Zaragoza 0 - Albacete 1

Zaragoza: Valbuena; Cuartero, Milito, Alvaro, David Pirri; Ponzio, Soriano (Corona 62'); Galletti, Cani (Iban Espadas 73'), Savio; David Villa. 4-2-3-1.
Albacete: Almunia; Oscar Montiel, Pablo, Buades, Peña; Iván Díaz (Parri 58'), Viaud (Pablo García 87'), Álvaro Rubio (David Sánchez 70'), Delporte; Mikel, Pacheco. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Valbuena, Cuartero, Soriano for Lainez, Rebosio, Generelo / Albacete: Almunia, Viaud, Mikel for Roa, Parri, Aranda.

Goals:
0-1. 78. Mikel. Headed past Valbuena after keeper dropped cross in front of him.

A mistake by Valbuena gave Albacete a 0-1 win over their relegation rivals Zaragoza. The reserve keeper started the match in place of the injured Lainez, but he failed to hold on to Parri's free kick in the second half, dropping the ball on to the head of Mikel who gratefully headed it back into the net. Their first away win of the season takes the visitors up to fourteenth, three points above their opponents who are now only one place above the drop zone.

It was typical battle between two sides who are struggling for survival after being promoted last season, with neither making much inroad in the opposing defence. The home side had the better of the first half though, and Villa and Cani both tested visiting keeper Almunia, who was standing in for Roa who had not recovered from a bout of flu.

The Manchegans claimed a penalty when Milito appeared to handle in the area, but their claims were waved away by the referee. Otherwise though they hardly troubled Valbuena, and although they improved in the second half, the goal came as a complete surprise. Almunia saved well from an Alvaro header as the home side tried frantically for the equaliser, but it was not to be, and the fans called for the head of manager Paco Flores at the end of the game.