The stakes couldn't be higher as Zaragoza welcomes Las Palmas to Ibercaja Stadium for a crucial Segunda División clash on January 4, 2026. The home side sits perilously at the bottom of the table with just 17 points from 19 matches, while Las Palmas rides high in second place, chasing promotion with an impressive 34 points. A victory for Zaragoza is not just about three points; it's about survival in a league where every match can spell the difference between hope and despair. For Las Palmas, this is a chance to solidify their title aspirations against a team desperate for redemption.
Predicted Lineups
Zaragoza: GK: Esteban Andrada, DEF: Carlos Pomares, Pablo Insua, Aleksandar Radovanović, Dani Tasende, MID: Keidi Bare, Raúl Guti, Francho Serrano, FWD: Kenan Kodro, Sinan Bakış.
Las Palmas: GK: Dinko Horkaš, DEF: Enrique Clemente, Mika Mármol, Sergio Barcia, Marvin Park, MID: Manuel Fuster, Lorenzo Amatucci, Enzo Loiodice; FWD: Jesé Rodríguez, Miloš Luković.
Zaragoza enters this match following a series of draws that hints at resilience but ultimately underscores a lack of finishing prowess. They have drawn three of their last five games and only secured one win in that stretch-a narrow and hard-fought triumph over Leganes (3-2) where they dominated possession with 63%. However, inconsistency has plagued them; despite holding over 50% ball possession in several recent outings-including their latest fixture against Burgos-there's a worrying trend: only two goals scored in their last three matches tells you all you need to know about their offensive struggles.
In contrast, Las Palmas seems to have hit their stride after bouncing back from a loss against Castellón with an emphatic 4-0 win against Cultural Leonesa. Their attack is buoyed by the dynamic duo of Jesé Rodríguez and Manuel Fuster-who collectively provided seven goal contributions in recent weeks-and their ability to exploit defensive weaknesses. Their pass accuracy hovers around a stellar 90%, significantly eclipsing Zaragoza's numbers.
What stands out in this matchup? Defensively sound teams like Las Palmas are known to frustrate opponents who can't convert chances-something Zaragoza will find particularly challenging given their current form. Last time out against Cadiz-a game they lost 1-2-they allowed zero shots on target from the visitors but still couldn't find the back of the net until late into the game.
Statistically speaking, here's where both teams will go toe-to-toe:
- Possession Battle: Expect Las Palmas to dictate tempo with quick transitions. They've boasted an average possession rate above 55% compared to Zaragoza's troubling figure below that mark recently.
- Shots and Conversion Rate: Here lies Zaragoza's primary hurdle-they've struggled mightily with conversion rates despite having more total shots than some recent opponents (20 total shots against Leganes). With only four goals across five games coming off these chances reveals glaring finishing issues-something that simply cannot happen against an organized defense like Las Palmas.
- Defensive Duels: In terms of tackling and winning duels-essential stats when facing off against quick attackers like Jesé-Las Palmas has proven effective with defenders such as Sergio Barcia boasting nearly eight successful tackles per game while maintaining pressure without conceding unnecessary fouls (just one yellow card last match). On the flip side, Zaragoza's disciplinary woes could be detrimental; they've seen multiple players pick up cards lately which could leave them vulnerable.
This match poses key individual battles as well: Look for Kenan Kodro's positional awareness as he faces off against Enrique Clemente-the young defender has been instrumental in marshaling his team's rear guard with formidable physicality paired alongside clever positioning. If Kodro can find space amidst Las Palmas' disciplined setup or connect effectively with midfielders like Raúl Guti or Francho Serrano-as he did during that pivotal win over Leganes-it could signal trouble for Los Amarillos.
Ultimately though-the tide may turn towards Las Palmas if they capitalize on any slip-ups from a scrambling Zaragoza backline who too often seem "on the ropes." Their defensive vulnerabilities became painfully evident during matches where they've dropped points through miscommunication or lackadaisical tracking on set pieces.
Given all angles analyzed here-head-to-heads favoring Las Palmas and statistical trends edging toward greater attacking potency paired alongside stable defense-the prediction leans firmly towards a triumphant away day for those clad in yellow. Look for goals from Jesé Rodríguez or Manuel Fuster-both firing on all cylinders-but expect something akin to maybe a crisp counter-attacking effort snatched by Lazarov amidst moments of brilliance as they seal off what promises to be an emotional rollercoaster at Ibercaja Stadium.
Expect fireworks!