Zaragoza 2 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Zaragoza: Juanmi; Gurenko, Aguado, Paco, Pablo; José Ignacio, Acuña; Montenegro (Garitano 72'), Jamelli (Yordi 77'), Vellisca (Ferrón 80'); Esnaider. 4-2-3-1.
Bilbao: Lafuente; Larrainzar (Yeste 58'), Roberto Rios, Oscar Vales, Larrazábal; Orbaiz, Alkiza; Tiko, Etxeberria (Merino 58'), Felipe; Urzaiz (Ezquerro 75'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Jamelli for Marcos Vales / Bilbao: Larrainzar, Larrazábal, Orbaiz, Tiko for Lacruz, Del Horno, Julen Guerrero, Javi González.

Goals:
1-0. 18. Jamelli. Following up after Lafuente pushed out Montenegro's shot.
1-1. 19. Tiko. Picked up loose ball and beat Juanmi with shot from 25 yards.
2-1. 28. Esnaider. Placed header wide of keeper after cross from Vellisca.
2-2. 73. Urzaiz. Header down across keeper after Alkiza's chipped pass.

Zaragoza and Bilbao cancelled each other out in a match which both needed to win to achieve their diverse objectives this season, Zaragoza to move into a safe position in the league and Bilbao to push for the UEFA spots. Bilbao's manager Txetxu Rojo returned to the Romareda stadium for the first time in the league since leaving the club to take up the irresistible offer from the team he has supported all his life, and he received a warm welcome from the fans. At times he must wish that he never left, with the Basque side a disappointment this year under his charge, and Zaragoza doing a lot worse since he left, and probably looking for a new manager next season.

The goals came thick and fast early on, with Lafuente leaving the ball at Jamelli's feet after failing to hold on to Montenegro's shot, and Tiko taking advantage of Guerrero's absence through suspension to stake a claim for a place in the side with a well taken goal a minute later. Vellisca delighted the local fans with a dribble down the left wing before placing the ball cleanly on Esnaider's head for him to reestablish the lead with his seventh goal since joining the club in the winter, curiously all of which have come at home. Juanmi saved from Urzaiz and Rios before half time, but then Zaragoza took over with Lafuente blocking efforts from Esnaider and Montenegro.

Then as so often happens, Bilbao scored against the run of play, Alkiza finding Urzaiz's head with a pinpoint pass. It was the striker's eleventh of the season in all competitions, coming just as Camacho left him out of the national team, but unfortunately he had to leave the field soon afterwards with a hamstring injury which could leave him out of action for several weeks. Ezquerro has just come back though from a long injury, and he took over the front position for the rest of the match, forcing Juanmi to make another good save near the end. There was still time for one last attack from Zaragoza, and Lafuente redeemed himself for his earlier mistake somehow stopping Ferrón in the last minute. But this was always going to be a draw, and both teams went away feeling they should have done better.