Four points separate Real Zaragoza and Cartagena in the Segunda table going into Thursday’s showdown at La Romareda. Real Zaragoza are 16th in the Segunda and three points separate them from the relegation places.
Cartagena are mired in the bottom four but a draw could get them out of danger thanks to goal difference. The bottom third of the Segunda table is congested with teams fighting for their lives.
𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙟𝙤 𝙮 ➕ 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙟𝙤 💪🏼Penúltimo entrenamiento antes del #RealZaragozaCartagena ⚽#VamosRZ 🦁 pic.twitter.com/VQ4zmCtSmP— Real Zaragoza (@RealZaragoza) March 30, 2021
𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙟𝙤 𝙮 ➕ 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙟𝙤 💪🏼Penúltimo entrenamiento antes del #RealZaragozaCartagena ⚽#VamosRZ 🦁 pic.twitter.com/VQ4zmCtSmP
The reverse fixture between Real Zaragoza and Cartagena ended 1-1 with the former getting a late equaliser from Ivan Azon to cancel out a goal from David Andujar. With both teams struggling for wins and points, a draw could be a good result this week.
Of course, a win will be on both managers’ minds ahead of kickoff. However, a draw wouldn’t be the worst result. Real Zaragoza are unbeaten in their last two league matches. They took seven points from their last 18 on offer scoring five times while allowing six goals to opponents.
Cartagena took a mere five points from the last 18 on offer to them in the division. They were outscored 8-4 by opponents over the course of those six games.
Real Zaragoza manager Juan Ignacio Martínez has two players on his injury and suspension list going into the midweek game. Pichu Atienza is suffering from a muscle injury and is a doubt to play. Francho Serrano is back from a positive COVID-19 test but may not play due to a lack of fitness.
Cartagena manager Luis Carrion could be without Kleandro Lleshi due to a muscle strain. Alberto de la Bella is also a doubt after suffering a muscle ligament injury.
Neither Real Zaragoza nor Cartagena are in form going into the game. Their combined poor scoring and abysmal play in the final third should make this a low-scoring game.
Real Zaragoza have scored the league’s third-fewest goals with 26. Cartagena have tallied 31 scores but conceded 43 times.
Draws are a common feature of the Segunda and Thursday night’s fixture is likely to finish in a stalemate. Nine of Cartagena’s 31 games in the Segunda have finished in draws while seven of Real Zaragoza’s matches ended in stalemates.
Thursday night’s game should be a low-scoring affair with neither side able to make the breakthrough. The fixture between Real Zaragoza and Cartagena should finish in a score draw just like the reverse match.