Real Madrid 1 - Zaragoza 0

Madrid: Casillas; Miguel Torres, Cannavaro, Iván Helguera, Raúl Bravo; Gago, Diarra; Raúl (Robinho 15'), Higuaín, Reyes (De la Red 68'); Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.
Zaragoza: César; Piqué, Gabriel Milito, Sergio, Juanfran; Celades (Movilla 54'), Zapater; D'Alessandro (Oscar González 68'), Ewerthon (Sergio García 54'), Aimar; Diego Milito. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Miguel Torres, Raúl Bravo, Diarra, Higuaín for Michel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Emerson, Guti / Zaragoza: Celades for Diogo.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Van Nistelrooy. Turned ball in from close up after Higuaín crossed in.

Real Madrid capitalized on the defeats by Sevilla and Barcelona to beat Zaragoza 1-0 and move level with the Blaugrana in the table. After all the week's goings on, Fabio Capello put out a much changed side, with youngster Miguel Torres getting the nod over Mejía at right back (Ramos and Salgado were suspended), Higuaín in the starting line up and Beckham and Ronaldo in the stands. And they dominated the opening minutes, Diarra shooting wide and Reyes going close with a free kick before Van Nistelrooy got on the end of Higuain's cross to score from close up shortly before half time.

Madrid kept up the attack after that, César saving from Higuaín twice either side of half time, Van Nistelrooy getting tackled by Gabi Milito as he lined up to score, and Reyes getting himself in a mix up when put through in front of goal. Diego Milito couldn't control the ball in time when put through at the other end, but substitute De la Red and then Robinho both failed to find the target when they broke free later on. Zaragoza came close to saving a point late on though when Piqué's looping header from a corner bounced down off the crossbar, but it was not to be, and they drop out of the top four as a result.