With the halfway stage of the campaign approaching, Zaragoza cannot be happy with their standing at the foot of the Primera Division table. Sixteen matches have been played, but los Manos have only earned a solitary victory, leaving them a worrying three points adrift of safety ahead of a home fixture against Real Sociedad.
There are no statistics that come as comfort to the home side, who have a woeful record at la Romareda this season. Only five points have been picked up at home, which is a league-low tally along with Almeria, and the Aragon outfit have conceded exactly twice as many goals as they’ve scored, which is never a recipe for success.
Javier Aguirre was appointed to the hot-seat after the dismissal of Jose Aurelio Gay in the middle of November, but the Mexican has been unable to turn things around swiftly. In five Primera Division matches under the charge of their new coach, Zaragoza have yet to pick up a victory, though three of these games – all away from home – ended in draws.
Home form tends to be the bedrock of success for teams who successfully avoid relegation, and either Zaragoza will have to buck this trend or they will have to significantly improve their play at La Romareda if they are to give a body-swerve to the drop come May.
So Far, So Good
Real Sociedad are certainly a side who have shown what good can be done if a series of home victories are strung together. Only a few short weeks ago they were flirting with European football, but after a lull in their play they now lie towards the heart of the Primera Division standings, an encouraging nine points clear of the drop zone.
La Real have lost four of their last six top flight games, going down heavily against Barcelona a couple of weeks before Christmas and then slumping to a 2-1 reverse against Valencia in their final match before the break.
Head coach Martin Lasarte has wasted no time further strengthening his side for the second half of the campaign. Former Rosenborg defender Vadim Demidov has been snapped up on a free transfer from the Norwegian club and is expected to ultimately slot into the centre of Txuri-urdin’s rearguard.
Avoiding relegation was initially the target of Real Sociedad this season, but the Basque club will be having thoughts of greater success after a very positive start. Nevertheless, a draw on Monday wouldn’t be considered a disastrous result for a team keen to establish themselves as a top flight force once again.
TEAM NEWS
Zaragoza
Ikechukwu Uche and defender Victor Laguardia are the only two injury concerns. Matteo Contini is the only other issue; the Italian has had a cold.
Javier Aguirre has had his team training behind closed doors this week.
Real Sociedad
Vadim Demidov is not certain to debut in this match, while Diego Ifran has overcome a knee problem and could feature. Diego Rivas is banned.
Prediction
Zaragoza have to start putting together a run of results soon, and coach Javier Aguirre will certainly target this encounter a one his side need to win. Real Sociedad haven’t been impressive on the road, so three points to the hosts is by no means unthinkable.
Zaragoza 1-0 Real Sociedad 
