 Moscardo attacked from Lleida and the Italians occupied Les Borges Blanques on January 5.The same day, the Republican army started a surprise attack in Extremadura towards Peñarroya in order to divert Nationalist forces, but the offensive was halted after a few days and the Nationalist offensive in Catalonia continued.On January 9, the Moscardo's Aragon Army Corps joined Gambara at Mollerusa and broke the northern part of the front.