Espanyol, who finished 12^th in La Liga last season, named five first team regulars in their opening line up.

Daniel Jarque, Moises Hurtado, Ivan de la Pena and Spanish internationals Luis Garcia and skipper Raul Tamudo all started.

Espanyol: Chica, Victor Ruiz, Didac, de la Pena, Luis Garcia, Callejon, Coro, Jarque, Moises, Tamudo, C Alvarez.

Swansea made an encouraging start as Albert Serran, Jordi Gomez and Fede Bessone settled in well against their old club.

Fellow Spaniard Gorka Pintado tested Chica early on from close range, but the Espanyol 'keeper made an easy save.

The Swansea defence had two big scares in the 10^th and 11^th minute, however. Gomez lost possession with a stray pass and it took a superb tackle from skipper Garry Monk to deny Raul Tamudo on the edge of the area.

A minute later and Tamudo was in again on the edge of the area, but Dorus de Vries managed to get an important touch to his lob as the ball dropped just wide of the post, much to the delight ofthe 500-strong Jack following enjoying soccer in the sun.

Swansea's best chance came in the 17^th minute after Bessone and Andrea Orlandi had started to cause Espanyol problems down the left.

And it was from an Orlandi cross that found Mark Gower steaming in at the far post. The summer signing from Southend connected well with a half-volley, but his goal-bound shot was blocked four yards out by Didac.

It sparked a good spell for the Swans who were growing in confidence with every pass.

And they nearly took the lead in the 23^rd minute when Pintado flicked a ball into the path of Gomez who was brought down on the edge of the box by Ruiz. With Gomez clean through, the defender was lucky to get away with just a yellow card.

From the free-kick, Chica saved Gomez's curling effort.

But Espanyol regrouped and ended the half strong, taking the lead in the 39^th minute when Raul Tamudo met a free-kick from Garcia with a header which gave de Vries no chance.

Having matched the La Liga side for most of the first-half, Swansea didn't deserve to go in at the interval a goal down.

Half-time: Espanyol 1 Swans 0

Swansea made wholesale changes for the second-half with just Joe Allen, who had come on for Owain Tudur Jones after 35 minutes, and de Vries continuing.

Swansea: (second-half): de Vries, Tate, Painter, Lawrence, Williams, MacDonald, Pratley, Allen, Britton, Butler, Bauza.

Espanyol, who made wholesale changes themselves, dominated the early possession before young Shaun Macdonald found himself racing on to a loose pass in the 59^th minute.

As the 'keeper came racing out, the Welsh Under-21 international saw his hurried chip fall just wide of the far post.

The home side made their possession count though as they took a 65^th minute lead via substitute Jonathan.

Dorus de Vries had managed to make a good save from Rufete's first effort, but Jonathan followed up to scramble the ball home.

Swansea responded in the right manner, however, as Tom Butler cut in from the left with a great run before forcing Javi Ruiz into a fine save.

Butler tried his luck from further out a minute later, but Ruiz was well positioned again to make the save.

De Vries was forced to make a great save to deny Jonathan at the other end with 71 minutes gone, but had no chance with Espanyol's third two minutes later.

Former Man City star Albert Riera found himself in space inside the area and the eight million euro target for Liverpool back-healed a superb effort beyond de Vries as Alan Tate tried to get the block in.

Riera grabbed his second in the 88^th minute with another superb finish to add a few more euros to his valuation.