Eldense faces Real Zaragoza this Monday at 20:30 in a decisive LaLiga clash at Nuevo Pepico Amat. The goal for the Alicante club is clear: break a two-month winless spell and close the gap toward safety, aiming to put pressure on Zaragoza, their rival for permanence in the standings. Zaragoza has shown resilience in recent outings but has collected only one victory in the last five matches played under pressure, making this confrontation a pivotal moment for both teams.
The duel pits Eldense’s hopes for stability in the league against a Zaragoza side that could swing the balance in its favor with a strong road performance. The visitor from Aragon sits just three points ahead of Eldense, with 26 points for the home team and 29 for the guests. A win for Eldense would narrow that gap and could even bring them level on points, depending on other results, underscoring the match as a crucial step toward maintaining top-flight status this season.
Historically, Eldense has struggled to translate home opportunities into victories. Their last home win occurred on November 5, 2023, when they defeated Burgos 2-0 at Nuevo Pepico Amat. The most recent home success before that was a 1-3 triumph over Andorra. Since then, the home turf has not yielded a tally in the win column, adding extra pressure to the upcoming fixture.
Commenting on the task ahead, Eldense’s coach Fernando Estévez emphasized the need to improve home results to secure the club’s objective of staying in LaLiga. He noted that Zaragoza is a formidable opponent at home and is among the better visiting sides in the division, a reminder that the match will require focus, discipline, and tactical clarity from the hosts.
For this match, Eldense will count on newly added defender Nacho Monsalve and forward Mo Dauda after both players joined in the transfer window and have begun integrating into the team’s rhythm. The squad will also benefit from the return to fitness of winger Álex Martínez, who had been sidelined for nine months with an injury and is now available for selection after recovery. These reinforcements could provide the extra spark needed to energize Eldense in attack and strengthen the defense against a stubborn Zaragoza unit.
On the Zaragoza side, Florin Andone will miss the game due to a knee sprain and remains unavailable until February. Midfielder Youness Lachhab is also sidelined in the final stages of his recovery. Despite these absences, Real Zaragoza eyes a fresh start in the new calendar year. Julio Velázquez, the former Salamanca coach who took charge after the late November change that replaced Fran Escribá, will aim to lift the team’s performance. Since his arrival, Zaragoza has registered one win in five league matches, with draws against Espanyol, Amorebieta, and Levante, and a setback against Albacete. Positioned 14th in the table with 28 points and five points adrift of the promotion zone, the Aragon squad will seek a constructive run of results to turn the season around.
The match is widely seen as a barometer of both teams’ confidence and resilience. For Eldense, it represents an opportunity to demonstrate progress under Estévez and prove that the home form can translate into critical wins. For Zaragoza, it’s a chance to reassert themselves after a streak of inconsistent results and to begin closing the gap toward the playoff places. With the league landscape in flux, every point matters, and this Monday evening encounter could shape the trajectory of the rest of the season for both sides. The tactical chess game, the timing of pressing, and the efficiency in front of goal will likely determine which team seizes control and which one fails to capitalize on early momentum. In the broader context, the result could influence how each club approaches the January transfer window and the strategic decisions that follow as the season progresses toward its final stretch, when every match carries heavier significance for survival and ambition alike. This fixture offers more than three points; it is a statement about intent and a test of both squads’ ability to close the year on a confident note.