La Liga Preview: Barcelona - Deportivo La Coruna

One Small Step

All eyes were fixed on the Santiago Bernabeu last Saturday evening, where La Primera Division’s two title challengers, Real Madrid and Barcelona, met. Los Merengues were expected to put up a stiff test for their opponents, but Barca showed the capital side that they still have an additional gear, running out rather comfortable 2-0 victors in the end.

Three points clear of los Blancos and with a superior head-to-head record, Pep Guardiola’s side can now afford one slip-up in their last seven matches, and Lionel Messi has already confessed that last weekend’s success was a hugely significant one.

“Will this win us the league? There are still games left to go. We have some tough away matches, but yes, we took a big and important step tonight,” Messi told La Sexta after the match.

Coach Guardiola agreed, stating: “We are very satisfied... very happy. It’s a big win and we’ve taken an important step, even though there are still 21 points to play for.”

Having grabbed the initiative last weekend, Barca will be keen to keep a firm hold of it for as long as possible, which means securing a positive result against Deportivo La Coruna at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

The Catalans have dropped only two points at the venue this season, giving them the best home record in the league, and have already picked apart the Galicians 3-1 this term, so should approach Wednesday’s game with confidence.

Lost It

Having challenged for a European berth for so long this season, even at one stage threatening to finish in the top four, the conclusion to the campaign looks like being nothing more than a damp squib for Deportivo La Coruna, who travel to Camp Nou off the back of a six game winless streak.

On Sunday, Miguel Angel Lotina’s side would have felt well positioned to pick up three points against struggling Racing Santander, having taken a first minute lead through Riki. However, Depor contrived to complicate matters by leaking a late goal, leaving them five points behind sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao and very unlikely to mount a late run.

Only 16 points have been earned in their last 16 games, which encompasses each fixture they have played in La Liga since the turn of the year. Injury and suspension problems have hit the squad, and the Galicians have since been unable to rouse themselves.

Known for a rock solid defence in the first part of the campaign, it has now been ten league matches since the Riazor outfit kept a clean sheet, and with the strongest area of their side not functioning as smoothly as it might, the prospects of them picking up anything from a long journey to Catalunya would appear to be extremely remote.

FORM GUIDE

Barcelona

WON 2-0 (a) Real Madrid (Liga, April 10)

WON 4-1 (h) Arsenal (Champions League, April 6)

WON 4-0 (h) Athletic Bilbao (Liga, April 3)

DREW 2-2 (a) Arsenal (Champions League, March 31)

WON 1-0 (h) Mallorca (a) (Liga, March 27)

Deportivo

DREW 1-1 (h) Racing Santander (Liga, April 10)

LOST 3-0 (a) Atletico Madrid (Liga, April 4)

LOST 3-0 (h) Getafe (Liga, March 28)

LOST 2-1 (h) Sporting de Gijon (Liga, March 23)

LOST 2-0 (h) Valladolid (Liga, March 20)

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

After naming a side to face Real Madrid that wrong-footed pundits, Pep Guardiola is liable to go for a more conventional approach against Depor.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to miss training and is unlikely to feature in either of the coming two weeks, while Eric Abidal is also sidelined. Gerard Pique’s presence in the starting XI on Wednesday is questionable due to a knee problem.

Probable Starting XI: Valdes; Alves, Milito, Puyol, Maxwell; Toure, Xavi, Keita; Pedro, Messi, Iniesta

Deportivo

Manuel Pablo is a heavy doubt for Wednesday’s game as he has been reduced to training outside of the main squad due to a muscular complaint. Juan Dominguez, who has sprained his ankle, is also not certain of taking a place in the squad.

Certainly sidelined are the long-term injury concerns of Brayan Angulo and Filipe.

Probable Starting XI: Aranzubia; Laure, Lopo, Colotto, Carnero; Sergio, Tomas; Rodriguez, Adrian, Guardado; Riki

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Barcelona

It may have been Lionel Messi and Pedro who scored the goals that won El Clasico, but it was Xavi who was the mastermind behind the success. Totally dominated the middle of the field in his characteristic style and played two terrific passes to assist both of the games strikes. Lauded by many as the best midfielder in the world, expect the Catalan ace to shine again on Wednesday.

Deportivo

Central defender Diego Colotto is set to have a big influence on the midweek encounter. Playing alongside the steadier presence of Alberto Lopo, the 29-year-old Argentine must raise his game to at least the level of his partner if Depor are to hope to recreate the solid rearguard they possessed in the early stages of the campaign. With three goals this season, he could also be a valuable offensive weapon from set plays.

PREDICTION

One given the initiative Barca don’t tend to throw it away, though they have not looked entirely secure against Spain’s middle-ranked sides in recent times, posting their only defeat of the season against Atletico Madrid. Pep Guardiola won’t allow his side to slip in this game, and with Depor being a rather impotent attacking force, it is surely a case of how many la Blaugrana win by.

Barcelona 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna

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