Zaragoza 3 - Las Palmas 1

Zaragoza: Juanmi; Rebosio (Cuartero 65'), Paco, Aguado, Sundgren; Aragón, José Ignacio; Montenegro, Jamelli (Yordi 65'), Vellisca; Esnaider (Peternac 89'). 4-2-3-1.
Las Palmas: Nacho González; Edu Alonso (Baiano 83'), Alvaro, Olías, Jaime Molina, Angel (Moreno 83'); Jorge (Toddi 75'), Samways, Josico; Guayre, Orlando. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Rebosio, Sundgren, Aragón, Esnaider for Pablo, Lanna, Acuña, Juanele / Las Palmas: Olías, Jaime Molina, Jorge for Schurrer, Paqui, Pablo Lago.

Goals:
1-0. 65. José Ignacio. Slid ball past keeper after lobbed pass from Esnaider.
1-1. 69. Olías (penalty). After Cuartero fouled Angel in area.
2-1. 73. Esnaider. From close range after Aragón's cross deflected off defender.
3-1. 79. Yordi. Volleyed into net after Cuartero laid ball back from right.

It had to happen. The king is back at Zaragoza, and the smiles are back on the fans' faces. Zaragoza have been struggling since Savo Milosevic left them in the summer, missing his goal scoring ability as they languished down in the nether reaches of the table. But the signing of one of their old boys, Juan Eduardo Esnaider, whose time with the Aragón side coincided with some of their most glorious moments, including the winning of the Cupwinners Cup final against Arsenal, has restored faith to the club. Wearing number 15, Esnaider galvanised his side single-handedly in his first match back, laying on a first goal for José Ignacio halfway through the second half with a superb chipped pass, and after Olías had pulled one back for Las Palmas from the penalty spot, scoring the second himself with a typical striker's goal, poking the ball past González after it rolled loose in front of goal.

Esnaider was one of four changes in Luis Costa's side, with Rebosio finally getting a chance after a serious injury to right back Pablo, Sundgren returning from injury and the ever reliable Aragón replacing the injured Acuña. Juanele failed a late fitness test, and Jamelli, who was expected to be the man making room for Esnaider, moved out to the right wing. Las Palmas were also not at full strength, with Olías and Jaime Molina replacing Schurrer and Paqui in defence, who were both sent off last week. A bout of flu has also left the squad weakened, although Angel and Orlando both recovered enough to play.

The first half of the game produced no goals, although there were plenty of opportunities, with both keepers being called upon to earn their pay. Nacho González saved from Aragón and then José Ignacio in quick succession, and Juanmi struggled to keep out a shot from Jorge. Las Palmas were not taking prisoners, and Esnaider was constantly being close marked, in both senses of the word at times as he fought to find the open spaces. With ten minutes to go the current owner of the Zaragoza number nine shirt Yordi sent a message to the Argentinian that he was not going to get it all his own way, coming off the bench to volley home a great goal. Then a few minutes later Costa took off his new striker so that the fans could applaud him. His side were on the way back, leapfrogging their opponents on goal average to move up to twelfth in the league. Season ticket sales should soar in the next few days.