In the Segunda Division match between Espanyol and Real Zaragoza on the 8th of December, it was a well-fought battle, which ended up in a solid 1-1 draw. Both teams showed significant skills in defence and attack, culminating in an evenly contested contest, but the sheer amount of yellow cards - 5 in total - and the singular red card displayed the intensity of the match.

Espanyol opened the scoreline in the second half at the 53 minutes 32 seconds mark, showing good penetration in the attacking third. Zaragoza responded impressively, equalizing at 72 minutes 54 seconds, a testament to their resilience and determination. This fightback can be attributed to their superior corner kicks of 6 versus 4 by Espanyol, which were potential opportunities for gaining control, creating scoring chances and, ultimately, the crucial equalizer.

Statistically, the game was filled with the brand of intensity associated with a yellow card festival. Espanyol earned their first in the 27th minute, followed by a second in the 52nd minute of the game. Zaragoza racked up their first yellow in the 61st minute, with two more yellows to follow at the 84th and 96th minute mark. Notably, Espanyol received a red card, which certainly put them at a disadvantage.

The other key statistics were the fouls committed, which were slightly higher for Zaragoza, with 16 compared to Espanyol's 13. While this suggests a higher degree of physicality from Zaragoza, it also shows their lack of discipline which could have given Espanyol the upper hand. However, Espanyol struggled to capitalize on these fouls into a decisive lead.

In terms of offside violations, it was a clean sheet for Espanyol who committed no offside, while Zaragoza had only one. This indicates disciplined positional play from both teams in the face of high stakes.

In conclusion, the outcome of the match was significantly influenced by Zaragoza's resilience and their dominance in corner kicks, Espanyol's early lead halted due to a red card leading to a man disadvantage, and a high foul count from both ends that disrupted the flow of the match. It was a tough match, with both sides showing equal prowess, resulting in a well-deserved draw.

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