Deportivo La Coruna 0-0 Valencia: Entertaining Stalemate At The Riazor

A better result for the visitors...

Dec 20, 2009 9:54:27 PM

More On :  Deportivo, Valencia CF, Deportivo vs Valencia CF, Deportivo vs Valencia CF
Banega, Mata, Joaquin, Pablo, Valencia, Lille (MARCA)

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.
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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
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