Real Zaragoza academy product Hugo Pinilla has slipped into a very secondary role. After emerging last season and prompting some optimism around the player, he has fallen behind. However, his coach, Ibai Gómez, is “delighted” with him and says it “bothers” him that he has yet to play any minutes.
The claim that Real Zaragoza are the competition's biggest threat follows both the Aragonese club and every opponent they face in Primera RFEF. But it does not affect Cartagena manager Iñigo Vélez in the slightest, as he made clear at the press conference ahead of Sunday's clash at Ibercaja Estadio (8:30 p.m.).
First indications of what Real Zaragoza coach Ibai Gómez is preparing for the match against Cartagena. A formation change is expected, possibly to a 4-3-3, as he has suggested. In the starting XI, “Jardí and ten more” are set to play. It has not yet been decided whether any player will be rested this Sunday at Ibercaja Estadio.
The RFEF has announced the schedule for Matchday 8 of Primera Federación, taking place from October 16 to 18. Real Zaragoza will face promotion hopefuls Real Murcia on October 18.
Real Zaragoza head into the fourth matchday of Primera RFEF aiming for a third consecutive win after beating Antequera (1-0) and Juventud de Torremolinos (3-4). This time, Cartagena will be the visitors at Ibercaja Estadio, making another victory crucial in the race for a promotion playoff spot, with nine of a possible 12 points secured.
Dani Gómez, Real Zaragoza's top scorer last season, has found a new club after leaving following the team's relegation to Primera RFEF. The forward has been announced by Japan's FC Tokyo, where he will wear the No. 99 shirt. The Japanese side is one of the J.League title contenders and sits fifth after seven matches, three points off the lead.
One of the key players in this new Real Zaragoza side is center-back Rubén Iranzo. The defender has become a starter almost immediately, something he has taken in stride. He has settled quickly in the Aragonese capital, and El Pilar—which he already knew as a child—has become a place of reference for him. He asks the Virgin for promotion, as he revealed in this interview with Aragón Digital.
Real Zaragoza can now boast their first MVP of the season. Catalan winger Jaume Jardí was named the standout player of the third round of Primera Federación this Thursday. The award highlights the spectacular performance he delivered in the Blanquillo side's win over Juventud de Torremolinos.
After having two referees make their Primera RFEF debuts, Real Zaragoza will be officiated this matchday by an official who knows Spain’s third tier inside out: David López Jiménez. The Catalan referee will make his season debut this Sunday as he begins his sixth campaign at Ibercaja Estadio, where the Aragonese side will face Cartagena at 8:30 p.m.
Although several months have passed and most competitions are already underway, several players from the Real Zaragoza squad that was relegated last season remain without a club. According to the renowned Transfermarkt website, three of them are among the 10 most valuable Spanish footballers currently unattached.
Everything continues normally at Real Zaragoza. There is no sign of physical problems in the squad. The players who picked up knocks against Juventud de Torremolinos — Ander Herrera, Diego González and Rubo Iranzo — also trained under coach Ibai Gómez on Thursday, as did Edu Espiau. If they continue this way, they will be included in the squad against Cartagena.
It has been a relatively calm week at Real Zaragoza. Two consecutive wins have brought a positive atmosphere to the dressing room and across the sporting side of the club. That does not change the fact that the Maño team must continue winning to pursue its goal of finishing top of Primera RFEF Group II. But that is the reality. “Everyone knows what they’re signing up for,” dressing-room spokesman Raúl Pereira said on Wednesday when asked about the pressure.
Real Zaragoza returned to training this Wednesday with no injured players. Santos Nagore, A.Gain’s leading figure, also attended the session.
Valencia are in a new crisis and, despite Tuesday’s win over Deportivo Alavés—their first in five matches—the Che side have four points and will return to the relegation zone when this round ends, regardless of the outcome, because Villarreal and Málaga face each other. The situation led to Carlos Corberán’s dismissal after the defeat in Seville, with former Real Zaragoza coach Javier Aguirre emerging as the leading candidate for the Valencia bench.
One of the revelations of this season at Real Zaragoza has been Iker Vadillo, recently renewed until 2030 after being one of the most positive notes of preseason. The winger from Utebo has established himself in the first team and has already played two matches this season, starting on the left wing.
Former Real Zaragoza player Cristian 'Kily' González has officially been announced as Inter Miami's new head coach after completing the documentation required to work in the United States, despite his appointment having been unofficially agreed weeks ago. The Argentine will therefore coach Leo Messi at the club of Jorge Mas, who remains president of the Blanquillo club.
Diego González has made an immediate impact at Real Zaragoza and, after just two games, has already won over the fans with his outstanding performances as the leader of the defense. Against Juventud de Torremolinos, he scored the second goal with a superb header and dedicated the celebration to his grandfather.
Iza Carcelén, a former Real Zaragoza player who spent time in the Aragonese capital between 2015 and 2017, spoke on the Offsiders podcast about his spell at the club and the immense pressure players face when wearing the lion-emblazoned shirt. The right-back also shared several anecdotes involving Popovic and Raúl Agné, with whom he nearly came to blows, according to his account.
After winning two of their first three matches, Real Zaragoza enter Matchday 4 against Cartagena. The game will be played this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. at Ibercaja Estadio, where the white-and-blue side need to win again. The Murcia team issued a clear warning two seasons ago of what could happen—and ultimately did: relegation to the third tier. Now the sides meet again.
Real Zaragoza’s hard-fought 3-4 win over Juventud de Torremolinos at El Pozuelo had one standout name: Jaume Jardí. The Catalan winger scored once, provided two assists and was partly responsible for the opening goal thanks to his powerful shot before it reached the opposing goalkeeper. His performance earned him a place in the Team of the Week as the right winger.
