The goalless draw that Real Zaragoza and Sporting de Gijón signed, a product of not wanting to lose more than trying to win, could complicate life for both, who are fighting for different objectives, but for whom the meager point achieved does not help improve them.
Equalized with fear and perverse at a time of the season in which the direct rivals of one and the other squeeze the most and that always, when you are in need, seems insufficient.
For the 'blanquillos' it means giving the teams that chase him, and who fight with him for permanence, the opportunity to cut distances which could leave him near the relegation tunnel again, while for the Asturians it is to increase the streak without winning that already amounts to four consecutive days although, at least, this time they add a point after having lost the previous three.
The game began with the two teams pressing hard on their opponents, making intertwining a long combination of passes practically impossible.
The fear of losing the ball and getting out of position was evident in Asturians and Aragonese, and safety and not losing balls prevailed in situations compromised by the ambition to reach the opposite area.
Even so, it was the 'blanquillo' team that tried to handle the ball from behind whenever they could, against a Sporting that was clear that any hint of a problem had to look for their striker Uros Djurdjevic “Djuka” and his speed on the tip of the attack.
Precisely the Balkan forward had the two best opportunities in the first 45 minutes, the first in the 19 in a counter that finished off with the toe and that provided the goalkeeper Cristian Álvarez and the second in the 32, in another counterattack, and whose shot he diverted the central Mathieu Peybernes.
For the locals, their only option to score was a low center to the heart of the area in the 29th minute that goalkeeper Diego Mariño cleared when Alex Alegría was about to finish. The rest was control but without risking.
Just started the second period Djuka returned to have the goal in his boots but again he met the Argentine goal of Real Zaragoza who sent a corner in a great save and only the departure of the youth squad player Iván Azón shook the attack of the hand team with a pair of shots in just two minutes.
Apart from that, the game continued similar, minimal risks and only with the field ahead both of them forgot the rigid order imposed. With no one risking to take the three points or an inspired action emerged, the match ended as it seemed logical, with the initial result.
Data sheet:
Real Zaragoza: Cristian Alvarez; Tejero, Peybernes, Francés, Nieto; Sanabria (Bermejo, m.46) Francho, Zapater (Eguaras, m.59), Adrián (James, 59); Alegría (Iván Azón, m.75) and Narváez.
Sporting: Mariño; Guille Rosas, Babin, Borja López, Saúl García; Dragee, Javi Fuego; Nacho Méndez, Manu García (Pedro Díaz, m.83), Aitor García (Kumic, m.68); and Djuka.
Referee: Prieto Iglesias (Navarre Committee). He gave a yellow card to Nieto and Eguaras, from Real Zaragoza, and Guille Rosas and Manu García, from Sporting.
Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 36 of the Second, played at the La Romareda stadium behind closed doors.