Final phase, semi final first leg

Zaragoza 6 - Real Madrid 1

Zaragoza: César; Ponzio, Alvaro, Gabriel Milito, Zapater; Celades (Movilla 90'), Generelo; Cani (Sergio García 82'), Ewerthon, Oscar González; Diego Milito. 4-4-2.
Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Iván Helguera (Pavón 43'), Roberto Carlos; Gravesen (Zidane 65'); Beckham, Baptista (Cassano 67'), Guti, Robinho; Ronaldo. 4-1-4-1.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Diego Milito. Picked up cross from Ewerthon and fired in angled shot.
2-0. 22. Diego Milito. Collected quick throw and rounded Ramos to score.
3-0. 34. Diego Milito. Got on end of Cani free kick to head down past Casillas.
3-1. 37. Baptista. Steered header wide of César from Beckham free kick.
4-1. 56. Diego Milito. Ran on unmarked to head Cani's corner wide of keeper.
5-1. 60. Ewerthon. Ran on to Diego Milito pass to poke low shot past Casillas.
6-1. 83. Ewerthon. Dipping volley from left of area into far top corner of net.

An extraordinary result in the first semi-final, with Zaragoza running out 6-1 winners over Real Madrid to virtually secure their place in the final. Diego Milito scored four and Ewerthon two more to hand Madrid their biggest defeat in six years.

Milito opened the scoring after picking up a cross from Ewerthon on the quarter hour mark to fire a shot across Casillas in to the top of the net, and added a second a few minutes later following a quick throw in, rounding Sergio Ramos and poking the ball wide of the keeper.

Sergio Ramos headed wide at the other end, but almost immediately Milito completed his hat-trick, losing his marker to head Cani's free kick down in to the net. Madrid did get one back three minutes later, Baptista heading home his first goal for several weeks from a cleverly floated Beckham free kick, but Casillas had to be at his best to keep Oscar González from scoring a fourth before the break.

López Caro had to replace the injured Iván Helguera with Pavón shortly before half time, but things didn't improve for his side after the restart, Milito becoming the first player to score four past Madrid since Barcelona's Samitier did so in 1957 with another header from Cani's corner.

Baptista felt himself unlucky to have a penalty appeal turned down, but the Madrid defence continued to be a disaster and Ewerthon helped himself to another goal on the hour mark after Diego Milito put him through. Roberto Carlos cleared another effort from his fellow compatriot soon afterwards, but the Brazilian forward completed the "set" seven minutes from the end with a spectacular dipping shot from outside of the area, the first time that Casillas had let in six in his professional career.

It was an emphatic end to Madrid's run of seven wins in a row, and they need a miracle in the return leg next week if they are reach the final.

Espanyol 2 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Espanyol: Gorka Iraizoz; Armando Sá (De la Peña 58'), Jarque, Lopo, Domi; Moisés Hurtado, Edu Costa; Juanfran, Luis García, Jofre (Corominas 72'); Pandiani. 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Juanma, Andrade, Capdevila; Víctor (De Guzman 82'), Coloccini, Duscher, Munitis; Rubén Castro (Sergio 61'), Arizmendi (Diego Tristán 46'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 05. Rubén Castro (penalty). After Arizmendi fell under challenge from Lopo.
1-1. 56. Luis García (penalty). After ball hit Andrade on arm inside area.
2-1. 90. Pandiani. Latched on to loose ball in area and fired low shot past Molina.

The second semi-final is finely poised after Espanyol came back from a goal down to beat Deportivo 2-1. The match was not without controversy though, referee Medina Cantalejo awarding a dubious penalty to each side and sending off Coloccini in the second half. Medina first upset the local fans when he awarded the Galicians a spot kick after Arizmendi fell theatrically in the area under a challenge from Lopo in the fifth minute, Rubén Castro slotting the resulting penalty past Gorka Iraizoz. The visitors could have extended their lead after that, with Arizmendi, Castro, Munitis and Duscher all putting the keeper to the test.

For most of the first half the Catalans only created problems from a couple of corners, central defenders Lopo and Jarque heading wide. But shortly before the break ex Deportivo striker Pandiani fired a shot against the post, and ten minutes after the restart they levelled the scores with another controversial penalty decision after Juanfran's intended pass hit Andrade on the arm at point blank range, Luis García converting the kick.

A quarter of an hour in to the second half Deportivo were left with ten men when Coloccini (playing in an unfamiliar midfield role) was shown a straight red for a high tackle on Jofre, and Caparrós immediately sacrificed a forward to bring on Sergio. Lotina brought on De la Peña, but the visitors held on until the last minute when Luis García's shot came back off Juanfran into the path of Pandiani, who drilled the ball past Molina. That gave the locals the edge for a second leg which still does not have a set date, the fixture pending the outcome of Espanyol's UEFA cup tie against Schalke.