Zaragoza 1 - Betis 0

Zaragoza: Luis García; Ponzio, Alvaro, Milito, Aranzábal (David Pirri 82'); Movilla, Zapater; Cani, Oscar González (Soriano 80'), Savio (Galletti 71'); David Villa. 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Doblas; Tais, Melli, Rivas, Luis Fernández; Cañas (Alfonso 62'), Marcos Assunçao; Joaquín, Edu, Fernando (Israel 67'); Oliveira. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Aranzábal for Toledo / Betis: Luis Fernández, Cañas for Juanito, Arzu.

Goals:
1-0. 42. Savio. Picked up pass on left of area and fired shot into near top corner.

Zaragoza beat Betis 1-0 to close to within two points of their opponents, albeit five places below them in the league table. The Andalusians hang on to sixth spot though thanks to poor results from the teams immediately below them. Víctor Muñoz's side had not won at home since the end of October when they beat Betis's neighbours Sevilla, but they got off to a good start with Rivas blocking a shot from Oscar González and Doblas saving well from a free kick by Savio, who was celebrating his 31st birthday. And the Brazilian midfielder helped himself to a present just before the break when he fired a shot wide of the keeper on a quick breakaway to open the scoring.

The visitors came back after the restart though, and were unlucky in the end not to save a point. Luis García saved well from Oliveira and Israel headed a cross from fellow substitute Alfonso against the post, and Alfonso put another effort just wide soon afterwards. But their best chance came in the dying minutes, Edu crashing a long shot against the upright with the keeper beaten. The three points were for the locals though, and after three defeats in a row at the Romareda stadium, the pressure is finally off their coach.