Zaragoza's injury woes mount ahead of 'relegation final' at Cultural
Sellés sweating on fitness of key trio while El Yamiq's controversial red card appeal hangs in the balance before crucial Segunda División survival clash.
Real Zaragoza gaffer Rubén Sellés faces a proper selection headache ahead of Saturday’s crucial relegation scrap against Cultural Leonesa at the Reino de León stadium.
Fitness concerns plague squad
The injury list at Zaragoza continues to grow, with three key players currently nursing knocks:
- Dani Gómez
- Pablo Insua
- Nikola Cumic
None of this trio trained with the main group today, though there’s cautious optimism they’ll be available for what many are calling a proper six-pointer in the relegation dogfight.
Cumic’s situation had been particularly worrying after he hobbled off in the second half against Eibar, barely able to walk following a nasty knock to his knee. Thankfully for Sellés, medical assessments have ruled out any serious damage - just a bit of a scare rather than a lengthy layoff.
El Yamiq red card appeal
Perhaps the biggest concern for Zaragoza is the availability of defender Jawad El Yamiq. The Competition Committee meets Wednesday to review his controversial dismissal against Eibar.
If his red card isn’t rescinded, the club plans to exhaust all appeal options, recognizing how vital the centre-back is for such a massive relegation battle. His absence would be a right old Barney Rubble for Sellés’ defensive plans.
Additional absences
The treatment room at La Romareda isn’t exactly empty, with:
- Sinan Bakis confirmed out
- Pomares likely to remain sidelined with ongoing hip problems
This injury crisis explains why sporting director Txema Indias moved to sign Juan Larios for the left-back position, providing competition for Dani Tasende while the treatment room remains packed.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Zaragoza, with injuries accumulating at the same alarming rate as their relegation concerns. Each passing matchday seems to make their Segunda División survival mission increasingly complicated.