The 2019-20 campaign was a rollercoaster of soaring hope and ultimate heartbreak for Real Zaragoza. Under manager Víctor Fernández, Los Maños finished an impressive 3rd in the Segunda División, securing a coveted spot in the promotion play-offs after a season dramatically extended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading the charge was the sensational young striker Luis Javier Suárez, whose 19 goals anchored the attack and made him the team's talisman. However, the dream of returning to La Liga ended in agony in the semi-finals, losing 1-0 on aggregate to Elche in a play-off where Suárez was controversially unable to play as his loan had expired. It remains a defining, painful chapter of "what if" in the club's recent history.