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La Liga Preview: Racing Santander - Zaragoza
The two sides who are locked together just above the relegation zone on 26 points take part in a vitally important match in Cantabria on Sunday evening...
| Bet: | Returns: | Racing £36.00 | Draw £34.00 | Atl. Madrid £20.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Racing £37.50 | Draw £34.00 | Atl. Madrid £20.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Racing £36.00 | Draw £33.00 | Atl. Madrid £20.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Racing £37.50 | Draw £34.00 | Atl. Madrid £20.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Racing £39.50 | Draw £35.00 | Atl. Madrid £20.30 |
|
Mar 12, 2010 7:30:00 AM
By Robin Bairner
Kick Off: Sunday, March 14, 2010. 17:00 CET
El Sardinero, Santander
Changing From Green To Red
After Sunday’s encounter between Racing Santander and Zaragoza is concluded, the team teams will have a good idea what the closing weeks of the season will bring. Both teams are poised on 26 points, six marks above the bottom three, so defeat will consign one team to a climax of worry, while the other should have a platform from which to comfortably avoid relegation.
Racing’s form going into the crucial showdown is not especially impressive. Miguel Angel Portugal’s magic touch, which was evident in the early weeks of his reign, seems to have vanished somewhat, and los Verdiblancos have now endured a six game winless streak, during which they have scored only once.
In late January there appeared to be little prospect of this for los Racinguistas. Sergio Canales has burst onto the scene, showing remarkable technique and poise for a simple teenager, while Portugal had led his side to five victories since the beginning of December.
On Monday, Racing met with a dangerous Valencia side but struggled to get a foothold and had to be satisfied with a 0-0 draw in the south. “Sometimes, when you cannot win, it's best not to lose,” Portugal stated after the game, at least partially satisfied with the outcome.
It is 414 minutes since the Cantabrian side last found the net, however, and it is a worrying seven weeks since they last picked up three points. With an awkward series of games against Osasuna, Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao forthcoming, the home team will be anxious to chalk up a tension easing success come Sunday.
Pushing Towards Safety
Like their weekend hosts, Zaragoza also picked up a draw against a European hopeful last time out, though their home tie against Atletico Madrid was wholly less satisfying. Los Manos led against the ten man Colchoneros into stoppage time at the end of the game but momentarily lapsed in concentration, allowing youngster Ibrahima to direct a fine header into the top corner of their net.
Three points against the capital side would have allowed the Aragon unit to relax a little approach a potentially problematic weekend fixture against Zaragoza, but they will be afforded no such luxury, much to the disquiet of coach Jose Aurelio Gay.
“We lost two points,” he bemoaned after the fixture. “We controlled the game... but eventually we have to take the good from the draw.
“We didn't exactly struggle. Our goalkeeper has not had to intervene in the whole game, except for a couple of crosses, but our problem has been that in the second half we didn't have enough of the ball.”
Though Zaragoza have won only once in their last four, they have also only lost once since January 24, so there is a steady improvement underway at La Romareda after a first half to the campaign that was riddled with underachievement for last season’s Segunda Division runners-up.
FORM GUIDE
Racing
DREW 0-0 (a) Valencia (Liga, March 8)
LOST 2-0 (h) Almeria (Liga, February 28)
LOST 4-0 (a) Barcelona (Liga, February 20)
LOST 3-0 (h) Malaga (Liga, February 14)
WON 3-2 (h) Atletico Madrid (Copa del Rey, February 11)
Zaragoza
DREW 1-1 (h) Atletico Madrid (Liga, March 7)
WON 2-0 (a) Getafe (Liga, February 28)
LOST 3-1 (h) Racing Santander (Liga, February 22)
DREW 1-1 (a) Valladolid (Liga, February 14)
WON 2-1 (h) Sevilla (Liga, February 7)
TEAM NEWS
Racing
Mohammed Tchite and Oscar Serrano both picked up injuries last weekend that compromise their ability to play against Zaragoza. In addition, Marc Torrejon continues to suffer from tendonitis and seems very unlikely to feature.
Xisco returns from a ban and will challenge Ivan Bollado for a starting berth.
Probable Starting XI: Coltorti; Pinillos, Henrique, Oriol, Christian; Colsa, Lacen; Arana, Canales, Munitis; Xisco
Zaragoza
Ikechukwu Uche and Ivan Obradovic remain injury problems and are training separate from the group.
Pulido has served his one match ban and will be expected to come straight back into the starting squad. Gabi, on the other hand, won’t appear because he has a one match suspension.
Probable Starting XI: Roberto; Pulido, Jarosik, Contini, Ponzio; Aguilar, Edmilson; Eliseu, Herrera, Arizmendi; Suazo
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Racing
Los Verdiblancos have mustered a goals-per-game ratio of less than one this season and seem to be lacking in power directly in attack. They will therefore look for support from the deeper areas, and wideman Arana could be one of those to provide it. The 25-year-old may benefit from Oscar Serrano’s injury to be handed a rare start, and he will want to grab his chance as he has already scored three times this season.
Zaragoza
After sparkling against Getafe in los Manos’ last away trip, keep an eye on Humberto Suazo, as he will want to replicate his brace of a fortnight ago. The powerful goal scorer might have completed a hat-trick two Sundays ago, and he is known for his prolific striking rate, so expect the good run to continue. Four goals in eight games is an excellent start to life in Spain.
PREDICTION
The initially promising signs that Zaragoza were showing after the January window have certainly faded to some extent, but they remain a talented side more than capable of defeating an out-of-form Racing unit. Portugal’s club may have pinched a point from Valencia last weekend, but los Che were depleted in numbers at the back and los Racinguistas still couldn’t find a way to score. Los Manos will edge this encounter.
Racing Santander 0-1 Zaragoza
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El Sardinero, Santander
Changing From Green To Red
After Sunday’s encounter between Racing Santander and Zaragoza is concluded, the team teams will have a good idea what the closing weeks of the season will bring. Both teams are poised on 26 points, six marks above the bottom three, so defeat will consign one team to a climax of worry, while the other should have a platform from which to comfortably avoid relegation.
Racing’s form going into the crucial showdown is not especially impressive. Miguel Angel Portugal’s magic touch, which was evident in the early weeks of his reign, seems to have vanished somewhat, and los Verdiblancos have now endured a six game winless streak, during which they have scored only once.
In late January there appeared to be little prospect of this for los Racinguistas. Sergio Canales has burst onto the scene, showing remarkable technique and poise for a simple teenager, while Portugal had led his side to five victories since the beginning of December.
On Monday, Racing met with a dangerous Valencia side but struggled to get a foothold and had to be satisfied with a 0-0 draw in the south. “Sometimes, when you cannot win, it's best not to lose,” Portugal stated after the game, at least partially satisfied with the outcome.
It is 414 minutes since the Cantabrian side last found the net, however, and it is a worrying seven weeks since they last picked up three points. With an awkward series of games against Osasuna, Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao forthcoming, the home team will be anxious to chalk up a tension easing success come Sunday.
Pushing Towards Safety
Like their weekend hosts, Zaragoza also picked up a draw against a European hopeful last time out, though their home tie against Atletico Madrid was wholly less satisfying. Los Manos led against the ten man Colchoneros into stoppage time at the end of the game but momentarily lapsed in concentration, allowing youngster Ibrahima to direct a fine header into the top corner of their net.
Three points against the capital side would have allowed the Aragon unit to relax a little approach a potentially problematic weekend fixture against Zaragoza, but they will be afforded no such luxury, much to the disquiet of coach Jose Aurelio Gay.
“We lost two points,” he bemoaned after the fixture. “We controlled the game... but eventually we have to take the good from the draw.
“We didn't exactly struggle. Our goalkeeper has not had to intervene in the whole game, except for a couple of crosses, but our problem has been that in the second half we didn't have enough of the ball.”
Though Zaragoza have won only once in their last four, they have also only lost once since January 24, so there is a steady improvement underway at La Romareda after a first half to the campaign that was riddled with underachievement for last season’s Segunda Division runners-up.
FORM GUIDE
Racing
DREW 0-0 (a) Valencia (Liga, March 8)
LOST 2-0 (h) Almeria (Liga, February 28)
LOST 4-0 (a) Barcelona (Liga, February 20)
LOST 3-0 (h) Malaga (Liga, February 14)
WON 3-2 (h) Atletico Madrid (Copa del Rey, February 11)
Zaragoza
DREW 1-1 (h) Atletico Madrid (Liga, March 7)
WON 2-0 (a) Getafe (Liga, February 28)
LOST 3-1 (h) Racing Santander (Liga, February 22)
DREW 1-1 (a) Valladolid (Liga, February 14)
WON 2-1 (h) Sevilla (Liga, February 7)
TEAM NEWS
Racing
Mohammed Tchite and Oscar Serrano both picked up injuries last weekend that compromise their ability to play against Zaragoza. In addition, Marc Torrejon continues to suffer from tendonitis and seems very unlikely to feature.
Xisco returns from a ban and will challenge Ivan Bollado for a starting berth.
Probable Starting XI: Coltorti; Pinillos, Henrique, Oriol, Christian; Colsa, Lacen; Arana, Canales, Munitis; Xisco
Zaragoza
Ikechukwu Uche and Ivan Obradovic remain injury problems and are training separate from the group.
Pulido has served his one match ban and will be expected to come straight back into the starting squad. Gabi, on the other hand, won’t appear because he has a one match suspension.
Probable Starting XI: Roberto; Pulido, Jarosik, Contini, Ponzio; Aguilar, Edmilson; Eliseu, Herrera, Arizmendi; Suazo
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Racing
Los Verdiblancos have mustered a goals-per-game ratio of less than one this season and seem to be lacking in power directly in attack. They will therefore look for support from the deeper areas, and wideman Arana could be one of those to provide it. The 25-year-old may benefit from Oscar Serrano’s injury to be handed a rare start, and he will want to grab his chance as he has already scored three times this season.
Zaragoza
After sparkling against Getafe in los Manos’ last away trip, keep an eye on Humberto Suazo, as he will want to replicate his brace of a fortnight ago. The powerful goal scorer might have completed a hat-trick two Sundays ago, and he is known for his prolific striking rate, so expect the good run to continue. Four goals in eight games is an excellent start to life in Spain.
PREDICTION
The initially promising signs that Zaragoza were showing after the January window have certainly faded to some extent, but they remain a talented side more than capable of defeating an out-of-form Racing unit. Portugal’s club may have pinched a point from Valencia last weekend, but los Che were depleted in numbers at the back and los Racinguistas still couldn’t find a way to score. Los Manos will edge this encounter.
Racing Santander 0-1 Zaragoza
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