Real Madrid 3 - Zaragoza 1

Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Samuel, Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Beckham (Celades 85'), Zidane; Figo (Gravesen 68'), Raúl, Solari; Ronaldo (Owen 67'). 4-2-3-1.
Zaragoza: Luis García; Ponzio, Alvaro, César (Aranzábal 22'), Toledo; Movilla, Zapater (Cuartero 60'); Cani (Galletti 74'), Oscar González, Savio; David Villa. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Michel Salgado, Samuel for Arbeloa, Pavón / Zaragoza: César, Toledo for Milito, Aranzábal.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Villa. Cut in past Helguera and Samuel and rounded Casillas to score.
1-1. 42. Raúl. Finished off quick passing move lifting ball over Luis García.
2-1. 55. Ronaldo. Header from close up after Figo shot blocked by keeper.
3-1. 85. Owen. Ran on to long headed pass and placed shot inside far post.

Real Madrid stayed in touch with the leaders after coming from behind to beat Zaragoza 3-1. Luxemburgo's side were lucky not to find themselves a man short when referee Losantos Omar let off Figo early on for a two footed tackle on César Jiménez which took the defender out of the game. But they found themselves a goal down when David Villa cut in from the left wing and beat Helguera and Samuel before rounding Casillas to score midway through the first half.

Losantos was to be the man who made all the headlines for some dubious decisions throughout the match, but later in the first half he correctly ruled out a strike from Zidane for offside and then turned down a penalty appeal for a foul on Raúl. Ronaldo and Zidane both missed chances before Raúl levelled the scores shortly before the break after a quick passing move between Helguera, Zidane and Ronaldo.

The visitors were left with ten men soon after the restart when Alvaro was sent off for a second bookable offence, and a few minutes later Ronaldo headed his side in front after Figo's shot was blocked by the keeper. Visiting manager Víctor Muñoz was clearly upset though that the referee didn't rule the goal out as Figo was in an offside position, and was even more so when Roberto Carlos and then Salgado hauled down Villa inside the penalty area, the second at least what appeared to be a clear foul.

Zaragoza could have equalised when Casillas made an acrobatic save from Galletti, but Luxemburgo brought on Gravesen and Michael Owen, and the English striker wrapped things up with a third goal near the end. And Owen could even have made it four if he had taken another chance in injury time. Madrid end the day though clear in second place, two points ahead of Valencia but still seven behind leaders Barcelona.