Real Zaragoza vs Valencia Match Preview
Reading out this fixture, it might give one the feeling that the match will completely be a one-sided affair with the visitors Valencia emerging as the favorites.
And would such a guess be wrong?
Real Zaragoza are actually heading from bad to worse. Since their 2-0 defeat of Getafe, they've been winless.
Their 4-2 loss at home to Barcelona also gave way to more despair with Lionel Messi shocking them with a hat-trick.
On Wednesday, they went down again – losing 1-0 away to Almeria only to remain locked on 26 points since the beginning of the month of March.
The reality now is that Real Zaragoza are just 2 points above 18th placed Real Valladolid and they could even fall into the relegation zone if they lose this weekend's match and if Valladolid defeat Deportivo Xerez on Sunday.
It appears as if Real Zaragoza will need a lot to beat Valencia and thus avoid the suffering that they endured at the Mestalla stadium in the first part of the season. In that match way back last year, three first half goals rounded up their 3-1 defeat to Los Che.
Now how will Saturday's host deal with Valencia who look far from being complacent?
Ahead of the match, Coach Unai Emery told the press:
"We are going to Zaragoza to face an opponent fighting for survival. We can't think we have a points cushion. We need to be strong in every match. The biggest concern is having more chances than the opposition. In general, I think that we have done so and this sends us closer to winning."
In fact, Valencia recovered from their emphatic 3-0 defeat against Barcelona at the Camp Nou with consecutive wins against Almeria and Malaga – all at home though.
They are pretty much on course to qualifying for the Champions League being 8 points above 5th place Sevilla. But how tricky could a test away to Real Zaragoza be?
