Atlético Madrid 0 - Zaragoza 2

Atlético: Toni; Njegus (Dani 77'), Amaya, Hibic, Fagiani; Aguilera (Cubillo 81'), Mena, Hugo Leal, Luque; Fernando Torres (Wicky 33'), Salva. 4-4-2.
Zaragoza: Lainez; Pablo, Aguado, Rebosio, Sundgren; Toro Acuña, José Ignacio; Ferrón (Gurenko 68'), Jamelli (Montenegro 83'), Garitano (Cuartero 68'); Yordi. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 29. Toro Acuña. Bent free kick round wall after Amaya sent off for fouling Yordi
0-2. 69. Jamelli. Won ball back on edge of area and slipped shot wide of keeper.

Zaragoza took an important step towards their first cup final in seven years with a two goal victory at Atlético Madrid. The last time they won the cup, beating Celta on penalties, was in 1994, and they went on to win the Cupwinners Cup the season after with that famous goal by Nayim from the halfway line in the last minute against Arsenal. Their centre forward at that time was Juan Eduardo Esnaider, and although he is now back at the club, he was not available for this match having been sent off at the weekend and banned for four games. Luis Costa was also missing his two wingers Juanele and Vellisca, and Yordi, Ferrón and Garitano were given a place in the starting line up. Their opponents Atlético were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of failing to gain promotion back to the first division, and many of the loyal fans who had supported them all season turned up to animate them. However a small group of radical supporters, the Frente Atlético, remained down below the stands as a protest as the match kicked off, with the only sign of their presence a black ribbon tied to the seats. Caretaker manager Carlos García Cantarero put out a strong attacking line up, with Spain's new wonder-kid Fernando Torres keeping his place up front alongside the second division's top scorer Salva.

Both of Atlético's strikers got shots on target in the opening minutes without causing too much trouble for Láinez, and the number two keeper also had to fist out a powerful free kick from Luque. But then in the twentieth minute the game was interrupted as the mad hordes of the Frente Atlético made their appearance throwing a series of objects on to the pitch, including smoke bombs and various types of soft balls, their twisted message being that the players were missing that particular part of the anatomy. Referee Carmona Méndez, standing in for the injured López Nieto, was forced to halt the match for five minutes as the players gathered in the centre of the pitch, and civil war virtually broke out between supporters as the rest of the peaceful fans booed and chanted "fuera, fuera" to the disruptive element. The same bunch of yobs had thrown eggs at their keeper Toni at the end of last season in similar shameful incidents, and Zaragoza captain Aguado was praised after the match for saving the Atlético keeper from possible physical harm by choosing to defend that goal in the first half after winning the toss, knowing that some sort of protest was going to take place.

Eventually though things calmed down and Láinez took his place at that end. But the break had spoilt Atlético's concentration, and only a few minutes later Amaya had to bring down Yordi just outside the penalty area as he got free and advanced on goal. Carmona immediately produced the red card to the Atlético defender, and to make matters worse, Acuña bent the resulting free kick around the defensive wall and past Toni in to the net. Atlético's fans slumped in their seats, their spirit broken, and after Cantarero took off Torres to bring on another defender, Yordi almost extended the visitors' lead just before half time. There was a brief reaction early in the second half, with Láinez making an incredible one-handed save from Salva, but Jamelli put Zaragoza further in front, running through the defence and intercepting an attempted headed clearance by Hibic to steer the ball wide of Toni.

Both teams had chances after that, with Jamelli heading against the bar from close range and Luque going close twice, but Costa packed his midfield with players and snuffed out any further danger. The second leg takes place in Zaragoza on Saturday, and they must be hoping that their opponents if they reach the final will be Champions League qualifiers Barcelona, as in that case they will be assured of a place in the UEFA cup whatever the result. Atlético need a miracle in that match to save their season, but president Jesus Gil reacted stoically, saying that he would not resign until the team were promoted and he himself is cleared of all charges of wrongdoing. On this performance from Atlético, and with the prosecution in his fraud case demanding a seventeen year jail sentence, it looks like he will be around for a long time to come.