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La Liga Preview: Zaragoza - Malaga
Los Manos host los Boquerones as both go for their first win of the campaign...
| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.27 | Draw £35.00 | Mallorca £48.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £18.00 | Draw £32.50 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.50 | Draw £35.00 | Mallorca £45.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.30 | Draw £35.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.70 | Draw £32.50 | Mallorca £43.50 |
|
By Robin Bairner
Don’t Go Crazy
Zaragoza’s season got off to a no-thrills start with a steady scoreless draw against Deportivo La Coruna a fortnight ago, and having had to cope with the international break, los Manos will welcome Malaga to La Romareda on Sunday afternoon.
After finishing last season strongly, Jose Aurelio Gay’s men can be satisfied with the start they’ve made to the present campaign, even if it was not a match to get the pulse racing.
A point away from home will always be welcomed by Zaragoza, as it is in Aragon they will want to most readily move to win games. Holding midfielder Edmilson, who arrived as the team were beginning their upward trend towards the end of last season, has certainly pinpointed home success for the side, though he is equally wary that a gung-ho attitude should not be adopted.
“Facing Malaga we cannot go crazy and try to win by any means possible,” he told AS. “We have to stay focused, firmly organised on the pitch and remember that we have 90 minutes to demonstrate the quality of the team and our game.
“The squad has great enthusiasm and motivation. More so due to the fact that in the only match we played against Deportivo, we could have won after playing a good second half.”
Underachievement last season hurt Zaragoza, and after a slight tinkering of the squad towards the end of the summer transfer market, with free agent defender Maurizio Lanzaro signing as recently as Wednesday, los Manos will be eager to pick up their momentum after a satisfactory start.
Getting Used To The System
After a brilliant campaign following promotion from the Segunda Division in 2008, Malaga were brought back down to earth with something of a bump last season. Los Boquerones only achieved safety by a point over Valladolid and Tenerife, and already it seems that this campaign could be set to be another relegation dogfight for the Andalucians.
A home encounter against Valencia was by no means the easiest way for the Romareda side to open up a new Primera Division campaign, and they struggled to live with los Che, going down rather meekly 3-1. Malaga fell behind with nine minutes on the clock, and though Sebastian Fernandez scored a debut equaliser, a couple of goals in the final quarter of the game had the guests safe.
“We made a very serious error against Valencia, but there were also good things in the match,” Apono explained to the club’s official website, considering the opening game. “Little by little, we will be able to convey the ideas the coach wants on the pitch.
“We have a good squad, with many players for each position, so we expect to achieve. The goals are currently week to week, to give everything we have.”
Former Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira has taken charge of the side over the summer, though none of the big names linked with the nouveau riche club have followed. Relative success is nevertheless still anticipated in Spain’s south.
TEAM NEWS
Zaragoza
Tendonitis was expected to keep Angel Lafita from the field of play in the opening game of the season, but he managed to make a cameo off the bench in the second half. The attacking midfield is still not training fully with the group, but after playing on the opening day there is hope he could again feature.
Ikechukwu Uche hasn’t been so lucky as he is due to miss the first months of the season with a knee problem. Victor Laguardia is also missing after surgery.
A shorter term problem is Leo Ponzio, who misses out with a strained knee.
Probable Starting XI: Leo Franco; Diogo, Jarosik, Contini, Obradovic; Gabi, Edmilson; Jorge Lopez, Ander, Bertolo; Marco Perez
Malaga
Duda, who is out for the first two months of the season, Manolo Gaspar and Helder Rosario continue to miss out with significant problems, while Javier Malagueno has had a thigh injury and has hence been restricted to simply running for a significant portion of the week.
Ivan Gonzalez has shaken the effects of a bruised knee off to come into contention, though Kris Stadsgaard could be preferred in the heart of the rearguard. Apono has declared himself to be fully fit too.
Probable Starting XI: Arnau; Gamez, Stadsgaard, Weligton, Mtiliga; Sandro Silva; Fernando, Fernandez, Owusu-Abeyie, Eliseu; Rondon
Zaragoza’s season got off to a no-thrills start with a steady scoreless draw against Deportivo La Coruna a fortnight ago, and having had to cope with the international break, los Manos will welcome Malaga to La Romareda on Sunday afternoon.
After finishing last season strongly, Jose Aurelio Gay’s men can be satisfied with the start they’ve made to the present campaign, even if it was not a match to get the pulse racing.
A point away from home will always be welcomed by Zaragoza, as it is in Aragon they will want to most readily move to win games. Holding midfielder Edmilson, who arrived as the team were beginning their upward trend towards the end of last season, has certainly pinpointed home success for the side, though he is equally wary that a gung-ho attitude should not be adopted.
“Facing Malaga we cannot go crazy and try to win by any means possible,” he told AS. “We have to stay focused, firmly organised on the pitch and remember that we have 90 minutes to demonstrate the quality of the team and our game.
“The squad has great enthusiasm and motivation. More so due to the fact that in the only match we played against Deportivo, we could have won after playing a good second half.”
Underachievement last season hurt Zaragoza, and after a slight tinkering of the squad towards the end of the summer transfer market, with free agent defender Maurizio Lanzaro signing as recently as Wednesday, los Manos will be eager to pick up their momentum after a satisfactory start.
Getting Used To The System
After a brilliant campaign following promotion from the Segunda Division in 2008, Malaga were brought back down to earth with something of a bump last season. Los Boquerones only achieved safety by a point over Valladolid and Tenerife, and already it seems that this campaign could be set to be another relegation dogfight for the Andalucians.
A home encounter against Valencia was by no means the easiest way for the Romareda side to open up a new Primera Division campaign, and they struggled to live with los Che, going down rather meekly 3-1. Malaga fell behind with nine minutes on the clock, and though Sebastian Fernandez scored a debut equaliser, a couple of goals in the final quarter of the game had the guests safe.
“We made a very serious error against Valencia, but there were also good things in the match,” Apono explained to the club’s official website, considering the opening game. “Little by little, we will be able to convey the ideas the coach wants on the pitch.
“We have a good squad, with many players for each position, so we expect to achieve. The goals are currently week to week, to give everything we have.”
Former Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira has taken charge of the side over the summer, though none of the big names linked with the nouveau riche club have followed. Relative success is nevertheless still anticipated in Spain’s south.
TEAM NEWS
Zaragoza
Tendonitis was expected to keep Angel Lafita from the field of play in the opening game of the season, but he managed to make a cameo off the bench in the second half. The attacking midfield is still not training fully with the group, but after playing on the opening day there is hope he could again feature.
Ikechukwu Uche hasn’t been so lucky as he is due to miss the first months of the season with a knee problem. Victor Laguardia is also missing after surgery.
A shorter term problem is Leo Ponzio, who misses out with a strained knee.
Probable Starting XI: Leo Franco; Diogo, Jarosik, Contini, Obradovic; Gabi, Edmilson; Jorge Lopez, Ander, Bertolo; Marco Perez
Malaga
Duda, who is out for the first two months of the season, Manolo Gaspar and Helder Rosario continue to miss out with significant problems, while Javier Malagueno has had a thigh injury and has hence been restricted to simply running for a significant portion of the week.
Ivan Gonzalez has shaken the effects of a bruised knee off to come into contention, though Kris Stadsgaard could be preferred in the heart of the rearguard. Apono has declared himself to be fully fit too.
Probable Starting XI: Arnau; Gamez, Stadsgaard, Weligton, Mtiliga; Sandro Silva; Fernando, Fernandez, Owusu-Abeyie, Eliseu; Rondon
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Zaragoza 1-0 Malaga
- 26.67 %
-
Zaragoza 0-0 Malaga
- 21.67 %
-
Zaragoza 2-0 Malaga
- 18.33 %
| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Sep 25, 2011 | Zaragoza 0 - Malaga 0 |
|
| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Jan 29, 2011 | Malaga 1 - Zaragoza 2 |
|
| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Sep 12, 2010 | Zaragoza 3 - Malaga 5 |
|
| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Apr 3, 2010 | Zaragoza 2 - Malaga 0 |
|
| Spain - Primera Division (LIGA) | Nov 22, 2009 | Malaga 1 - Zaragoza 1 |
|
Zaragoza
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| Feb 5, 2012 | Zaragoza 1 - Rayo Vallecano 2 | LIGA |
| Jan 28, 2012 | Real Madrid CF 3 - Zaragoza 1 | LIGA |
| Jan 22, 2012 | Levante 0 - Zaragoza 0 | LIGA |
| Jan 14, 2012 | Zaragoza 1 - Getafe 1 | LIGA |
| Jan 7, 2012 | Racing 1 - Zaragoza 0 | LIGA |
Malaga
  |
||
| Feb 6, 2012 | Granada 2 - Malaga 1 | LIGA |
| Jan 29, 2012 | Malaga 2 - Sevilla 1 | LIGA |
| Jan 22, 2012 | Malaga 1 - FC Barcelona 4 | LIGA |
| Jan 15, 2012 | Sporting de Gijon 2 - Malaga 1 | LIGA |
| Jan 10, 2012 | Malaga 0 - Real Madrid CF 1 | ESPC |
|
|
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Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
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Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
|
Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
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| 25 | Leo Franco | Goalkeeper |
| - | Carlos Diogo | Defender |
| 80 | Matteo Contini | Defender |
| 20 | Jiri Jarosik | Midfielder |
| 24 | Ivan Obradovic | Defender |
| 21 | Ander | Midfielder |
| 14 | Gabi | Midfielder |
| - | Jorge López | Midfielder |
| - | Edmilson | Midfielder |
| 19 | Marco Pérez Murillo | Striker |
| 14 | Nicolás Bertolo | Midfielder |
| 22 | Ádám Pintér | Defender |
| 26 | Laguardia | Defender |
| - | Braulio | Striker |
| 14 | Florent Sinama-Pongolle | Striker |
| 17 | Lafita | Midfielder |
| 29 | Kevin | Midfielder |
| 13 | Rodrigo Galatto | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Jesús Gámez | Defender |
| 3 | Weligton | Defender |
| 13 | Kris Stadsgaard | Defender |
| - | Patrick Mtiliga | Defender |
| - | Quincy Owusu-Abeyie | Midfielder |
| - | Fernando | Midfielder |
| 18 | Eliseu | Midfielder |
| - | Juanito | Midfielder |
| - | Edinho | Striker |
| 26 | Juanmi | Striker |
| 1 | Francesc Arnau Grabalosa | Goalkeeper |
| - | Edu Ramos | Midfielder |
| - | Manu Torres | Midfielder |
| 23 | Rondón | Striker |
| 10 | Luque | Striker |
| 7 | Baha | Striker |
| Marco Pérez Murillo | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 19 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Marco Perez will make his home debut for Zaragoza after scoring a barrowload of goals for Gimnasia La Plata in Argentina last term. Los Manos’ replacement for Humberto Suazo, the 19-year-old has great boots to fill, but after scoring ten times in 19 games for his former club during 2010 it would seem he has the potential to do so. Without an offensive spearhead, Zaragoza can be a blunt force, so much rests with the Colombian.
| Sebastián Fernández Miglierina | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 11 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Diminutive Uruguayan attacker Sebastian Fernandez may have been used in a relatively deep role by Jesualdo Ferreira in his Liga debut, but that did not prevent him chalking up his first goal for his new club in his first competitive appearance. A record signing at a touch over €3.5 million, much is expected of the international, and it will be in games such as Sunday’s in which he is expected to make most difference.
25 
0 
80 
20 
24 
21 
14 
0 
0 
19 
14 
13 
2 
3 
13 
0 
0 
0 
18 
0 
0 
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Results
Times In BST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
24 | 9 |
|
Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
23 | 2 |
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Atl. Madrid |
14 | 5 |
|
Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker Real Madrid |
14 | 0 |
|
Roberto Soldado
Striker Valencia |
12 | 0 |
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