0-0: Whites Draw in La Romareda



Real Madrid did not find the way to beat the home keeper who eventually became the best player in his squad. The Whites were one man short over the last twenty minutes of play following Pavón's dismissal. However, Raul, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Zidane, Figo and Guti all had their chance to break through the local wall, but, in the end, none of them was lucky enough. Number 14 stood out as best player of the game on Queiroz' side on the very same day of his ninth anniversary as First Division player. The point earned in Zaragoza does not give Real the top position. Athletic Bilbao will be visiting Bernabeu next Saturday in another Liga encounter.

Lainez' performance progressed just at the same pace as Madrid's charges on his goal. Queiroz' boys seemed a shooting machine, but without hitting a target. The white control suffered a setback when Pavón was sent off after his second yellow with twenty minutes left. However, the command of the game remained in the visitors' hands as they keep dominating the play. Solari came on to rearrange the layout of the white team fifteen minutes before the end.

The late minutes of play were a constant exchange of strokes on each goal. Entering the field with five minutes lef, Portillo could not find the way to the net either. The point won in Zaragoza was not enough for Real to keep a temporary leadership on the table. Next encounter will be staged on Saturday against Athletic Bilbao at Bernabeu.

THE MATCH:
0 – REAL ZARAGOZA: Lainez; Rebosio, Milito, Toledo, Alvaro; Ponzio, Soriano, Corona (Inaki 86´), Savio (Cani 76´); Galletti and Villa.
0 – REAL MADRID: Casillas; Roberto Carlos, Michel Salgado, Raul Bravo, Pavon; Helguera, Guti, Figo, Zidane (Portillo 86´); Raul and Ronaldo (Solari 76´).
REFEREE: Mejuto Gonzalez (Asturias Referee Association). He sent Pavon off after two yellow cards (9´ and 71´). Yellow cards also to Ponzio (30´) and Helguera (41´).
OTHER FACTS: Liga Matchday 9. La Romareda Stadium, full. Several Real Zaragoza players, along with Míchel Salgado and Roberto Carlos, worn special shirts to cheer up Nacho (Savio Bortolini's consultant), who had suffered a car accident recently.