Iñigo Vélez challenges Zaragoza: “The name doesn’t win games”

The Cartagena travel this Sunday to the Real Zaragoza at Ibercaja Stadium with a clear target after a mixed start. As reported by Sport, Cartagena coach Iñigo Vélez described their opponents as “a rival to beat across the board” and sent a blunt message: “With the name, nobody wins; we’re going to come at them.”

According to Sport, Efesé arrive after drawing 1-1 away to Rayo Majadahonda and sitting eighth with five points. The Zaragoza match will be their third away game in the first four league dates. Vélez said they will go “to keep improving,” with the desire to play and keep collecting points, while admitting “we need to improve many things.”

Zaragoza, the “team to beat”

Vélez also underlined why he sees Zaragoza as an especially demanding opponent. He called them “the team to beat” citing “history,” the fact they dropped from Segunda División, and the scale of the club in Spanish football. He added that it’s a game everyone wants to play and that they are looking forward to it.

On the table, Zaragoza are seventh with six points. Sport notes they began the league with a 2-0 defeat in Tarragona before responding with a 1-0 win over Antequera and a high-scoring 3-4 away victory at Juventud de Torremolinos.

Doubts up front

For Cartagena, the preview includes injury/fitness doubts regarding Boston Billups and Marcelo dos Santos. As Vélez said, everyone in training took part, but both did not finish because they are still recovering. Sport suggests the starting XI could be similar to the one from last Saturday, with Lucho García in goal and Marcos Moreno and Iban Ribeiro up front.