Zaragoza 0 - Villarreal 1

Zaragoza: César; Ponzio, Alvaro, Gabriel Milito, Toledo (Aranzábal 65'); Celades, Zapater (Sergio García 80'); Cani, Ewerthon, Oscar González (Savio 58'); Diego Milito. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Viera; Josemi, Quique Alvarez, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Arruabarrena; Tacchinardi, Josico; Cazorla, Guayre (José Marí 19'), Roger (Sorín 70'); Diego Forlán (Héctor Font 83'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Celades, Zapater, Ewerthon, Oscar González for Movilla, Generelo, Sergio García, Savio / Villarreal: Tacchinardi, Guayre, Roger for Marcos Senna, Guille Franco, Riquelme.

Goals:
0-1. 44. Roger. Lifted free kick over defensive wall into far corner from right of area.

Villarreal moved back up to sixth spot pending Sunday's games after a 0-1 win at Zaragoza. Pellegrini rested a few of his key players for the midweek Champions League game with Inter Milan, in particular Riquelme, Marcos Senna, José Marí and Sorín, with Roger and Guayre getting rare starts. José Marí had to come on in the first half though after Guayre picked up an injury.

The home side also had other things on their minds, with the cup final only twelve days away, but they started well and were unlucky not to take the lead in a first half which they dominated throughout. Oscar, Ewerthon and Diego Milito all went close, a confident Viera saved well from a Ponzio free kick, and Josico cleared a header from Alvaro off the line.

Up to that point the visitors had not troubled César at all, but just a minute before the break Roger caught the keeper out with a well struck free kick to open the scoring. Víctor Muñoz's side ontinued to push forward after the restart, and Ewerthon, Savio and Diego Milito all failed to beat Viera again. But in the end Forlán could have given his side a bigger win had he not hit the post in the final minutes.