Pongolle double rescues point for 10-man Zaragoza

On loan French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle scored twice in five minutes as 10-man Real Zaragoza came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

Zaragoza stay bottom of the table despite the point but it could have been worse having trailed 2-0 with one player less after the dismissal of former Chelsea defender Jiri Jarosik two minutes after the break.

However, the hosts scored twice in five minutes to stun Gijon with former Liverpool striker Pongolle, on loan from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, scoring in the 56th minute and again in the 61st minute to change the course of the match as Zaragoza salvaged an unlikely point.

Zaragoza prop up the table with no win from their first six matches while Sporting are in 14th place after squandering two points.

An own goal from Serbian defender Ivan Obradovic just after the hour mark saw Zaragoza fall behind and the hosts were reduced to ten men two minutes after the break when giant Czech Jarosik was sent off for hauling down David Barral.

Diego Castro converted the spot-kick to make it 2-0 but Pongolle stole the headlines with a quick-fire brace to steal a point in a thrilling match.

Later on Saturday league leaders Valencia can stretch their advantage at the top to four points when they host Athletic Bilbao at the Mestalla Stadium.

Valencia lost 1-0 at home to Manchester United in Wednesday’s Champions League match but are unbeaten in the league with four wins and a draw from their first five league outings.

“Valencia did good business in the transfer market and they remind me of Sevilla a few years ago when they formed a great team with players that weren’t particularly well-known,” said Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros

Champions Barcelona are a point behind Valencia in third place and host Real Mallorca on Sunday while Real Madrid, two points behind Valencia in fourth, host strugglers Deportivo La Coruna on the same day.

The game of the weekend is on Sunday when Sevilla host Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a re-run of last season’s Kings Cup final which Sevilla won 2-0.

Sevilla sacked coach Antonio Alvarez on Sunday and new manager Gregorio Manzano makes his league bow against Atletico at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Fifth-placed Atletico, three points behind Valencia, are without Argentine striker Sergio “Kun” Aguero who picked up a knock in training and Manzano is glad the gifted forward is unavailable.

“Atletico Madrid’s numbers indicate they are in good form and they have the players to go head to head with us although the loss of (Sergio) Aguero is a relief,” said Manzano.

Sevilla won 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund in Thursday’s Europa League match as Manzano got off to a winning start on his debut and hopes for another victory as Sevilla bid to improve on their seventh place.

In other matches, promoted Real Sociedad host Espanyol on Saturday with the visitors looking for their first point on the road.

It will be a special match for striker Raul Tamudo, 32, who spent 14 years at Espanyol before joining Sociedad in the summer.

“Two or three years ago I couldn’t have imagined I would play against Espanyol,” admitted Tamudo.

Espanyol sit sixth but have collected all their points at home, however, Sociedad are in poor form having lost their last three matches.