Real Zaragoza to face Utebo in first preseason friendly on Wednesday

Published Jul 29, 07:00 PM UTC

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Real Zaragoza will play its first proper preseason friendly on Wednesday against Utebo FC in Boltaña, with kickoff at 6:30 PM and free entry for fans. The match, part of the team's preparation for the upcoming season, will allow coach Ibai Gómez to test his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and assess the physical condition of his squad after over a week of training. The squad includes 31 players, eight from the youth academy, with most players fit except reserve Iker Vadillo, who trained separately. The pitch condition is under last-minute inspection to ensure safety. Utebo, coached by former Zaragoza player Javi Suárez, has finished fourth in Segunda Federación for four consecutive years and aims for promotion. The friendly focuses on distributing playing time, assimilating tactics, and reconnecting with fans.

Source report

Real Zaragoza will play its first proper friendly match this Wednesday against Utebo FC, following a traditional training session in which it faced Deportivo Aragón during preseason.

Match Details

Date: Wednesday
Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Open doors event for fans to observe the new project's early developments

The match will serve to assess physical fitness after just over a week of training at the Ciudad Deportiva and three days in Boltaña. It will also provide an opportunity to evaluate how the tactical concepts worked on are beginning to take shape on the pitch.

Tactical Focus

The clash will allow observers to see Ibai Gómez's plans in action. He aims to test the 4-2-3-1 system, which is shaping up to be the main formation for the start of the season.

Squad Update

The large squad—comprising 31 players, including 8 youth academy members—is almost complete. Key updates include:

Bazdar and Saidu are training normally
Reserve team player Iker Vadillo was working separately alongside fitness coach Andrés Ubieto

Pitch Concerns

The match takes place under scrutiny, as the condition of the pitch is not ideal. Facility staff are checking the surface at the last minute to ensure the match proceeds without risks.

Opponent: Utebo FC

Utebo is led by Javi Suárez, a former blanquillo and ex-Deportivo Aragón coach from the 2016-17 season. Known for being competitive at the start of summer, Utebo's priorities for this test include:

Distributing efforts
Assimilating the new tactical formation
Giving playing time to footballers

This match marks a reunion with Zaragoza fans. Utebo has spent four years in the Segunda Federación, finishing in 4th place and qualifying for the playoffs, but has not yet achieved promotion to Zaragoza's current category.

Source: El Periódico de Aragón

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Source

Últimas NoticiasRegional

Original headline: El Real Zaragoza de Ibai Gómez echará a andar con el primer amistoso de pretemporada ante el Utebo en Boltaña

Original language: ES-ES

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