This Sunday, Spanish football experienced one of the toughest episodes in the recent history of its traditional clubs. Real Zaragoza, six-time Copa del Rey champion and winner of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1995, was mathematically relegated to the First Federation after drawing 1-1 against UD Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

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The equality left the Aragonese team without options, which needed to win and hope for favorable results in other stadiums to maintain hopes of remaining in LaLiga Hypermotion. Neither of the two conditions ended up being resolved in their favor.

The relegation represents a historic blow for an institution with 94 years of experience, accustomed for decades to competing among the elite of Spanish football. Zaragoza had also had Mexican figures such as Efraín Juárez and Pablo Barrera between 2011 and 2012 in the past, while Javier Aguirre also managed the club.

The skilled team came into the game aware that they had to take risks from the start. He opted to play with two forwards and had some approaches in the first half, although he once again showed the offensive and defensive limitations that marked a good part of his campaign.

Kenan Kodro came close to opening the scoring with a deflected header after a corner kick. Later, a cross from the right by Marcos Cuenca also found no finisher. Las Palmas, without clearly dominating the ball, created danger in isolated actions, such as a powerful shot by Pedrola that crashed into Adrián Rodríguez's left post.

A desperate ending that did not prevent the fall

Zaragoza's resistance ended up giving way before the break. Manu Fuster overflowed inside the area and sent a cross that Miyashiro connected with a header to the crossbar. The rebound was served to Jesé Rodríguez, who scored inside the small area to put the Canarian team ahead.

With the score against and the external results not helping either, Zaragoza faced the second half on the brink of the abyss.

The team reacted with pride during the final stretch. Juan Sebastián first warned with a shot against the crossbar in the 69th minute and shortly after the tie came thanks to a drive by Marcos Cuenca, who finished the play with a strong shot at mid-height that beat Horkas.

The goal gave some hope back to the Aragonese team, which went completely into the attack in the final minutes. Kodro had a clear chance that he failed to finish, while Hugo Pinilla sent the ball into the side netting with the goal practically empty.

In the final desperation, even goalkeeper Adrián Rodríguez went up to the rival area looking for a miracle. The last big opportunity also bordered on drama: Herzog's attempted clearance ended up hitting the base of the post.

Nothing was enough to prevent the outcome. The tie ended up sealing Real Zaragoza's relegation to the third category of Spanish football, a scenario unthinkable years ago for a club with European titles, historical tradition and a First Division past.

The fall also took place in the same stadium where in 2015 the return to the top category escaped in the final minutes. A decade later, the gap with the elite will now be two divisions.