Zaragoza 4 - Betis 3

Zaragoza: César; Ponzio, Alvaro, Gabriel Milito, Cuartero (Chus Herrero 59'); Cani, Zapater, Movilla, Oscar González; Sergio García (Lafita 65'), Diego Milito (Ewerthon 46'). 4-4-2.
Betis: Doblas; Varela, Melli, Juanito, Luis Fernández; Rivera, Capi (Arzu 46'); Joaquín, Edu (Robert 46'), Xisco (Tardelli 46'); Dani. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Zapater, Movilla for Generelo, Celades / Betis: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 11. Diego Milito. Got on end of cross from Cani to poke ball down past Doblas.
2-0. 13. Oscar González. Turned ball in from close up after Sergio García crossed.
3-0. 15. Sergio García. Picked up Zapater pass and hit shot on turn past keeper.
4-0. 22. Diego Milito. Ran on to Sergio García pass to round keeper and score.
4-1. 23. Dani. Turned ball in on far post from Xisco's square pass.
4-2. 50. Dani. Latched on to loose ball and hooked shot past César.
4-3. 61. Dani. Header from close up after Melli headed down Joaquín corner.

Zaragoza closed up on the teams above them with a 4-3 win over Betis. Víctor Muñoz's side appeared to be heading for a record score when they went four goals up midway through the first half. Luis Aragonés was in the stands to watch the battle between Cani and Joaquín, and he saw the local winger get the edge when he set up Diego Milito for the opening goal with just over ten minutes on the clock. Two minutes later Oscar got a second goal after Sergio García crossed in from the wing, and Sergio himself scored the third after picking up a pass from Zapater. Diego Milito got his second of the night a few minutes later, again from Sergio's assist, and the game was already over. Or so it seemed!

Dani though had not read the script, and a minute after Milito's second goal he connected with a pass from Xisco to get one back. And within the first fifteen minutes after the interval he got two more to complete his hat-trick, the first after latching on to a loose ball and the second after Melli headed back a corner. Zaragoza had been caught napping, thinking more about their upcoming cup semi-final with Real Madrid rather than the business at hand, and Víctor had a game on his hands once again. The sending off of substitute Chus Herrero for a second bookable offence ten minutes from the end added to his problems, but in the end his side held on for a victory which kept them in the top half of the table and left their opponents just three points above the drop one.