Campos embraces debut at Nástic while warning Zaragoza budgets
On Friday, Xisco Campos stood beside captain Manel Royo and president Lluís Fábregas at the Santuario de Loreto, preparing for his first official match as head coach of Nástic de Tarragona in Primera RFEF, a debut that pits him against fellow rookie Ibái Gómez and anticipates at least 1,800 Zaragoza supporters at the Nou Estadi Costa Daurada.
Sparse coaching résumé
Campos arrives with a modest coaching résumé. He has overseen Mallorca’s reserve side and served on its technical staff in recent years, but this match marks his first appearance as head coach in Primera RFEF.
On the same day Ibai Gómez also makes his Primera RFEF debut for Real Zaragoza. Gómez’s background includes youth spells at Santutxu, a stint at Arenas and a brief 15‑round spell in Andorra.
High stakes at Nou Estadi
“Real Zaragoza and other teams, at budget and name level, have big squads,” Campos admitted, noting his Binissalem roots. He added, “Budgets don’t always translate into results; we must focus on ourselves and avoid excuses.”
Campos praised Zaragoza’s clear identity and interior play, saying he does not expect major tactical changes. “They want to take the initiative and each player will have moments with the ball,” he said of Ibai’s side.
Ticket sales suggest at least 1,800 Zaragoza supporters will travel to the Nou Estadi Costa Daurada, while the visitor zone has been expanded to accommodate 2,430 fans. The club expects a high‑turnout atmosphere.
El Nástic de Tarragona is familiar ground for Campos, who defended the badge for six seasons in the first team. He captained the side that achieved historic promotion to the 2ª División A in the 2014‑15 season.
The summer window saw NÁSTIC DE TARRAGONA add up to 19 players, including former Zaragoza midfielder Sinan Bakis and ex‑Zaragoza midfielder Eugeni Valderrama. Campos confirmed injuries to Fran Gil and Pere Marco, while doubts remain over Darío Ramírez, Àlex Almansa and Ismael Athuman.