Zaragoza 2 - Alavés 2

Zaragoza: Juanmi; Pablo, Paco, Aguado, Vellisca; José Ignacio, Acuña; Juanele, Jamelli (Montenegro 75'), Garitano (Marcos Vales 80'); Yordi. 4-2-3-1.
Alavés: Herrera; Contra, Karmona, Téllez, Ibon Begoña; Astudillo, Desio, Pablo (Tomic 65'), Geli (Eggen 85'); Jordi Cruyff, Javi Moreno (Magno 88'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Aguado, Juanele, Garitano for Lanna, Sundgren, Marcos Vales / Alavés: Geli for Djolonga.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Javi Moreno. Headed Geli's free kick past Juanmi.
0-2. 38. Desio. Direct free kick in to top corner of net.
1-2. 41. Jamelli Strong shot after receiving pass from Juanele.
2-2. 57. Yordi. From close range after pinpoint pass from Juanele.

A game of two halves, in which the visitors dominated the first and the home side came back in the second for what was in the end a fair result. With both teams facing trips to East Europe next Thursday for their respective UEFA cup ties, the game was brought forward to Saturday to give them time to prepare. Zaragoza manager Juan Manuel Lillo brought back three of his regulars for this match, with Aguado returning after a one match suspension and Vellisca dropping back to left back again to make room for Gaditano. Yordi kept his place up front, with Peternac once again on the bench, alongside new signing Montenegro, who came in for Radimov who had a cold. Alavés manager Mané went back to his first line up of the season after losing badly last week, with Geli coming back in midfield and Ibon moving back to replace Djolonga, who did not have the greatest of debuts in the last match.

Alavés came out right from the start, with Javi Moreno forcing Juanmi to make a great save as early as the third minute. The striker went one better though a short time later, opening the scoring with a fine header. Zaragoza battled back after the goal, with Jamelli, Garitano and Juanele going close, but Desio put the visitors further in front from a direct free kick. Jamelli got one back just before the interval to keep his team in it, and 12 minutes into the second half Yordi opened his account in the league after Juanele set him up. Lillo brought on Montenegro, and the Argentinian showed that he was worth a place in the team with some nice touches. Alavés defender Téllez, a leading villain, was lucky to stay on the pitch after bringing down José Ignacio from behind, referee Amusategui Roca deciding not to show him a second yellow card after giving him a first one earlier in the game. That could have swung things Zaragoza's way, but in the end the status quo was maintained, and Alavés stay two points above Zaragoza, who have yet to win this season.