Zaragoza vs Valencia preveiw - Los Che looking to bounce back

Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2011 by PA

Valencia may be feeling just a little trepidation ahead of their trip to Real Zaragoza having suffered heavy defeats in their last two visits to La Romareda.

In the season before last Valencia lost the corresponding fixture 3-0 and last term they were thumped 4-0, their heaviest defeat since 2008.

Valencia coach Unai Emery today described those results as "humiliating and painful" as well as adding wryly: "Returning to La Romareda brings a little bit of panic."

He added: "It's a challenge, although every season is different, they have different players and so do we.

"After these two games playing at La Romareda is a personal test to ensure that we don't suffer the same thing against a team that is aggressive at home."

Valencia will be without playmaker Sergio Canales after the on-loan Real Madrid youngster suffered a knee ligament injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao which could keep him out for up to six months.

Valencia midfielder Ever Banega said: "It's a tough blow, for the team but more so for him. We didn't expect the injury to be so serious, he has our support."

The home draw against Athletic left Los Che fifth in the Primera Division standings, five points behind city neighbours Levante, who are the surprise leaders.

Zaragoza are six points adrift of Valencia in 13th spot after slumping to a 3-0 defeat at Osasuna on Sunday.

Defender Javier Paredes said: "We must learn from our mistakes, forget about the game against Osasuna and get ready to go for Valencia.

"Valencia are a very strong team but at home we have to pick up points and we'll try to do that."

The defeat to Osasuna was Zaragoza's third of the season and came after Javier Aguirre's side had enjoyed a promising run with draws against Malaga and Villarreal and a 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad.

Paredes added: "It is to be expected that we should take a step back because we are a team in development and this can happen.

"We hope to make fewer and fewer errors and continue to grow, and that the team moves towards the version it showed against Sociedad."