Sporting de Gijon vs Zaragoza preview - Aguirre has faith in Zaragoza

Posted Saturday, February 26, 2011 by PA

Sporting de Gijon vs Zaragoza preview - Aguirre has faith in Zaragoza Zaragoza coach Javier Aguirre believes recent results have not been a fair reflection of his side's play and says the Aragonese outfit is unlucky to be back in the bottom three.

Narrow defeats at Hercules and at home to Atletico Madrid last weekend have seen Zaragoza drop back to 18th place with 14 rounds of the Primera Division remaining, but Aguirre remains confident of survival.

"We are playing better than we were last month, but results have gone against us," he said.

"We are more compact, more solid and the team are showing a playing style which is what the coach wants.

"We have been unlucky but I believe we will stay up."

Midfielder Ander Herrera is also confident his side will secure Primera Division survival.

"If we continue in the same fashion, the wins will come," he said.

"I am sure we will stay up."

Herrera, who will join Athletic Bilbao in the summer, returns from suspension and will start against Sporting.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Leo Franco is doubtful after picking up an injury in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at home to Atletico.

Sporting endured a dreadful start to the season and spent much of that time at the foot of the Primera Division table, but three wins in a row saw the Asturians move out of the relegation zone recently.

And although the northerners have picked up just two points from their three matches since then, those have come from highly-creditable draws with Barcelona (at home) and Valencia (away).

Striker David Barral and full-back Jose Angel Valdes look set to return to the starting 11 for the match against Zaragoza, but midfielder Alberto Rivera is still not quite ready to play after recovering from injury.