Villarreal 1 - Zaragoza 1

Villarreal: Unanua, Xavi Roca, Quique Alvarez, Unai, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Craioveanu 80'), Amor, Cagna, Calleja (Berruet 73'); Víctor, Bruno Marioni (Javier Gracia 67'). 4-4-2.
Zaragoza: Juanmi; Rebosio, Paco (Garitano 60'), Lanna, Sundgren (Cuartero 43'); Acuña, José Ignacio; Juanele (Yordi 65'), Montenegro, Vellisca; Esnaider. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: López Vallejo, Jorge López, Calleja for Unanua, Berruet, Gracia / Zaragoza: Lanna, Acuña, Juanele for Aguado, Aragón, Jamelli.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Quique Alvarez. Finished off after Juanmi failed to hold on to cross.
1-1. 87. José Ignacio. Headed home corner from left.

A late headed goal by José Ignacio gave Zaragoza a point and kept up their recent revival, which has seen them undefeated for the last five games. Luis Costa's side are now lying thirteenth in the table with a game in hand, a far cry from early season when they were wallowing at the bottom of the first division. The introduction of Juan Eduardo Esnaider has also revitalized the team, and although he did not score this time his work rate was fantastic, and he went close on a number of occasions including a shot in the first half that just went wide. Toro Acuña and Juanele passed late fitness tests and came in to Costa's side, along with Lanna who was facing an old team mate of his from his days at Sampdoria, Villarreal's manager Víctor Muñoz.

Víctor went back to his home team line up with four in midfield, making his now habitual changes of wingers Jorge López and Calleja for Berruet and Gracia, with López Vallejo returning from injury in goal. In fact his record away from home is better than at the Madrigal stadium, where his side have not won now since early November. They return home fresh from two away victories that has taken them to the doors of Europe, and had they won this game they would now be lying fifth in the league. Even so they end the year in eighth, a more than satisfactory situation given that they were promoted this year. They held the lead for three quarters of this match after Quique Alvarez scored his first goal in the first division, Juanmi misjudging a corner from the right and the ball falling to the feet of the defender, who found the net through a crowd of players.

Most of the chances though fell to the visitors, with López Vallejo diving full stretch to tip Acuña's long shot round the post early on, and Montenegro shooting wide later in the half. Costa lost two defenders either side of half time, with first Sundgren and then Paco leaving the field with injuries, and in between Juanmi produced the save of the day from a powerful shot from Unai, who scored under similar circumstances the week before. Víctor Muñoz went back to his five man defence with twenty minutes to go, but José Ignacio spoilt his day with his fourth goal of the season. A draw was a fair result, and both teams can take a well earned rest with a good job done.