche started the onslaught in the fifth minute when he headed in Javi Lopez's cross, and five minutes later the home side were celebrating again as Coutinho slotted home Sergio Garcia's pass from close range.
Rayo, who trailed 2-0 after 30 minutes to 10-man Racing Santander last weekend before recovering for a 4-2 win, tried to hit back and Miguel Michu, Tamudo and Raul Bravo all went close for the away side.
However, the next goal would go to the hosts, and with on-loan Brazilian Coutinho's fine effort to make it 3-0 Rayo's chances of another memorable comeback disappeared.
Both sides had decent chances to add to the scoreline in an entertaining game before Espanyol netted their fourth on the stroke of half-time when Uche picked up Garcia's pass before smashing a rising shot past Joel Robles from the edge of the area.
With his side facing an embarrassing loss, Rayo coach Jose Ramon Sandoval made all three of his substitions at the start of the second half and the move looked to have paid dividends when the visitors pulled a goal back in the 55th minute.
Tamudo, who spent 14 years at Espanyol prior to leaving in 2010, fought for a long ball forward with two defenders before firing a low shot past Francisco Casilla.
Rayo could not build on that goal though and 13 minutes later Espanyol added a fifth goal with Uche collecting the match ball in the process.
Garcia was again the creator as his pass set up Nigeria international Uche to fire past Casilla to seal a deserved win for the home side.
