Zaragoza and Eldense share the points in a hard-fought clash

Zaragoza’s first visit to Elda marked a challenging start for the Blaugranas. The match ended tied, with the visitors equalizing at the very end after a first-half exchange of moments that kept the scoreboard honest. The goal that tied the game arrived when the ball found Maikel Mesa, a nod to the visitors’ focal point, and Soberón’s intervention ultimately leveled the score after a fair, combative lift from Eldense. The result reflected a competitive yet balanced performance from a strong Eldense side that fought back with determination, even when Zaragoza looked poised for control in the opening stages.

Eleven players lined up as Fernando Estevez offered updates on how the squad would press, and the match’s momentum saw Deportivo, the hosts, assume an assertive stance in the early exchanges. In the middle of the field, Alex Bernal anchored matters for the visiting side as the rhythm of play swung from attack to defense with rapid transitions.

Clemente opened the armory against the former Franjiverde’s goal, and Edgar Badía faced the first wave. In the eighth minute, both chapel and Bernal found opportunities that tested the goalkeeper, while Zaragoza’s best moments emerged from well-crafted exchanges through midfield. Sergio Ortuño produced moments of notable resolve, driving attempts that kept Eldense alert and forced clear responses from the defense.

The intensity did not subside after the opening minutes. Marc Mateu’s presence on the left allowed him to guide plays and support his teammates, while Eldense looked to use quick counters to test Zaragoza’s back line. A tactical duel formed, where both sides sought to control the pace of the game and create openings in the middle. The crowd witnessed a match that mixed grit with technical effort, and the players’ commitment was evident as both teams chased advantage in a tightly contested spell.

After the early press, Deportivo gradually settled into a more measured pattern, turning an open start into a battle of wits where every inch of space was fiercely contested. Zaragoza closed in on Aceves’s goal on a few occasions, but the finish failed to materialize in the required clarity. The first clear scoring chance came when Maikel Mesa sprinted into space, and Fran Gamez surged forward to combine with his teammates before directing a low finish that slipped past the goalkeeper and into the net. The stadium erupted as the visitors took a slender lead, a moment that briefly tilted the balance in their favor.

Reaction to impact

Moments after the goal, Eldense woke with purpose and intensified their push toward Zaragoza’s goal. They pressed high and tested the defense with precise crossings and set-piece threats. Seven minutes after the opening tally, a corner delivered danger and sparked a quick equalizer. Marc Mateu clipped the ball toward the center and helped Mario Soberón finish with authority, restoring parity and reviving the momentum for the home side.

The Cantabrian attacker added a seventh goal of the season, showing he has an instinct for finding goal-scoring chances. His previous highlights included a brace in the last home game against Racing de Santander, underscoring his ongoing reliability in front of goal. When the teams traded blows at 1-1, the home side pressed with persistence, while Eldense, though ambitious, failed to convert a handful of corners into a second score before the break. The game appeared to tilt toward Deportivo’s advantage as the half wore on, with Zaragoza proving more effective in their transitions and positioning when attacking.

Strong after the break

After the interval, Estevez’s side pursued a comeback with renewed urgency. A sequence off a corner forced Badía to stretch and keep the score level, the ball dancing just wide and a header demanding another sharp stop. Zaragoza’s attacks grew crisper, yet Eldense’s defense absorbed pressure and maintained discipline, leaving the impression that the game would hinge on a single decisive moment rather than a sustained spell of dominance.

With Eldense defending deep, Mateu advanced to threaten again with a dangerous cross that skimmed the left post, keeping the tension high. The home side introduced Juanto, followed by Arnau Ortiz and Mo Dauda, who entered with the aim of injecting pace and fresh ideas into the forward line. The substitutes brought energy, but Zaragoza’s defense held firm, and the tactical observe-and-react dynamic remained the defining feature of the second half.

The match endured a period of compact play with few clear chances for either side. The tempo remained brisk, and Zaragoza’s late pressure aimed to exploit any lapse in Eldense’s shape. As the clock wound down, the discipline of Eldense’s back line and the visitors’ measured approach kept the scoreboard unchanged, even as both teams sought a final burst to tilt the result in their favor.

The home side’s center-backs, Dumic and Piña, pushed forward to direct play and to finish dangerous crosses as Zaragoza pursued a late edge. A hopeful moment from Mateu’s bustling run culminated in a shot that beat the keeper but struck the woodwork, a near-miss that kept Eldense in the contest. The same post would deny a subsequent attempt, leaving both teams to settle for a point as the seconds ticked away.

As the clock ticked into the 75th minute, a cumulative assault from Zaragoza intensified the pressure, with Marc Mateu taking aim from range. A shot banged off the post, and a moment later the same player found himself on a corner that also rattled the woodwork again, leaving the stadium in a breathless hush before the final whistle. The match remained a tight, competitive spectacle with neither side able to clinch victory in the dying embers.

The headlines for Eldense included a note about Marcelo Montes renewing his contract—a development that added a fresh note of stability to the squad as they looked ahead. The best moments came from the disciplined display by Eldense, whose attempts to secure second place cooled as the minutes passed. Yet their effort did not vanish; the team maintained a practical, disciplined approach and avoided reckless risk as the match concluded with a draw that satisfied some, frustrated others, and left both sides with important lessons for future fixtures.

In the final sequence, Eldense’s appeal for a late penalty on Arnau Ortiz did not sway the referee, who chose to let play continue. The draw, while not ideal for either club, kept Eldense four points clear of relegation and cemented a sense of resilience that could pay dividends in upcoming fixtures. The next challenge would see Eldense travel to Amorebieta on Saturday, the 20th, at 16:15, eager to apply what they learned from a tightly contested encounter with Zaragoza.

Data sheet

CD Eldense: Aceves; Toni Abad, Dumic, Iñigo Piña, Marc Mateu; Jesús Clemente, Sergio Ortuño, Timor Silva, Álex Bernal; Soberón, Iván Chapela. Substitutes: Juanto, Arnau Ortiz, Mo Dauda. Manager: Estevez.

Real Zaragoza: Edgar Badía; Fran Gámez, Mouriño, Jair Jr, Alejandro Francés; Francho, Toni Moya, Aguado, Lecoeuche; Mollejo, Maikel Mesa. Substitutes: Iván, Jaume, Manú Vallejo, Sergi Enrich, Bermejo. Manager: Olabe.

Goals: 0-1 Maikel Mesa, 1-1 Mario Soberón. Referee: González Díaz. Yellow cards: local players Marc Mateu, Álex Bernal, Poloni; visitors Mollejo, Aguado, Jair Jr, Sergi Enrich. Attendance: 3,981. Venue: Nuevo Pepico Amat Stadium.