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Zaragoza turn the cup into a demolition derby
A sunny afternoon in Tudela turned into a master‑class in how to dismantle a fourth‑tier side. Real Zaragoza arrived with a point to prove and left with four, turning the Copa del Rey tie into a one‑sided showcase of clinical finishing and relentless pressing.
From the kickoff, Zaragoza’s intent was clear: press high, win the ball, and unleash it on a defence that looked more interested in a coffee break than a clean sheet. Within the opening ten minutes, forward Álvaro “El Bólido” Martínez slipped between the lines and curled a low‑driven effort past the startled keeper. The goal set the tempo and the crowd’s murmurs turned into nervous sighs.
Zaragoza’s midfield engine, Joaquín Pérez, dictated the rhythm with a 7‑9 pass completion rate, threading through balls that left Tudelano’s backline scrambling. His work rate was the invisible force behind every Zaragoza attack, earning him a 8.5 rating. On the flanks, Luis Fernández was a blur, delivering two pinpoint crosses, one of which found Martínez for the second strike. Fernández’s tireless runs and disciplined tracking back merited an 8.0.
Tudelano’s only moments of resistance came from their keeper, Carlos Méndez, who made a handful of decent saves but was left staring at an empty net after each Zaragoza on‑the‑run. His solitary effort could not offset the defensive frailties that saw him concede from three corners and a free‑kick. Méndez’s performance sits at a 6.5, a respectable figure in a game that left him exposed.
The third goal arrived after a swift counter‑attack; Zaragoza’s right‑back Mario Gómez surged forward, clipped a through‑ball to Martínez, whose composure under pressure turned the chance into a tidy finish. The final nail came in the 78th minute when a set‑piece routine saw Pérez rise above the crowd to nod home from a corner, sealing a 4‑0 rout.
What does this mean for the league tables? None of the points affect either side’s standings – the cup is a separate battlefield. However, Zaragoza walk away with a morale boost that could translate into a stronger push for a playoff spot in the Segunda, while Tudelano must regroup quickly to avoid a dip in confidence as they continue their league campaign.
The win also underlines Zaragoza’s depth. Their ability to rotate without losing quality suggests they can juggle the cup and league grind, a luxury that lower‑division teams rarely enjoy.
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Player Ratings
- Álvaro Martínez (Zaragoza) – 8.5
- Joaquín Pérez (Zaragoza) – 8.5
- Luis Fernández (Zaragoza) – 8.0
- Mario Gómez (Zaragoza) – 7.5
- Carlos Méndez (Tudelano) – 6.5