Levante vs Zaragoza preview - Martinez rallies depleted charges

Posted Sunday, January 22, 2012 by PA

Levante boss Juan Ignacio Martinez wants his depleted side to bounce back from their midweek cup drubbing by seeing off Primera Division basement dwellers Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

The Valencia side lost 4-1 to their city rivals in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final on Thursday, which followed on from last weekend's 3-0 league defeat by Athletic Bilbao.

Levante remain in fourth place but have picked up only seven points from their last nine games and also have selection problems, with captain Sergio Ballesteros and Juanfran suspended while Ruben Suarez, Jose Barkero and goalkeeper Keylor Navas are all injury doubts.

Martinez admitted their trip to the Mestalla had been something of a nightmare, saying: "Without detracting from the opponent, this game was not good for us.

"At 3-1, the game was difficult. We tried to make it 3-2, and we could have done it, but it was they who, with some luck, made it 4-1 on a rebound. Now we have to lift our mood and think about Sunday's game against Zaragoza."

Some positive news for Martinez is that midfielder Juanlu, who is currently out with a broken leg, has signed a new one-year deal with the option of another 12 months.

If Levante are to get back to winning ways, then this weekend appears the perfect opportunity, with Zaragoza rooted to the bottom of the table and having picked up only two points on the road this season.

Striker Luis Garcia conceded time is running out, telling Efe: "With every game we have less time to react and now is the moment to start taking risks.

"There are still 20 games left and we have to start winning games. Taking a point is okay but a point isn't enough for us right now."

The visitors could have a new name in their line-up on Sunday with Croatia international Tomislav Dujmovic signing on loan from Dynamo Moscow until the end of the season this week.