The Aragonese derby between SD Huesca and Real Zaragoza on Sunday, April 26, 2026, ended in disgrace after Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada delivered a brutal punch to Huesca captain Jorge Pulido following his dismissal. The incident occurred in the dying moments of a tightly contested match that Huesca won 1-0 through a solitary goal by Sielva. Andrada, who had earlier saved a penalty in the fifth minute, was shown a second yellow card after pushing Pulido during a confrontation. As he left the pitch, Andrada turned back and struck Pulido in the face, triggering a mass confrontation that saw Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jiménez also sent off.
According to match reports, the sequence began when Pulido approached Andrada to complain about an earlier challenge. The Argentine goalkeeper lost his composure, shoved the Huesca captain, and was immediately shown a second yellow card by referee Dámaso Arcediano Monescillo, resulting in his expulsion. As Andrada walked away, he suddenly lunged at Pulido from behind and landed a violent blow to the goalkeeper’s head. The attack ignited a full-scale melee involving players from both sides before order was eventually restored.
The match, which carried significant implications for both teams’ survival hopes in La Liga Hypermotion, had already been marred by controversy earlier when the referee awarded a penalty to Huesca that replays suggested was unjust. Sielva converted the spot-kick to give Huesca the lead, a goal that ultimately proved decisive. Despite late pressure from Zaragoza, including efforts from Marcos Cuenca, El Yamiq, and Sergi Enrich, Huesca’s defense held firm under the leadership of Pulido until the final whistle.
After the match, Zaragoza captain Francho Serrano addressed the media, expressing profound regret over his teammate’s actions. “I don’t know what happened. I have to apologise. Real Zaragoza does not represent this. We are hurt by the defeat,” Serrano said, his voice heavy with disappointment. Head coach David Navarro echoed the sentiment, calling the episode “lamentable from start to finish” and admitting that the team’s conduct fell far short of acceptable standards.
The Spanish football authorities are expected to launch a formal investigation into the incident, which could result in lengthy suspensions for Andrada and potentially other players involved in the ensuing brawl. Such conduct violations in La Liga Hypermotion typically trigger automatic sanctions, with violent conduct offenses often leading to multi-match bans pending review by the competition’s disciplinary committee.
Andrada, who joined Real Zaragoza in the summer of 2025 after spells with Boca Juniors and Porto, had been praised earlier in the match for his penalty save—a moment that briefly raised hopes of an upset. Instead, his actions in the closing stages have overshadowed an otherwise promising individual performance and cast a shadow over the club’s season.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation across Spanish football, with pundits and former players labelling it one of the most shameful episodes in recent derby history. Comparisons have been made to past flashpoints in Spanish football, though few have involved a goalkeeper striking an opponent so blatantly after being dismissed.
As of now, neither club has announced additional internal sanctions beyond the public apologies, but both are likely to face pressure from league officials to accept stronger disciplinary measures. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has not yet issued a statement, but historical precedent suggests they will refer the matter to their judicial body for further review.
For ongoing updates on any disciplinary proceedings or official statements from La Liga Hypermotion or the RFEF, fans are encouraged to consult the league’s official website and verified club channels.
What are your thoughts on this shocking incident? Share your views in the comments below and help keep the conversation respectful and constructive.