The following campaign, Urzaiz joined Espanyol and exploded as a first-rate attacking player, netting 13 top division goals for a side that eventually finished fourth, including a hat-trick against former club Rayo Vallecano for a 4-2 home success on 14 April 1996 [REF].
The form of a revived Urzaiz attracted interest and in the summer of 1996 he joined Athletic de Bilbao.