From Ben Hayward, PA Sport, Barcelona

Moises Hurtado, Walter Pandiani and substitute Fernando Corominas scored the goals for the Catalans - finalists back in 1988 - as Werder finished the game with 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Tim Wiese after 57 minutes.

The Germans looked brighter early on and had the first shot of the game after four minutes.

Midfielder Clemens Fritz crossed for Miroslav Klose, but the Germany international striker's shot sailed well over the bar.

At the other end, Ivan De La Pena saw his free-kick headed away by Torsten Frings as Espanyol initially struggled.

The visitors were seeing more of the ball and Aaron Hunt crossed dangerously after 10 minutes, but there was nobody on the end of it and Espanyol were able to clear their lines.

The home side were struggling to get to grips with the Germans, but nevertheless looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

The Barcelona-based side thought they were ahead after 17 minutes, when Daniel Jarque cheekily back-heeled Francisco Rufete's long-range volley past Wiese.

Unfortunately for the Catalans, Jarque was clearly offside and the defender's strike was ruled out immediately. It was only a reprieve for Werder as Espanyol soon went ahead.

De La Pena's long-range shot was deflected away for a corner and from the resulting set-piece, the Espanyol playmaker slid the ball to Rufete, whose whipped cross was headed home in a crowded penalty area by Hurtado.

Werder almost hit back immediately, but Gorka Iraizoz produced a stunning save to punch Frings' powerful effort behind for a corner.

The German side continued to threaten from set-pieces and Gorka did well to save Naldo's header.

Frings came close again on 33 minutes with another close-range effort that went just wide.

The game was an open affair now and Espanyol defender Jesus Maria Lacruz tried his luck but his rasping volley was pushed away by Wiese.

De La Pena quickly fed Raul Tamudo in a quick counter attack as Espanyol started brightly after the break, but the captain's through-ball eluded everybody and Werder cleared.

The experienced duo were involved again as Espanyol doubled their lead after 50 minutes.

Tamudo won a corner on the left from where De La Pena curled the ball onto the head of Pandiani, who glanced it past Wiese for his 11th UEFA Cup goal of the season.

Already two goals up, Espanyol then also found themselves a man up after Wiese was shown the red card for bringing down Tamudo outside the area.

Seconds later, substitute goalkeeper Andreas Reinke denied Albert Riera from the resulting free-kick.

De La Pena almost put Espanyol three goals ahead after 68 minutes, but sent his powerful shot just over the bar.

Bremen were not out of it yet, though, and Diego's cross-shot went just wide of Gorka's far post.

But the home side continued to dominate and Lacruz shot just over after 76 minutes from 35 yards.

Reinke then got down well to save Rufete's low shot.

Rufete then left the pitch to a standing ovation, as Pandiani and De La Pena had done minutes earlier.

Those supporters soon had more to cheer about when Espanyol scored a late third goal after 88 minutes.

Riera charged down the left wing and squared for Corominas, who fired clinically past Reinke.