|
|
Deportivo La Coruna 0-0 Valencia: Entertaining Stalemate At The Riazor
A better result for the visitors...
21-Dec-2009 3:24:27 AM
Deportivo La Coruna could not take advantage of their chances as they drew with a Valencia side happy with retaining the status quo in the Liga table.
Los Che thus finish 2009 in the top four, while the Galicians will wonder whether or not they need January reinforcements to break down the top sides.
This is not to say that Valencia, sans the injured David Silva, did not have a few chances of their own over the ninety. Indeed, Ever Banega looking especially dangerous throughout, but Deportivo had the better start, albeit without end product.
Andres Guardado and Juan Rodriguez did what they could, but not until the 27th minute was there a true chance. Adrian jinked in to get on the end of an excellent through ball down the left, the disappointing Alexis failing to deal with it, but the forward fired over the upright.
Soon afterwards Juan Rodriguez struck the bar with a looping header that Cesar should have dealt better with, before Juan Carlos Valeron in turn tested the Valencia defence from a corner.
Deportivo were defending well overall, working the offside trap to good effect. The only reminder that there was any threat from the visitors came from Banega, and also Villa, who shot just over on the turn before the break.
Ten minutes after an end-to-end restart, there was the best chance of the game. Valeron played a delayed one-two with the inventive Adrian, but from a one-on-one position sliced his shot high and wide from the volley.
On the hour mark Sergio then headed wide of the target when left absolutely unmarked. Deportivo's fans, loud in the wind and rain, kept the noise up, but belief was beginning to be in short supply.
In fact the closing stages grew scrappier as Valencia made it clear that they were happy with the point that would keep them two clear of their hosts. Mission accomplished in that sense; Unai Emery will be the happier of the two bosses, even though Miguel Angel Lotina's side had the better match.
Valencia are fourth on twenty-eight while Depor are seventh on 26 in the La Liga table.
Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com
Inside Goal.Com
-
The list of EPL targets from Euro 2012 Group A
With the transfer rumour mill set to kick into frenzy throughout this month's European Championship, Goal.com looks at which players could be heading for England this summer
-
Iniesta still making the difference for Spain
The ethereal midfielder remains Vicente del Bosque's most consistent performer as La Roja set out to retain their European crown in Poland and Ukraine
-
Euro 2012 Tactical Analysis: How far can Roy's masterplan take England?
England are a diminished lot, with the experienced players like Lampard, Gareth Barry and Gary Cahill all ruled out of the Euros. Goal.com's Sarthak Dubey analyses their chances..
-
Euro 2012 Trivia: Which team has the fewest combined caps among them?
Which is the least experienced team in Euro 2012? Time to test your knowledge, mate
-
Vote for your Goal.com World Player of the Week
Have your say on who you think should win Goal.com's weekly honour