Preview: Zaragoza vs Real Madrid (League Day 2)

Real Madrid make their debut in the 2011/12 edition of the Spanish League against Zaragoza at La Romareda tonight at 20:00 (Local Time -GMT +1-). The Whites haven't lost a single game in the championship at Zaragoza's stadium in the past ten years. The Whites will look to keep up the good work they did throughout the summer, which gave them their best preseason in 24 years.

Zaaragoza vs Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has always won the league title in his second year at the helm of all his teams. The coach called-up 20 men for the match, including Fabio Coentrao, who will return to the stadium in which he made his debut in La Liga as a loaned out player to Zaragoza in the 2008/09 campaign. Granero will miss the match due to coaching decisions, as well as Altintop, Sahin and Khedira, who are all out because of injuries. Youth teamer Mandi made the coach's cut.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema form the top scoring attacking duo in the First Division this summer. The Portuguese player will try to at least equal last season's 40 goal tally, which made him the most effective striker in the top five European leagues of the last 40 years. Benzema scored in his team's last two matches and currently averages one goal per match and holds a total tally of 10.

On other hand, Coentrao already knows La Romareda. The Portuguese was on loan at Zaragoza in 2008-09 (Second Division). He came from the Camacho's Benfica as part of Aimar's transfer. And in his first adventure in Spain, only played seven minutes in a game that was already finished against Alaves (4-2). He was disgusted with his situation and in December, three months after his arrival, he returned to Benfica. Today, with Khedira injured, he will return to Zaragoza in the midfield alongside Xabi Alonso.

Javier Aguirre was instrumental in getting Zaragoza out of the relegation zone last season. The Mexican coach's chief objective this campaign will be to avoid such an agonising end to the year. Despite the absence of Ander Herrera, Zaragoza have strengthened themselves with ten new signings, including Real Madrid academy players David Mateos and Juan Carlos, neither of whom will play tonight.

Goalkeeper Roberto returned to the team this summer. They also count on the talents of young midfielder Zaculini and on the experience of Fernando Meira, who played for Mourinho in the 2000/01 season. Zaragoza won none of their five encounters in the preseason, but they are nevertheless a dangerous opponent, which they proved by winning at the Bernabeu last season.