Real Zaragoza push the back line forward on wide-set-piece attacks

Real Zaragoza have drawn attention for pushing their defensive line forward on wide set-piece deliveries taken away from the box, a strategy they have been using for several matches to keep a bigger gap between the back line and their goal. The change was triggered after Bakis scored in the opening minute of the season at Tarragona, in a game that ended 2-0.

As Rubén Iranzo explains, the adjustment came after an in-house review following the defeat to Nàstic, where the squad and coaching staff looked at that goal and similar situations. He stresses that defending these plays depends on quickness: the key is getting ahead of the opponent and treating it “like a normal phase of play”, not so much like a typical free-kick.

This Wednesday’s session again had absences: Ander, dealing with persistent lumbar pain, is set to miss a third straight game and was not included vs Cartagena or on the trip to Ibiza. Diego Monzón, meanwhile, is away with Ecuador Under-20.