Zaragoza – Granada 0:0 (end)
final
Real Zaragoza
0:0 (0:0)
Granada CF
Monday 11.03.2013, 20:30 • La Romerada • LaLiga
     
    Despite the intensity, both clubs were hesitant with going for an all out attack. Passing was certainly an issue for both teams as they sent more passes too far or to the opposition instead of their intended mark.

    With the draw, both clubs will settle for a point to help them push just a little ahead of relegation. But the relegation zone is just a win away for the clubs chasing them.

    Rochina had some great chances for Zaragoza, he was definitely their man of the match. While Ighalo and El Arabi were excellent for Granada. Both goalkeepers need to be commended for their play today as well.

    Thank you for following tonight. (22:25:29)
     
    Game over.
     
    90+3
    Both teams appear to be happy with the draw, not much intensity in the extra time
     
    90+2
    Poor pass by Oriol broken up
     
    90
    3 minutes being added to time
     
    89
    Free Kick is too far for anyone, Franco punches it clear
     
    88
    Abraham with a quick throw in, but picked off by Granada, Ighalo now with possession deep inside Zaragoza territory, fouled
     
    87
    Granada CF substitution: Nolito is replaced by Angulo.
     
    85
    Ighalo shot! But goes just wide. That was a nice chance for Ighalo, he is having a great match today.
     
    84
    Bienvenu is so strong on the ball, giving Granada lots of problems and drawing lots of defenders to him.
     
    83
    Granada CF substitution: Recio is replaced by Santos.
     
    81
     
    79
    Dangerous chance for Zaragoza, Tono was forced to jump out and kick the ball hard and far away
     
    77
    Real Zaragoza substitution: Rochina is replaced by Bienvenu.
     
    76
    Stefan shot on net! Great pass by Rochina, Stefan lets a shot go that forces Tono to stretch out and stop it, then he jumps out and covers
     
    75
    Franco punches clear the corner attempt
     
    74
    Corner for Granada now after a Buonanotte chance gets deflected
     
    73
    Buonanotte with a shot on goal, Nolito with a great run down the wing, crosses it and Buonanotte shoots, doesn't get a lot on it and Franco saves it
     
    71
     
    70
    Real Zaragoza substitution: Mari is replaced by Stefan.
     
    69
    Abraham with a great interception, he didn't get that ball, Ighalo would have been in all alone
     
    66
    Great save from Tono! Rochina free kick finds Sapunaru's head but Tono leaps into the air and gets a hand on the ball!
     
    65
    Free kick for Zaragoza
     
    64
    Rochina with a long shot out, but not a lot of power on it. Tono smothers the ball
     
    64
    Clubs exchanging possession just like the first half. Tentative play as no team wants to give up a chance. The winning goal could come from a set piece tonight with the way the defenses are right now.
     
    61
    Free kick for Zaragoza
     
    60
    Real Zaragoza substitution: Rodriquez is replaced by Oriol.
     
    59
    Magnificent ball control by Siqueira, he has some quick feet. Sends it long for Ighalo, but he could not get to it
     
    57
    Real Zaragoza substitution: El Arabi is replaced by Buonanotte.
     
    56
    Great set piece by Granada, Torje floats in a great ball but the header by Recio is not accurate and ball goes wide
     
    56
    Free kick for Granada in a dangerous spot, right side, about 3 meters outside of the box
     
    55
    Sapunaru spins and lets a hard shot go just outside of the box, it was blocked
     
    51
    Mari booked for his slide tackle on Siqueira, it was a good tackle by Mari as he had no choice to stop the streaking Siqueira down the wing, but Mari clipped his foot and sent Siqueira flying in the air.
     
    49
    Corner kick leads to a close chance for Rodriquez, but shot is not on target
     
    49
    Zaragoza with a nice cross, Montanes with that cross. Corner kick for Zaragoza
     
    47
    Long strike from Rochina, saved by Tono. First shot on target for Rochina tonight
     
    47
    Granada starting off strongly again
     
    46
    Start of 2nd half.
     
    Clubs are back on the field. Zaragoza will start with the kickoff
     
    While ball possession in the first half is almost even, Granada has been the club that appears to be more in control of their chances. Granada has had 6 attempts off target while Zaragoza has 3.

     
    1st halftime finished.
     
    45
    Ball floated to the box, but El Arabi is offside
     
    45
    Tono plucks the ball out of the air
     
    45
    Rodiguez has a free kick now, good opportunity for Zaragoza
     
    44
    Lots of tension tonight as both clubs are displaying how important three points are tonight
     
    43
    Unfortunately Zaragoza players are dropping quite easily tonight, but excellent job by referee Lahoz so far.
     
    41
    Sapunaru on the pitch saying his face was elbowed by Nolito, but it was quite clear his face was never touched. The referee is not buying the bad acting and says a booking is not warranted.
     
    40
    Decent opportunity for Zaragoza, but ball couldn't reach Postiga. Cleared away
     
    39
    Nice header by Nolito, but Ighalo was well offside
     
    37
    Nolito long corner to Mainz, nice header, but ball just fades wide of the right hand post of Franco
     
    37
    Ighalo into the box, shoots, blocked by Zaragoza, corner for Granada
     
    36
    Great through ball by Nolito, but El Arabi couldn't get there before Franco and Franco clears away. Quick thinking by Nolito recognizing a great lane for a pass for El Arabi.
     
    34
    Sapunaru just brillant setting up a play to Montanes who set up a shot for Rochina. But Rochina got too much on the ball and it sails left of Tono
     
    32
    Movilla booked for taking down El Arabi after El Arabi made a smart play with the ball, going around Movilla
     
    30
    Rochina lets a bullet of a shot go from just outside of the box but the ball goes over the crossbar
     
    28
    Nolito chasing after a long ball, Franco forced to run out and kick out of play, that was close!
     
    27
    Offside called on Postiga
     
    27
    Zaragoza with a fast break on a bad play by Granada, but Postiga couldn't get good control of the ball and loses posession
     
    24
    Nolito's corner is cleared away
     
    24
    Another corner for Granada
     
    24
    Nolito curves it, punched away
     
    23
    Another corner for Granada, Nolito up
     
    20
    Nyom goes in the books first tonight for a challenge on Rodriguez. However, it was very clear that Rodriquez dropped easily
     
    19
    Marvelous corner kick by Nolito! Ighalo gets a head on it and the ball hits the post!
     
    19
    Corner kick for Granada
     
    18
    Ball spending lots of time in the middle of the pitch as the teams continue to try long ball attempts to break through each others defense
     
    14
    Lopez with a superb long ball that finds Torje, Recio gets a cleared attempt by Zaragoza and lets a long shot go but it sails to the left of Franco
     
    13
    El Arabi charged with a foul as he went up for a ball and collided with Abraham
     
    12
    Zaragoza now maintaining possession of the ball, the intensity in this match is impressive. Both clubs are playing with a purpose; three points tonight
     
    10
    Corner played short, but attempt was made and Tono punches it away
     
    10
    Corner kick for Zaragoza now, much to the delight of the fans
     
    9
    Zaragoza coming to life now, Rochina with an attempt at net but the ball just misses wide left of the net.
     
    8
    And Zaragoza just capitalized on a Granada turnover and a cross was sent towards the net, but Franco grabbed it easily
     
    8
    It has been all Granada so far. Controlling possession and keeping the ball in Zaragoza's end
     
    4
    Offsides called on El Arabi
     
    3
    Ighalo with an attempt , should have been a corner again for Granada but ref didn't see the tip
     
    3
    Attempt at net, leads to another corner
     
    2
    Corner for Granada
     
    1
    Game started.
     
    Zaragoza wearing white and Granada wearing black tonight
     
    Rain is coming down in La Romerada as the players walk out onto the field
     
    Today’s match could be viewed as nothing more than a battle of the bottom dwellers between Granada and Zaragoza, but don’t tell that to these teams. Both teams are fighting for their La Liga lives right now and anything less than three points will not be accepted today.

    The battle to remain in La Liga is a very tight one; Granada sits in 16th spot with 26 points, Zaragoza in 17th with 25 points, Mallorca in 18th with 24 points, and Celta Vigo in 19th with 23 points. With only 11 games left in the schedule after today, it is time for the clubs to start making a push up the table. Last season, Zaragoza finished 16th and Granada finished 17th in La Liga.

    Zaragoza has yet to win a La Liga match in 2013, and their last victory was a Copa del Rey match on January 9 against Levante. Granada is searching for a new path after three straight 2-1 losses to Barcelona, Celta Vigo, and Mallorca.

    Zaragoza’s Portuguese forward Helder Postiga has 10 goals and is in the top 10 for La Liga scoring. He has been quoted in the media on the importance of today’s match, so look to him to try to ignite Zaragoza’s turnaround today.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 20:30.
    Commentary by

    Tyler Bilton

    Goals & lineups
    Goals:

    Cards:   32. Movilla (ZAR), 51. Mari (ZAR), 71. Alvaro (ZAR) – 20. Nyom (GRA), 81. Recio (GRA)

    Real Zaragoza: G: Franco - D: Alvaro, Sapunaru, Abraham, Pinter - M: Movilla, Montanes, Jose Mari, Rochina, Rodriguez - F: Postiga
    Granada CF: G: Tono - D: Nyom, Mainz, Sigueira, Lopez - M: Nolito, Rico, Torje, Recio - F: El Arabi, Ighalo
    Referees: Mateu Lahoz
    Attendance: 21,000