The Blanquillo side come into this match having won their last two games and are, alongside Ibiza, Villarreal B and Atlético Madrileño, the only teams to have collected the last six points available. On the previous matchday, Real Zaragoza beat Juventud de Torremolinos in a bizarre and incredible game in which they ended up suffering more than expected. The victory in Málaga followed the last-gasp win they secured on the previous league matchday against Antequera at Ibercaja Estadio, thanks to a late goal from Edu Espiau.
For the match against Cartagena, Ibai Gómez will be able to count on his entire squad after the Canary Islands-born striker, who missed the most recent game in Torremolinos, returned to training this week. Also taking part were the three players who finished the match in Málaga with knocks: Ander Herrera, Diego González and Rubén Iranzo.
Espiau celebrates Real Zaragoza's winning goal against Antequera. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
With Real Zaragoza facing the unusual situation of having no players in the treatment room, the Basque coach acknowledged in his pre-match press conference that Sunday's starting eleven will consist of Jardí, who excelled in Torremolinos, and ten other players. Ibai also revealed that he will change the system because of the opponent and the match, moving away from the 4-2-3-1 formation used in the first three rounds and opting for a setup that will depend on the many variations available to a Blanquillo side in which, as the Basque coach noted, everyone is ready to start.
AN UNBEATEN OPPONENT
In their bid to collect another three points, Real Zaragoza will face a Cartagena side that, with five points to their name, are still unbeaten in this new Primera RFEF campaign. The team coached by Iñigo Vélez have so far recorded one win and two draws.
They opened the campaign with a convincing 1-3 victory away to Algeciras before drawing 0-0 with Nàstic de Tarragona in their home debut the following matchday. In their most recent league fixture, they drew 1-1 away to Rayo Majadahonda and therefore remain unbeaten both at home and away, a record Real Zaragoza want to end in order to take all three points this Sunday.
