Mallorca 2 - Zaragoza 1

Mallorca: Mono Burgos; Armando, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler (Siviero 78); Novo, Marcos, Francisco Soler, Ibagaza; Eto'o (Finidi 85'), Luque (Riera 67'). 4-4-2.
Zaragoza: Juanmi; Pablo, Aguado, Paco, Lanna (Cuartero 65'); Toro Acuña, José Ignacio; Montenegro (Aragón 65'), Jamelli, Vellisca (Marcos Vales 65'); Yordi. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: Mono Burgos, Armando, Francisco Soler, Eto'o for Leo Franco, Olaizola, Carreras, Biagini / Zaragoza: Montenegro for Juanele.

Goals:
1-0. 06. Luque. Header after good work by Ibagaza and Miguel Soler down left.
2-0. 38. Luque. Following up with head after Eto'o shot saved by Juanmi.
2-1. 93. Jamelli. Touched in from close up after through ball from right.

Two goals from Mallorca's young striker Luque were enough to give them the three points and keep up their push for a place in the Champions League next season. Luque struck twice in the first half, the first a well placed header after Ibagaza's chipped pass had sent Miguel Soler down the left wing, and the second an opportunist goal after Juanmi had blocked Eto'o's shot. It was enough to defeat a disappointing Zaragoza side who have only won once away from home all season, and who are now within four points of the drop zone. The visitors were missing their Argentinian striker Esnaider, who returned from international duty with his country with an injury, and Yordi kept his place up front, with Montenegro coming back in for the suspended Juanele. Esnaider's Argentinian team mate Mono Burgos took over in the Mallorca goal for the first time in almost 18 months after an injury to Leo Franco, which meant that there was one less non-EU place, Finidi dropping to the bench to make room for the rock star keeper. With Olaizola and Carreras suspended, Armando and Paco Soler also came in to the starting line up.

The match was preceded by a remembrance service for Mallorca's ex president Antonio Asensio who died last week, and Luque dedicated his first goal to his memory. The 20,000 crowd cheered on their team as they left their opponents with little space, and Zaragoza did not have a real shot at goal until after the half time break, when Jamelli put a shot wide. Their first effort on target though finally came twenty minutes into the half, but so weak was Montenegro's shot that Burgos decided not to use his hands, blocking it with his chest much to the delight of the crowd. Luis Costa made a triple change a couple of minutes later, but it was much of the same, except for a house special free kick from Acuña that rattled the goal post with Burgos well beaten. Jamelli finally got one back in injury time after Aragón took advantage of slack marking in the defence, the Brazilian's fourth goal in as many matches, but Luis Aragonés's side had it all sewn up long before and they stay level with Valencia, now four points clear of Barcelona in the last Champions League spot. Zaragoza are hoping that Esnaider recovers soon to get them back on track, and the club is making every effort to raise the cash to pay the purchase option on the on-loan Juventus striker. It will be money well spent: without him they would be on their way to the second division already.