Madrid's first game in Zaragoza was a Clasico in which the referee was sent off

Madrid's first game in Zaragoza was a Clasico in which the referee was sent off

Real Madrid will face Real Zaragoza on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey round of 16, 98 years after their first game in the Spanish city.

It was back on October 17, 1922, when Los Blancos played two games against Barcelona at the newly-inaugurated Campo Municipal de Futbol Delicias.

The Blaugrana prevailed 5-2 over their rivals in the first match and the two teams met again the next day, when the Catalan side beat Real Madrid again, this time 4-2.

However, the result wasn't the highlight of the game.

The referee of the match, Aizpurua, was brought into spotlight when he decided to send off Josep Samitier, after the Barcelona player hit the linesman.

"You don't even believe it yourself," replied Samitier and refused to walk off the pitch with the support of the fans.

Aizpurua explained that if the player didn't leave the field the match would be called off.

It was then when the president of the Aragonese Association of Physical Culture, Jose Maria Gayarre, decided to intervene.

He named himself referee and moved Aizpurua to the sidelines, where he could act as a linesman, while Samitier continued on the pitch.

Real Madrid returned to Zaragoza in September 1926 to beat Iberia 3-2 at the Estadio Torrero.

The following season they made the same trip to thrash Europa 8-1 in a Copa del Rey quarter-final and lose 2-0 against Real Union in the semi-final.

Real Union went on to defeat Arenas de Getxo 1-0 in the final and clinch the trophy.
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