Villarreal 3 - Zaragoza 2

Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta (Josemi 35'), Quique Alvarez, Fuentes, Arruabarrena; Marcos Senna, Tacchinardi (Samoza 65'); Cani, José Marí (Marcos 74'), Riquelme; Diego Forlán. 4-2-3-1.
Zaragoza: César; Diogo (Movilla 46'), Gabriel Milito, Piqué, Juanfran; Ponzio, Zapater, Aimar, D'Alessandro (Lafita 74'); Ewerthon, Sergio García (Oscar González 60'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Fuentes, Cani, José Marí, Diego Forlán for Peña, Samoza, Nihat, Guille Franco / Zaragoza: Piqué, Ponzio, Sergio García for Sergio, Oscar González, Diego Milito.

Goals:
0-1. 22. Aimar. Poked shot past Viera after Juanfran laid ball in from left.
1-1. 48. Cani. Latched on to loose ball to volley shot past César.
2-1. 59. Diego Forlán. Half hit shot following corner which bounced over keeper.
3-1. 78. Riquelme (penalty). After Gabi Milito sent off for handling inside area.
3-2. 92. Piqué. Header down past keeper on far post from corner.

Zaragoza drop out of the European spots after losing 3-2 to a Villarreal side who had not scored a goal all season before this game. The visitors got off to a good start, and went ahead midway through the first half when Aimar turned the ball past Viera after good work by Sergio García and Juanfran. Riquelme hit the post directly from a corner soon afterwards, but Aimar and Ewerthon both wasted chances to put their side further ahead before the break.

An injury to Diogo meant that Víctor Fernández had to change his side around at half time, and before they could settle their hosts had equalised, Cani running in to score against his old side after the defence had failed to clear. A few minutes later Diego Forlán put his side in front with an attempted volley which bounced in to the ground and span up over the head of Viera.

Forlán brought a good save out of the keeper soon afterwards, and with a quarter of an hour to go Riquelme made it three from the penalty spot after Gabi Milito was shown a second yellow card for handling in the area. Piqué narrowed the gap with a header in injury time following a corner, but it was too late to change the result.