Zaragoza vs Real Sociedad preview - Bravo wary of Zaragoza threat

Posted Sunday, February 10, 2013 by PA

Real Sociedad goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has stressed that his team need to be careful about being distracted by the prospect of European football ahead of their trip to Real Zaragoza.

The Basque outfit are eighth in the Primer Division table but just one point off the Europa League places.

In the past week midfielder Asier Illarramendi and coach Phillippe Montanier have alluded to the team qualifying for Europe but Bravo believes they should instead focus on getting consistent results to improve on their league position.

"When we look at the league table many things go through our heads but we are only focusing on beating Zaragoza, because that would allow us to get into the European places," said the Chilean at a press conference

"It is another opportunity to continue this good dynamic we are on and continue this run we have been on in the last few months.

"Zaragoza are a difficult team that play good football, and they have always made things difficult for us at their stadium."

Manolo Jimenez's side have the worst home record in the league this season, but Bravo played down the significance of that statistic.

"That doesn't fill me with confidence because the experiences we have had of going there have not been good at all," he said.

"In the last two years we've come away from there [Zaragoza] empty handed but we believe we can bring this poor run to an end."

Zaragoza are in a contrasting position to their opponents and are just four points above the relegation zone.

Full-back Jose Manuel Fernandez emphasised that the game with Real Sociedad was "super important" and promised his side would "go out and give everything" on the pitch.

"The three points would put us in a much more relaxed situation," he said.

Fernandez is more than aware of the club's poor form at home this season, and said the team would seek to change their fortunes at La Romareda, beginning on Sunday.

"We're going to just be ourselves and impose our style of play on the game. We need to make our stadium a fortress so we don't drop any more points there," he said.

Real Sociedad forward Diego Ifran has had to pull out of the squad for the match due to a knee injury, while Abraham and Jose Mari are both suspended for Zaragoza.