Played
January 16, 2011 11:00 AM EST
Estadio de Mestalla — Valencia
Referee: Alberto Undiano
Attendance: 47000
January 16, 2011 11:00 AM EST
Estadio de Mestalla — Valencia
Referee: Alberto Undiano
Attendance: 47000
La Liga Preview: Valencia – Deportivo La Coruna
After derby success last Sunday, los Che continue their quest for a top four finish against Depor...
By Robin Bairner
Going Strong
Without Copa del Rey action to consider following their elimination from the competition by Villarreal, Valencia can spend the next month fully focussed on their Primera Division duties. A top four finish last season carried the financially depleted club into the money-spinning Champions League, and a top four finish is once again the goal for Unai Emery.
Valencia presently look good to match that expectation. Los Che lie fourth in the standings, three points clear of surprise challengers Espanyol and seven ahead of a trio of teams including Atletico Madrid. While others start to fade, Valencia, who have not been without stutters themselves this term, are proving to be just too consistent.
Since losing 2-0 to Sevilla on the opening weekend of November, Valencia have lost only one of their eight subsequent matches in La Liga, and even that was against Real Madrid. Last weekend’s derby success against Levante may not have been spectacular, but it was a more comfortable match than the 1-0 scoreline suggested.
“I think we played a great game against a great rival, showing defensive strength and offensive efficiency,” Emery indicated to the press after the game.
With a strong record at home – five wins and three draws from nine matches – Valencia would expect to triumph on Sunday evening, though they will be in for another tough encounter against dogged rivals.
Focussed On La Liga
The opening weeks of the campaign were extremely worrying for Deportivo La Coruna, who failed to win any of their first eight league fixtures. Miguel Angel Lotina’s men have since bounced back impressively, gathering five wins from their last 10 matches and moving out of the relegation zone to something like a safe position.
Many of their best results have come at the Riazor, which was something of a stronghold for them this term until Barcelona visited last weekend. La Blaugrana made Super Depor look like amateurs by romping to an efficient 4-0 victory.
This season hasn’t all been about doom and gloom for the north-westerners, but coach Lotina is perfectly prepared to sacrifice the team’s one genuine chance of lifting silverware in order to maximise their performance in the league. The Galicians have made the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, but were lucky to escape Almeria only losing 1-0 in midweek, and Lotina confessed that the knockout competition is not a priority after the game.
“We have an eye focussed on doing well in the league, which is really important to us,” he told the media after watching his side get firmly outplayed by their hosts.
Having kept many of his best players in reserve, Thursday’s defeat will seem rather wasteful if Depor fail to shine at the Mestalla.
Valencia
David Albelda will be missing after undergoing exploratory surgery on his knee, which will require a month to overcome. David Navarro and Tino Costa could return to action as they have been training normally, though Unai Emery may take a conservative approach with the players. Aritz Aduriz is banned.
Deportivo
Deportivo named a 20-man panel for the matches against Almeria and Valencia, and this hasn’t changed subsequently. Ruben Perez drops out due to a ban.
Jonathan Urreta, Saul Fernandez, Andres Guardado, Michel, Riki and Claudio Morel comprise the club’s injury list.
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Without Copa del Rey action to consider following their elimination from the competition by Villarreal, Valencia can spend the next month fully focussed on their Primera Division duties. A top four finish last season carried the financially depleted club into the money-spinning Champions League, and a top four finish is once again the goal for Unai Emery.
Valencia presently look good to match that expectation. Los Che lie fourth in the standings, three points clear of surprise challengers Espanyol and seven ahead of a trio of teams including Atletico Madrid. While others start to fade, Valencia, who have not been without stutters themselves this term, are proving to be just too consistent.
Since losing 2-0 to Sevilla on the opening weekend of November, Valencia have lost only one of their eight subsequent matches in La Liga, and even that was against Real Madrid. Last weekend’s derby success against Levante may not have been spectacular, but it was a more comfortable match than the 1-0 scoreline suggested.
“I think we played a great game against a great rival, showing defensive strength and offensive efficiency,” Emery indicated to the press after the game.
With a strong record at home – five wins and three draws from nine matches – Valencia would expect to triumph on Sunday evening, though they will be in for another tough encounter against dogged rivals.
Focussed On La Liga
The opening weeks of the campaign were extremely worrying for Deportivo La Coruna, who failed to win any of their first eight league fixtures. Miguel Angel Lotina’s men have since bounced back impressively, gathering five wins from their last 10 matches and moving out of the relegation zone to something like a safe position.
Many of their best results have come at the Riazor, which was something of a stronghold for them this term until Barcelona visited last weekend. La Blaugrana made Super Depor look like amateurs by romping to an efficient 4-0 victory.
This season hasn’t all been about doom and gloom for the north-westerners, but coach Lotina is perfectly prepared to sacrifice the team’s one genuine chance of lifting silverware in order to maximise their performance in the league. The Galicians have made the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, but were lucky to escape Almeria only losing 1-0 in midweek, and Lotina confessed that the knockout competition is not a priority after the game.
“We have an eye focussed on doing well in the league, which is really important to us,” he told the media after watching his side get firmly outplayed by their hosts.
Having kept many of his best players in reserve, Thursday’s defeat will seem rather wasteful if Depor fail to shine at the Mestalla.
Valencia
David Albelda will be missing after undergoing exploratory surgery on his knee, which will require a month to overcome. David Navarro and Tino Costa could return to action as they have been training normally, though Unai Emery may take a conservative approach with the players. Aritz Aduriz is banned.
Deportivo
Deportivo named a 20-man panel for the matches against Almeria and Valencia, and this hasn’t changed subsequently. Ruben Perez drops out due to a ban.
Jonathan Urreta, Saul Fernandez, Andres Guardado, Michel, Riki and Claudio Morel comprise the club’s injury list.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Valencia 2-0 Deportivo
- 31.77 %
-
Valencia 2-1 Deportivo
- 14.58 %
-
Valencia 3-1 Deportivo
- 14.06 %
| La Liga (LIGA) | Jan 26, 2013 | Deportivo 2 - Valencia 3 |
|
| La Liga (LIGA) | Aug 26, 2012 | Valencia 3 - Deportivo 3 |
|
| La Liga (LIGA) | May 21, 2011 | Deportivo 0 - Valencia 2 |
|
| La Liga (LIGA) | Jan 16, 2011 | Valencia 2 - Deportivo 0 |
|
| La Liga (LIGA) | Apr 24, 2010 | Valencia 1 - Deportivo 0 |
|
Valencia
   |
||
| May 18, 2013 | Getafe 0 - Valencia 1 | LIGA |
| May 12, 2013 | Rayo Vallecano 0 - Valencia 4 | LIGA |
| May 4, 2013 | Valencia 4 - Osasuna 0 | LIGA |
| Apr 28, 2013 | Real Sociedad 4 - Valencia 2 | LIGA |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Valencia 5 - Malaga 1 | LIGA |
Deportivo
   |
||
| May 19, 2013 | Deportivo 2 - Espanyol 0 | LIGA |
| May 11, 2013 | Valladolid 1 - Deportivo 0 | LIGA |
| May 4, 2013 | Deportivo 0 - Atletico Madrid 0 | LIGA |
| Apr 29, 2013 | Betis 1 - Deportivo 1 | LIGA |
| Apr 21, 2013 | Deportivo 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1 | LIGA |
| 13 | Guaita | Goalkeeper |
| 23 | Miguel Brito | Defender |
| 33 | Marius Stankevicius | Defender |
| - | Dealbert | Defender |
| 22 | Jérémy Mathieu | Defender |
| 11 | Pablo Hernández | Midfielder |
| 10 | Ever Banega | Midfielder |
| 6 | Hedwiges Maduro | Defender |
| - | Vicente Rodríguez Guillén | Midfielder |
| 10 | Juan Mata | Striker |
| 9 | Roberto Soldado | Striker |
| - | Saúl | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Bruno | Defender |
| - | Alejandro Domínguez | Striker |
| 24 | Tino Costa | Midfielder |
| 5 | Mehmet Topal | Midfielder |
| 18 | Jordi Alba | Defender |
| 20 | Ricardo Costa | Defender |
| 1 | Dani Aranzubia | Goalkeeper |
| 15 | Laure | Defender |
| 5 | Alberto Lopo | Defender |
| 6 | Aythami | Defender |
| 3 | Diego Daniel Colotto | Defender |
| 2 | Manuel Pablo | Defender |
| 19 | Antonio Tomás | Midfielder |
| 28 | Juan Domínguez | Midfielder |
| 23 | Juan Rodríguez | Midfielder |
| 7 | Adrián | Striker |
| 36 | Niouoi Lassad | Striker |
| - | Manu | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Zé Castro | Defender |
| 23 | Knut Rindarøy | Defender |
| - | Yves Desmarets | Defender |
| 21 | Valerón | Midfielder |
| 6 | Juca | Midfielder |
| - | Pablo Álvarez | Midfielder |
13 
23 
33 
0 
22 
11 
10 
6 
0 
10 
9 
1 
15 
5 
6 
3 
2 
19 
28 
23 
7 
36 
Results
Times In EDT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
46 | 4 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
34 | 6 |
|
Radamel Falcao Striker Atlético de Madrid |
28 | 8 |
|
Roberto Soldado Striker Valencia |
21 | 5 |
|
Negredo Striker Sevilla |
20 | 3 |
