Deportivo lose unbeaten record but salvage valuable point
Deportivo La Coruna lost their unbeaten record but scraped a valuable point in a 2-2 draw at Valencia, a topsy-turvy game which saw both teams forced to play most of the second half with 10 men.
Deportivo La Coruna lost their unbeaten record but scraped a valuable point in a 2-2 draw at Valencia, a topsy-turvy game which saw both teams forced to play most of the second half with 10 men.
"I am not happy even though we could have even lost this game. What makes me more angry is that we didn't know how to control the game when we had the advantage," fumed Deportivo coach Joaquin Caparros.
Diego Tristan opened the scoring for Deportivo after 24 minutes, picking his way through the Valencia defence before sending the ball over the head of goalkeeper Jose Luis Mora with an exquisite left foot shot.
After dominating the first 45 minutes, Deportivo should have had three points in the bag when Valencia were reduced to 10 men in injury time at the end of the first half.
Ruben Baraja was given a direct red card for a wild tackle on Manuel Pablo.
However, the 2003-04 Spanish champions forced themselves back into the game after the break.
David Villa equalized for Valencia from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after Deportivo defender Jorge Andrade had handled.
Deportivo's one man advantage was then wiped out after Pedro Munitis got his marching orders for a second yellow card just before the hour.
Portuguese international defender Miguel put Valencia into the lead with just 11 minutes to go with a stunning right foot shot from the edge of the box before Sergio Gonzalez got Deportivo back on level terms three minutes later.
"There were far too many absurd incidents and against a team like Deportivo that can often be very difficult to recover from. But I think we were better than them," said Valencia coach Quique Sanchez.
Real Mallorca had failed to score a goal in their first two outings but they made up for lost time with a 5-2 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Yordi Gonzalez headed the hosts in front after four minutes but goals from Alvaro Novo and Xabi Prieto gave the visitors from San Sebastian a 2-1 lead at the break.
However, four second half goals, including a hat trick from Juan Arango, got Mallorca their first points of the season.
Arango got his first two from headers with the space of four minutes early in the second half.
His third strike after 85 minutes from time will go down as one of the best goals of the season.
The Venezuelan international took a long pass on his chest and then spun round to volley the ball high into the net from just inside the box, before Lambros Choutos completed the scoring during injury time.
Celta Vigo, who started the weekend as the only unbeaten team apart from Deportivo, play host to Racing Santander on Sunday.
Real Madrid play at Espanyol also on Sunday, knowing that they have to win to restore their flagging reputation after two dismal defeats in the last week.
"It's normal that people want to analyze what's happening. It's not the first time I've had difficulties," said Real coach Wanderley Luxemburgo.
"Just because they don't understand the systems, they are looking for reasons (for the defeats). But I think when they take things into balance the results will speak for themselves. I've been playing eight months with this system."
Former World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane is still injured and so Jose Maria 'Guti' Gutierrez' retains his starting place in the Real midfield.
Luxemburgo also indicated that Danish international Thomas Gravesen will be on the bench and England captain David Beckham will form a partnership in the centre of the field with Pablo Garcia for the first time.
Reigning Spanish champions Barcelona will be looking for a good result at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, who have yet to score a goal.
Barca's Spanish international Xavi Hernandez will play his 200th league game for the Catalan club. At 25 he will become the youngest player to reach such a landmark.