Zaragoza 4 - Villarreal 1

Zaragoza: César; Diogo, Ayala, Pavón, Cuartero (Paredes 55'); Sergio García, Zapater (D'Alessandro 76'), Luccin, Oscar González; Diego Milito (Gabi 68'), Oliveira. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta, Fuentes, Cygan, Capdevila; Marcos Senna (Mavuba 70'), Bruno; Cazorla (Rossi 46'), Cani, Pires; Tomasson (Nihat 63'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Pavón, Cuartero, Sergio García, Oscar González for Sergio, Juanfran, Gabi, Aimar / Villarreal: Tomasson for Guille Franco.

Goals:
1-0. 37. Oliveira. Got on the end of Zapater cross to head down past Viera.
2-0. 49. Oscar. Beat keeper after Bruno gave ball away to Diego Milito.
3-0. 65. Milito (penalty). After Senna barged over Sergio García inside area.
4-0. 78. Sergio García. Controlled lifted pass from Oscar to beat keeper.
4-1. 81. Pires. Latched on to short Nihat pass to shoot low past César.

Last week's second placed side Villarreal lost 4-1 to Zaragoza, a result which came as a relief for under pressure local coach Víctor Fernández. The game got off to a ding-dong start, Diego Milito and Zapater going close for the home side and Pires and Senna replying for the visitors. But with eight minutes to go to the break Oliveira headed Zaragoza into the lead from Zapater's cross, and four minutes in to the second half Oscar got a simple second after Bruno gave the ball away to Milito near the area.

A few minutes later the referee turned down a penalty appeal after the ball hit Cygan on the arm, but soon afterwards he did point to the spot after Senna pushed over Sergio García, Milito converting the kick to make it three. Nihat fired a free kick just over at the other end, but Sergio García got a fourth for the locals after Oscar put him through. Pires bundled in a late consolation and Rossi went close to a second, but even though Pavón was sent off near the end for bringing down Rossi it was far too late to react.