Sporting de Gijon vs Zaragoza Preview match : Spain-Primera Division Jornada 30 2011/2012

March 31, 2012 5:00 PM BST
Estadio Municipal El Molinón — Gijón
Referee:‬ José Antonio Teixeira Vitienes‎

Team News

Gijon

 

Sporting avoided a third consecutive defeat thanks to Alberto Lora's late deflected strike to claim a draw at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Javier Clemente has some selection problems in defence as Alberto Botía is suspended and Gregory remains out injured so Iván Hernández and Pedro Orfila may be paired in central defence. Youngster Formose Mendy is also doubtful through injury, but Roberto Canella and Nacho Cases do return from suspension.

probable lineups : Pablo, Canella, Hernandez, Orfila, Lora, Cases, Rivera, Colunga, Castro, Cuevas, Barral. (4-2-3-1).

 

Mar 25, 2012	Athletic Bilbao 1 - Sporting de Gijon 1	LIGA
Mar 21, 2012	Sporting de Gijon 2 - Mallorca 3	LIGA
Mar 17, 2012	Granada 2 - Sporting de Gijon 1	LIGA
Mar 10, 2012	Sporting de Gijon 1 - Sevilla 0	LIGA
Mar 3, 2012	FC Barcelona 3 - Sporting de Gijon 1	LIGA

 

Zaragoza

 

Real Zaragoza recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season thanks to Apoño's stoppage time penalty against Atlético Madrid on Sunday. That victory briefly took Manolo Jiménez's men off the foot of the table for the first time in four months before Sporting and Racing's draws on Sunday mean that all three sides are tied on 25 points. Maurizio Lanazaro is a doubt after he had to come off early with an injury against Atleti, but Jiménez's options are boosted by the return of Franco Zuculini, Pablo Álvarez and Ángel Lafita from suspension.

probable lineups : Roberto, Alvarez, Mateos, Paredes, Obradovic, Dujmovic, Pinter, Garcia, Apono, Abraham, Postiga. (4-2-3-1).

Mar 25, 2012	Zaragoza 1 - Atletico Madrid 0	LIGA
Mar 21, 2012	Valencia CF 1 - Zaragoza 2	LIGA
Mar 17, 2012	Zaragoza 1 - Osasuna 1	LIGA
Mar 10, 2012	Real Sociedad 3 - Zaragoza 0	LIGA
Mar 4, 2012	Zaragoza 2 - Villarreal 1	LIGA

Head to Head
Match Facts
Gijon have drawn their last 3 home matches against Zaragoza in all competitions.: draw.
Gijon have seen under 2.5 goals in their last 3 home matches against Zaragoza in all competitions.
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Zaragoza's last 3 away games in La Liga.
Gijon have failed to win 10 of their last 11 matches in La Liga.: draw or lose.

Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎	Nov 6, 2011	Zaragoza 2 - Sporting de Gijon 2
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎	Feb 26, 2011	Sporting de Gijon 0 - Zaragoza 0
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎	Oct 1, 2010	Zaragoza 1 - Sporting de Gijon 1
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎	Feb 21, 2010	Zaragoza 1 - Sporting de Gijon 3
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎	Sep 24, 2009	Sporting de Gijon 1 - Zaragoza 1

Prediction
Another huge game for both sides if either are to have any chance of avoiding the drop.
Having looked dead and buried a few weeks ago, Zaragoza have taken 10 points from the last 15 available and have the momentum behind them going into the final nine games.
Sporting, by contrast, have taken just six points from seven games since Clemente took charge and with Botía's leadership at the back also missing, Zaragoza's recovery could continue in Asturias.

Gijon  1 - 2  Zaragoza