Real held at home in Cup final dress rehearsal

Real Madrid dropped points at the Bernabeu for only the second time this season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Zaragoza on Saturday in a game overshadowed by this week's bomb attacks in the city.

There was a sombre atmosphere at the Real Madrid stadium as the players of both sides walked on to the pitch carrying a huge white banner emblazoned with a black ribbon of mourning and wearing black armbands.

At one end of the stadium supporters unfurled a huge Spanish flag during the minute's silence that preceded the match and many of the 70,000 fans held aloft flags and banners in memory of the 200 victims of Thursday's train bombings.

Real, fielding several second-string players, took the lead just before the half hour when former youth team striker Javier Portillo headed in at the far post after reserve midfielder Juanfran had clipped in a fine cross from the right.

But Zaragoza, who play Real in next week's King's Cup final, hit back four minutes later when defender Delio Toledo nodded in with an angled header after a corner.

Real coach Carlos Queiroz threw on first choice midfielders Luis Figo and Guti in the second half but they were unable to break down the disciplined Zaragoza defence.

The visitors came closest to snatching a win, Argentine midfielder Luciano Galletti denied by a fine save from keeper Iker Casillas after he had raced through on goal and Gorna Drulic hitting the post 12 minutes from time.