Zaragoza vs Villarreal preview - Lanzaro not lacking heart for fight

Real Zaragoza defender Maurizio Lanzaro has again stressed the need for his side to keep fighting until the end of the season despite the looming threat of relegation.

The Aragonese side are bottom of the table and 12 points from safety, but Lanzaro insists they must show more heart than in their 5-1 defeat to Malaga last weekend.

He told the club's website: "We won't throw in the towel. Until it is mathematically assured that we are in the Segunda Division we are not going to walk away from the fight."

Indeed Zaragoza's second-half performance in Malaga was so bad that even coach Manolo Jimenez said he had been ashamed of it and Lanzaro understands Jimenez's frustration.

"We have to respect our supporters and our work," he said. "We are professionals and we have to give everything on the field.

"The match with Villarreal is fundamental, although we would still be nine points behind which is a lot, it would allow us to face the next game with a different mindset."

Jimenez has selection problems in attack as Helder Postiga has been ruled out and Juan Aranda is also a doubt, but Apono should return in midfield after he was not able to play against Malaga due to a clause in his loan deal.

Villarreal boss Jose Molina believes that his side will have to perform from the first minute if they are to take what would be a vital three points at La Romareda.

He told the club's website: "We have to go out to win and leave a good image in La Romareda. Perhaps it has been difficult for Zaragoza to come back after conceding the first goal this season, but we don't know if it will always be this way.

"The important thing is to try and win the match, if we don't concede then it will be easier, but we need to have an equilibrium because if we only defend we aren't going to win. We have to go for the game from the off."

Molina has problems of his own up front as Marco Ruben is out with a muscle injury and Nilmar is a doubt, so Martinuccio should make only his second start.