Zaragoza ease relegation fears

Posted Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by Supersport.com

Real Zaragoza opened up a three-point cushion over the bottom three in the Spanish First Division with a 2-1 win on Monday over Getafe who themselves have been sucked into the battle for survival.

Zaragoza had lost three of the last four games but they faced a Getafe side in freefall with just one win this year.

"This is a relief for us but we are still in the same position with three points more. Nobody is safe with 33 points," said Zaragoza coach Javier Aguirre.

His Getafe counterpart Michel Gonzalez felt his team's battling spirit offered hope for the coming games.

"The players are clearly still with me as they showed with the effort they put in. Everything went wrong for us in the game. In the first half we conceded two goals and we paid for it," he said.

"The players haven't thrown in the towel and after the break we were close to scoring right to the end."

Tensions were riding high before the game as Zaragoza still owed Getafe the latest installment for the purchase of striker Ikechuwku Uche, but on the pitch some of the pressure had been taken off by draws for Malaga and Hercules below them.

Zaragoza took the lead from a Leonardo Ponzio drive from distance to which the Getafe keeper was slow to react and then the way the visitor's defence allowed in Nicolas Bertolo for the second typified the problems they've had in recent months.

Getafe pulled a goal back in the final move before half time through Francisco Casquero but in a tense second half there were few chances for either side.

Uche had the opportunity to make the lead more comfortable in the final minutes but blazed wide in front of goal.

Barcelona go into the clasico next weekend with Real Madrid holding an eight point lead at the top of the table after they finally overcame Almeria 3-1 on Saturday.

A slow start saw Miguel Corona score on the breakaway for Almeria but the goal brought Barca belatedly to life.

Leo Messi equalised with a penalty then Thiago Alcantara headed home a corner and in stoppage time Messi struck again for a convincing win.

Meanwhile a Kaka brace from the penalty spot helped Real Madrid to a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the other goal.

Valencia took a big step towards claiming third place as they trounced a weary looking Villarreal 5-0 on Sunday.