Deportivo 2 - Zaragoza 0

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Helder, Capdevila; Mauro Silva, Emerson; Víctor, Valerón (César 85'), Turu Flores (Fernando 70'); Diego Tristán (Makaay 78'). 4-2-3-1.
Zaragoza: Juanmi; Pablo, Lanna, Paco, Sundgren; Acuña, José Ignacio; Juanele, Montenegro (Garitano 70'), Vellisca (Ferrón 70'); Jamelli (Yordi 70'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Deportivo: Naybet, Capdevila, Emerson, Valerón, Turu Flores for Donato, Romero, César Sampaio, Djalminha, Fernando / Zaragoza: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Diego Tristán. Took Valerón's pass on right of area and shot over keeper.
2-0. 57. Diego Tristán. First time shot inside post after cross from Valerón.

Deportivo did their usual Saturday trick, moving back up to the top of the table to put pressure on the clubs playing after them. In the only game brought forward to Saturday this weekend, the Gallician side defeated improving Zaragoza with two superb Diego Tristán strikes either side of half time. Tristán made the difference in a game which otherwise was very equal, with both sides creating chances which they were unable to put away. Deportivo manager once again rotated his players for this game, although some changes were forced upon him by injuries, illness and international duty. Djalminha was out with a sore throat, Sampaio was called up by Brazil, and Donato and Romero were unfit, Romero dropping out after feeling an old injury during the pre-match warm up. Zaragoza's manager Luis Costa kept the same side that won the last two games in a row.

Deportivo have not lost at home since the beginning of January, and they were not prepared to do so in this game. This season they have only dropped two points, thanks to a late Luque goal for Mallorca, the only one that Molina has let in to date at the Riazor stadium. The Spanish international keeper was once again on good form for this game, although the only difficult save he had to make was from Zaragoza's most dangerous player, Toro Acuña, early in the second half. Deportivo could have taken the lead halfway through the first half when Turu's header beat Juanmi, but Lanna cleared the ball off the line. After Tristán's second goal the home side were prepared to sit on their lead, controlling the game without taking unnecessary risks. The result was a set back to Zaragoza's revival, and they drop back down to seventeenth, with games against Barcelona and Real Madrid coming up. Deportivo can only be caught by leaders Valencia, a point behind them pending their game against Rayo tomorrow.