Analysis
Before the international break, Jose Mourinho slammed FIFA for interrupting the current crunch period in club football with national team football. The outspoken manager will return to business in Spain after making trips to England and his native Portugal during the past few days.
He will find tired legs in his squad – Argentina’s Angel Di Maria who played in Bolivia’s high altitude on Tuesday, Portugal’s Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, Sergio Ramos and other Spanish internationals to name a few. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Diego Lopez and star winger Cristiano Ronaldo should be fit for selection.
However, coach Mourinho may not be tempted to use those key players for the full 90 minutes against Zaragoza considering next week’s crucial UEFA Champions League Last 8 showdown at home to Galatasaray.
Saturday’s league encounter will serve as a physical and psychological warm-up for Los Blancos’ upcoming European adventure. Real Madrid may not play at full strength and this should be good news for Zaragoza who last lost 6-0 at home to this side. Survival is at stake for the hosts. They find themselves only two points safe from the relegation zone. Zaragoza are expected to do everything possible to avoid losing for the 17th time in La Liga this season.
Real Zaragoza’s last three matches
March 1, 2013: Getafe 2-0 Zaragoza
March 11, 2013: Zaragoza 0-0 Granada
March 17, 2013: Sevilla 4-0 Zaragoza
Real Madrid’s last three matches
March 5, 2013: Manchester United 1-2 Real Madrid
March 10, 2013: Celta de Vigo 1-2 Real Madrid
March 16, 2013: Real Madrid 5-2 Mallorca
Head-to-head – last three matches
August 28, 2011: Real Zaragoza 0-6 Real Madrid
January 28, 2012: Real Madrid 3-1 Real Zaragoza
November 3, 2012: Real Madrid 4-0 Real Zaragoza
Prediction
Real Madrid insist on finishing second in the table as the title looks to be going Barcelona’s way. Whichever squad plays on Saturday, the task will be the same: to snatch three more points and keep the momentum going until the end of the season.
Real Zaragoza, meanwhile, have failed to score in their last three games. Scoring a goal in itself would be a great achievement for the hosts who might exhibit their physical strength to embarrass the visitors. The match could be an ugly one but a winner will certainly be decided.
Result: Real Zaragoza 1-2 Real Madrid
