Real Zaragoza and Sporting Gijón played to a dramatic 1-1 draw at La Romareda, igniting alarms for the struggling hosts on March 1, 2025. The match began with both teams fighting for survival as Zaragoza looked to move away from the relegation zone, currently sitting just four points above danger.
Zaragoza's hopes were high after Mario Soberón scored spectacularly just five minutes after the interval, giving the home team the edge at 1-0. Unfortunately for Zaragoza, who dominated much of the game, their failure to secure the win became evident when Jonathan Dubasin found the net for Sporting deep in stoppage time, making it 1-1.
The first half was largely lackluster, with neither side managing to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving the score level at 0-0 at halftime. Sporting Gijón entered the match sitting mid-table, but their previous record of four games without loss added to the tension, seeing them as tenacious competitors.
The breakthrough came when Soberón received a clear ball from Dani Tasende and blasted it home, marking his first goal of the season. This goal was pivotal, positioning the team on track for what many believed to be necessary points if they were to alleviate their relegation concerns.
Despite going up, the match's intensity grew as both teams pushed for supremacy. After Soberón's opener, Zaragoza had multiple chances to increase their lead, including several shots on goal from players like Pau Sans and Dani Gómez, but the goalkeeping from Yáñez kept them at bay.
Controversies arose during the game, particularly surrounding referee Eder Mallo’s decisions. A potential second goal for Zaragoza was ruled out after Dubasin was penalized for pushing, which sent the home fans shouting injustice.
Three late substitutions by coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez showed Zaragoza's attempt to hold onto their lead, bringing on Adu Ares, Jaime Vallejo, and Alberto Marí for fresh legs. But with five minutes added time, the pressure mounted. Sporting launched one final attack.
Dubasin salvaged what appeared to be another disappointing outing for Sporting, expertly heading the ball off the assist from Campuzano, routing it to the top corner of the net where Femenías could only stand and watch. "It was too late for us to concede this goal," lamented Ramírez after the match. "We have to learn to close games when we’re on top like this. It’s the little details, and they could cost us dearly."
The equalizer initiated wild celebrations from the Sporting bench and their travelling fans, as both teams left the pitch with nothing resolved. An all-too-familiar story for Zaragoza, who now have only two points from their last twelve on offer, tightening the noose around their survival hopes.
Sporting’s coach, Rubén Albés, welcomed the result, stating, "We can take confidence from this draw. We fought hard, and it shows we can compete against teams like Zaragoza, even away from home. Now we focus on building from here."
Going forward, Zaragoza will need urgent adjustments. Two previous close matches ended without wins—against Granada and now Sporting—raise questions about their approach and strategy heading down the stretch of the season.
With the result, Zaragoza remains on the brink of relegation, now positioned nervously just four points clear of the drop zone. They have yet to register back-to-back wins this entire season, and as both clubs look to the tight schedule of matches upcoming, survival becomes ever more precarious. Next week, they need to face Eldense, another team battling for points as Ramadan preaches maximum effort and dedication.
With the season ticking away, fans from both ends will be wondering whether their teams can summon the resolve needed to turn things around and stave off relegation threats—especially as they continue to dance perilously close to the brink.