Pedro Botelho plays 64 minutes as Salamanca suffer defeat to closest rivals

Arsenal’s Brazilian loanee Pedro Botelho completed 64 minutes for Spanish link-club Salamanca on his return from suspension last night but could only watch on from the bench as his team-mates suffered a 1-0 defeat to Zaragoza as the top two teams in Liga Adelante went head to head.

Pedro was absent last week after being sent off for striking an opposition player in a goalless draw with Real Sociedad before the Christmas break. He was handed a starting berth on the left-wing in an experimental 4-2-3-1 formation offering support for the lone striker Quique Martin. Pedro’s role seemed to suit him as he was a constant attacking threat to the opposition but eventually a lack of match fitness got the better of him and he made way for Totti in the 64th minute. Just 14 minutes later Zaragoza scored the only goal of the game through their own substitute Braulio.

The result sees Zaragoza move ahead of Salamanca to the top of the table with 19 games played and ‘Los Charros’ now find themselves a point behind yesterday’s opponents in the chase for promotion to La Liga.

Pedro is currently in his second season on loan at the Spanish outfit and is due to return to North London at the end of the current campaign. That, however, may not signal the end of Arsenal’s relationship with Salamanca despite the unsavoury incident concerning Havard Nordtveit last year.