Eldense arrived at La Romareda with a clear plan: start strong, collect points, and sharpen their edge as the league’s pace quickens. Zaragoza faced a test at home, while Deportivo displayed the confident style that belongs to a squad still chasing ascent and the rewards that come with fewer mistakes. The encounter pitted two ambitious teams against a backdrop of rising expectations as both aimed at returning to top-flight football.
Leader tests Eldense
The match unfolded against a backdrop of tactical intensity. Two managers, Fernando Estévez for Eldense and Fran Escribá for Zaragoza, had crafted nearly identical strategic foundations, making early tempo a scarce commodity. The opening period moved with a measured, almost lull-like rhythm, punctuated only by flashes of ingenuity from both sides and a couple of strokes of fortune that favored the home side. Zaragoza seized a fleeting opening, while Eldense sought the sharper edge that their pressing game could deliver. The game’s balance tipped a bit in favor of Zaragoza, though Eldense remained resolute.
Early in the action, a dangerous moment almost gave Eldense the lead when a loose ball rolled toward the goal area. A quick reaction by Andone kept the scoreboard intact, and the long-range attempt from German Valera, sent from the right, tested the goalkeeper with a volley that rose just over the crossbar as Guille Vallejo moved emphatically to cover the near post. The host defense responded with composed lines, denying Eldense another clear path to goal.
As the match progressed, Eldense found themselves facing a moment of misfortune. A high ball bounced awkwardly, and a misplayed clearance left the team exposed. Cristiano Álvarez read the situation calmly, snuffing out the danger with decisive positioning as patience became a weapon for Zaragoza. The visitors did not show the same calm in their finishing, and the moment drifted away with little reward as the ball failed to hit the target when options appeared viable.
The visitors then endured a moment where the ball took an unfortunate trajectory, skewing the momentum toward Zaragoza after a poor back-pass. A deliberate decision from Jair to Antony a quick one-two with a teammate created pressure, yet the finishing touch never arrived with the level of precision the moment demanded. The defensive lines held firm, and the half ended with both teams still searching for the precise spark that would unlock a stubborn block of defense.
In a moment that would prove pivotal, a cross from the right found the defense in trouble and bounced in a way that produced a highly awkward clearance. The ball drifted toward Iván Azón, who found the back of the net after a fortunate deflection. The realization of that moment was twofold: it was a goal born from adversity and a reminder of how a small misstep can alter a game’s trajectory. Vallejo nearly saved the shot, but Azón’s composed finish stood as the difference as he finished with precision and control.
Half of the game had passed when fans finally began to sense a clearer path for Zaragoza. Eldense’s build-up play remained vigilant; their forward line had flashes of capability, but the decisive finish eluded them. The match built into a test of nerves as both sides pressed with varying degrees of aggression, seeking a breakthrough before the hour mark.
Estévez eases pressure on Eldense: “Zaragoza are clear favorites for promotion to Division One”
The second half opened with Zaragoza pressing higher up the pitch, and the balance tilted in their favor as Eldense became forced to chase the result. A corner delivered into the middle turned into misfortune for Eldense when a header off Francés redirected into the goal frame, hitting Íñigo Piña and bouncing behind the line. At that moment a simple yet decisive sequence sealed the fate of the match: one hour played, two critical setbacks, zero goals conceded for the leaders, and three points remaining in the home siege. The mood in the stands reflected a certainty that the Escribá blueprint would need a touch more inspiration to stretch beyond a single decisive moment.
With players like Andone and Soberón trying to spark a response, Eldense chased a lifeline as the clock moved beyond the midway point. The match continued to test resilience as both teams navigated the shifting momentum with clinical touches and occasional improvisation. The crowd witnessed a battle between a team anchored by experience and a younger side eager to prove their ascent ambitions. The strategic duel persisted, each side seeking to translate effort into progress on the league table.
The later stages saw Zaragoza controlling the tempo and constructing more meaningful attacks, even as Eldense fought to restore parity. Crisper deliveries and tighter defending reduced the room for error, keeping the scoreline in a delicate balance as the match approached its conclusion. A late surge by Eldense offered a glimmer of hope that a single moment could reframe the narrative, yet Zaragoza maintained discipline and clinical execution when it counted most.
MATCH BOARD
ZARAGOZA: Cristian Alvarez; Fran Gámez, Jair, French, grandson; Germán Varela, Francho, Aguado, Maikel Mesa, Bermejo; Bakis and Iván Azón.
ELDENSE: Guille Vallejo; Toni Abad, Dumic, Íñigo Piña, Poloni; Cris Montes, Ortuño, Timor, Marc Mateu; Andone and Juanto.
GOALS: 1-0 Iván Azón (41) after a rebound from Toni Abad; 2-0 Íñigo Piña (56) deflected off Francés’s header and redirected into Eldense’s own net.
REFEREE: Jose Antonio López Toca. Maikel Mesa cautioned Dumic and Francho.
STADIUM: La Romareda.