Zaragoza 1 - Málaga 0

Zaragoza: Lainez; Cuartero, Milito, Alvaro, David Pirri; Galletti (Generelo 85'), Ponzio (Yordi 68'), Movilla, Cani; David Villa, Drulic (Juanele 59'). 4-4-2.
Málaga: Arnau; Josemi, Juanito (Fernando Sanz 75'), Litos, Valcarce (Rojas 70'); Leko, Miguel Angel; Gerardo, Edgar (Romero 53'), Duda; Salva. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Lainez, Cuartero, David Pirri, Ponzio, Drulic for Valbuena, Rebosio, Toledo, Generelo, Dani / Málaga: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 72. David Villa. Picked up pass from Yordi and shot past advancing Arnau.

Zaragoza beat Málaga 1-0 to make it nine points from their last three games, taking them five points clear of the relegation zone. A good crowd of around 30,000 turned up to watch this match, some of whom were less than happy after queuing for several hours for cup final tickets and coming away empty handed, and as the game dragged on without too much excitement from either side their patience began to wear thin.

The performance of Rubinos Pérez didn't help either, the referee turning down a penalty appeal late in the half when Arnau brought down David Villa, although he made up for it a minute or two later when he also didn't see anything wrong when Milito held on to Salva in the other area. And before the break he left the visitors with ten men when he booked Duda for the second time in the match for a hard tackle on an opponent.

Even with the extra man though Zaragoza took some time to press their advantage, Villa eventually troubling Arnau with a glancing header and Movilla shooting just wide. And the fans had to wait until twenty minutes from the end for the goal, Villa picking up a pass from Yordi to beat the keeper. Rubinos kept the interest alive to the end, booking Gato Romero for diving in the area and refusing steadfastly to give a penalty at either end. The result ended Málaga's run of three victories in a row, and Víctor Muñoz's side are now only three points behind them.