La Liga: Levante vs. Zaragoza

Posted on | March 1, 2008 | No Comments

This is going to be an interesting game between two teams at the bottom of the league. Levante, who already have one foot in the second division, are a massive fourteen points from safety and need nothing short of a miracle to survive another year in the top flight of Spanish football. Zaragoza are also going through a really difficult time, and considering the quality of the squad, is in a much more surprising position than the team they will encounter on Sunday. They have lost their last three league games and conceded eight goals, including the five nil thrashing they received at the hands of Sevilla last weekend. What is more surprising though, is that they have only managed one goal in the same period. With the strike partnership of Argentinean Diego Milito (who is being touted as the next summer signing for Tottenham Hotspur) and Brazilian Ricardo Oliviera, Zaragoza have been able to mark up almost half the team’s goals this season, but when they are off form the whole team seems to follow.
Coach Javier Irureta also has some tactical problems to deal with. Sergio Fernandez picked up a knee strain in the Sevilla game will miss this clash, while both Uruguayan Diogo and Luccin are not eligible to play due to suspension. The good news is that the Francelino Matuzalem will reappear five months after damaging knee ligaments and looks set to make the starting lineup.
For their part, Levante also have some important players out of action, including Ivory coast international Ettien and French defender Berson. However the real problem with Levante lies in its precarious financial situation. The players still haven’t been received their January paychecks, even after the club assured them they would.
I’m going for a Zaragoza win here. They have much more quality in the side than Levante and clearly need the three points to keep away from the relegation zone. Levante meanwhile, already know that they are relegated and I doubt if they will be able to win another match in the near future.
Prediction: Away win (0-2)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Levante vs. Villarreal
2. La Liga: Levante vs. Deportivo
3. La Liga: Getafe vs. Levante
4. La Liga: Betis vs. Levante
5. La Liga: Sevilla vs. Levante

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