Real Zaragoza remain top on the strength of their numbers and resilience

Real Zaragoza remain leaders after a frenetic match that ended in a draw. The team stood up to Atlético B without giving in, then made up with heart for what it had lost in its play. “Real Zaragoza have always been a 4-4 team”: the phrase captures a side willing to embrace open games and exchanges of goals.

That resilience comes not only from determination but also from the team’s competitive identity. Its attacking ambition is reflected in its volume of shots. Zaragoza have attempted 114, the highest total in the competition, according to analysis platform WyScout. Ibai Gómez summed up the approach with a maxim: “there is no greater risk than not taking risks.”

Zaragoza’s game also depends on its response when possession is lost. The team then presses its opponents, allowing them fewer passes per possession than any other side, according to the figures cited. In this way, it seeks to dictate the pace of the competition.

The statistical picture adds weight to Zaragoza’s position at the top, but the next fixture will provide another test of its strength: on Sunday, Zaragoza face Real Murcia, who are pursuing them both on the pitch and in the statistics. The leaders could then put into practice what their numbers already suggest.