Zaragoza Boss Laments Referee Error In Fiery Defeat to Sporting Gijón

Real Zaragoza’s 1-0 defeat to Sporting Gijón left coach Víctor Fernández frustrated as a controversial goal, and key mistakes led to their second loss of the season.

In a tense match at El Molinón, Zaragoza struggled to maintain control, and Sporting capitalized on a contentious moment. Fernández was adamant that there was a “clear foul” on his striker, Samed Bazdar, in the lead-up to Sporting’s decisive goal. “The play that led to the goal was preceded by a very clear grab on Bazdar. From what could have been a dangerous free-kick with Aketxe on the pitch, we ended up conceding a goal,” lamented the Zaragoza coach in Heraldo.

Despite starting the game strong, dominating the opening 27 minutes, Zaragoza lost momentum after the disputed goal. “We were playing well, creating uncertainty and getting into the box. But after the goal, which was a gross mistake on our part, we lost control and got out of the game,” Fernández said. The coach was visibly disappointed with how his team reacted to the setback, especially as they were soon reduced to 10 men, which made a comeback almost impossible.

The second half was a damage control effort for Zaragoza, as Fernández noted. “With 10 players, we tried to survive as best we could. It’s a bad result, we’re going home with a defeat, and two players sent off… it was a rough match.” Despite these challenges, Fernández gave credit to Sporting Gijón’s physical dominance, acknowledging that playing a man down against such a strong team left them with few options.

Fernández expressed his frustration with the refereeing but refrained from making it a focal point of his post-match analysis. “We are not a violent team, yet we left with a lot of cards. Sporting has been luckier, or perhaps the referee saw things differently. But it makes no sense to talk about the referee,” he remarked. “What penalized us the most was getting nervous after the goal. We were superior before that, but Sporting’s goal, which came from a very clear grab, changed everything. We didn’t defend the transition well, and they scored a great goal.”

Despite the defeat, Fernández had words of praise for Sporting Gijón, highlighting their potential as contenders for the top of the table. “They are a very good team. They have a great base and have made solid signings. With their fans behind them, they’ll be a tough opponent in the fight for promotion,” he concluded, acknowledging Sporting as one of the many teams aiming to ascend to the second division.

Site Opinion

Real Zaragoza’s defeat against Sporting Gijón exposed some concerning weaknesses, particularly in their inability to recover after conceding a goal under questionable circumstances. While Víctor Fernández was right to point out the foul on Bazdar, Zaragoza’s failure to defend effectively and the rashness that led to two red cards significantly diminished their chances of salvaging the match. The team needs to learn to maintain composure and focus, especially when faced with adversity on the pitch.

Looking ahead, Zaragoza has the quality to bounce back, but they will need to address their discipline and tactical consistency. With two defeats now under their belt, Víctor Fernández’s squad must regroup and find a way to sustain their performances for the full 90 minutes if they want to challenge for promotion this season.