On Sunday, April 26, 2026, a Segunda División derby between SD Huesca and Real Saragossa descended into chaos in the dying moments when Esteban Andrada, the Argentine former international goalkeeper on loan from CF Monterrey, struck Huesca captain Jorge Pulido with a punch to the face.
The incident occurred in the 98th minute of the match, which Huesca led 1-0, after the referee had consulted the VAR monitor regarding a potential incident in the Saragossa penalty area. As the official retreated to the sideline for the review, Pulido approached Andrada to voice his protest. Andrada shoved Pulido away, causing him to fall to the ground. Both players were initially shown yellow cards by referee Dámaso Arcediano Monescillo for their involvement in the altercation.
What followed was a sudden and violent escalation. After receiving his caution, Andrada sprinted across the pitch at full speed and delivered a powerful right-handed punch directly to Pulido’s face. The impact knocked Pulido to the turf for a second time within seconds, this time with visible swelling and marks under his left eye. The blow triggered an immediate melee as players from both teams flooded the area, requiring multiple police officers to intervene and restore order on the field.
Andrada was shown a straight red card for violent conduct, ending his participation in the match. The dismissal left Saragossa with ten men, though both teams had already exhausted their substitution quotas, forcing outfield players to assume goalkeeping duties for the final seconds — though no further action was taken between the posts.
The fallout extended beyond Andrada. In the aftermath of the brawl, Saragossa’s Dani Tasende and Huesca’s Dani Jiménez were also shown red cards for their involvement in the melee, leaving both teams with nine players each as the match concluded.
Andrada, who earned four caps for the Argentina national team during their 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning campaign, now faces potential disciplinary sanctions from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The RFEF’s competition committee is expected to review the incident, with a lengthy suspension considered likely given the severity of the violent conduct captured on broadcast footage.
For both clubs, the result carried significant implications in their battle to avoid relegation from La Liga 2. Huesca’s 1-0 victory moved them above Saragossa in the standings, intensifying the pressure on the Aragonese rivals as they navigate the final stretch of the season. The match took place at El Alcoraz stadium in Huesca, a venue that has hosted numerous Segunda División fixtures amid the league’s competitive promotion and relegation playoffs.
Real Saragossa issued a statement condemning the incident, stating: “We witnessed scenes that are unworthy of this sport and that should never have happened.” The club confirmed it would cooperate fully with any official investigation while emphasizing that such behavior has no place in football.
The derby underscores the heightened tensions inherent in Segunda División matches where promotion, relegation, and local pride collide. As the 2025-26 season approaches its conclusion, both Huesca and Saragossa remain in the relegation zone, with every point carrying existential weight for their top-flight aspirations.
Disciplinary proceedings against Andrada are expected to begin in the coming days, with the RFEF’s disciplinary committee scheduled to review match reports and video evidence. No official timeline for a decision has been released, but similar incidents in recent seasons have resulted in suspensions ranging from three to eight matches.
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