Liga Preview: Deportivo-Real Madrid
Both sides will be looking to put far from ideal starts behind them when they meet at the Riazor on Saturday night.
Both sides will be looking to put far from ideal starts behind them when they meet at the Riazor on Saturday night.
Deportivo first. Javier Irureta's side have been erratic to say the least and it's fair to say that many more slip-ups of the kind that saw them lose at Villarreal a couple of weeks back will see them out of the race for the title, and just trying to claim one of those four Champions League spots. At times they've looked insecure at the back (not helped by that unfortunate injury to new centre-back Jorge Andrade), while since the broken leg sustained by Juan Valeron, have lacked creativity in the middle of the park. Fran plays the role to the best of his ability but he isn't the Real McCoy. While they are getting by without the former Atletico Madrid man now, games against Real Sociedad, Milan and Barcelona will provide a true litmus test of just how reliant they are on the playmaker. How Irureta must rue allowed Djalminha to join Austria Vienna on loan.
Were it not for the goals of Roy Makaay Depor would be somewhat worse off than they are now in both competitions. Few Depor supporters would have predicted that the Dutchman could have madesuch an impact on the team's season, but it's fair to say that along with Filippo Inzaghi, he is Europe's in-form striker.
On Wednesday the Dutchman's late volley against Bayern Munich ensured that the German side will have to wait until next season until they see any European action again. The goal also took his side to within a whisker of qualifying for the next round. The matter is in their own hands as they travel to Milan for the final group game in a week and a half's time.
But what of Real Madrid? The Merengues may have qualified for the next round of Europe on Wednesday but the club have hit a major slump in form. The likes of Vicente Del Bosque, Zinedine Zidane and Roberto Carlos have been quick to dispel talk of a crisis but the stats say that since Ronaldo arrived in town, their club have won just one of six matches. Not that it would be fair to put the Merengues problems down to the Brazilian, but there have certainly been teething troubles since his arrival. Not through a lack of effort, mind you. It's more a case of finding the right balance, which can't be easy with so many outstanding individual players in one team.
Against Roma on Wednesday they could have lost by more than just the one Francesco Totti goal. The Italians had a number of chances and on another night could have scored three or four. Real had their chances, also, and will probably still be wondering how Santiago Solari failed to convert a header from point-blank range three minutes into injury time. Lets not allow that to paper over the cracks, though. The Merengues found it difficult to penetrate a resolute Roma defence, while their midfield weren't allowed to play as the Italians pressed up on the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo. The Portuguese, in particular, had a poor game along with Raul. Both can be forgiven, though, as they have only just recovered from injury.
FORM GUIDE
Deportivo Last Six matches: WLLLWW
The Galicians have experienced a recent upturn in fortunes, winning at Rayo and then at home to Bayern thanks to fine strikes from Victor and MaKaay. Prior to that they lost three on the trot to Racing, Villarreal and Lens.
Real Madrid Last Six Matches: WDLDDL
Since Ronaldo scored twice on his debut in that 5-2 thrashing of Alaves, Real have not won in five games. AEK have held them to two draws, while they have also lost to Racing and Roma. Last weekend Del Bosque's men were held by Villarreal at the Bernabeu despite going ahead thanks to a stunning Zidane strike.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Deportivo: Irureta must wait another two or three weeks before Valeron returns. Fran will continue to play in his position behind MaKaay. Scaloni and Caesar will play in the back four, while Juanmi continues to deputise for Molina.
PL (4-2-3-1): Juanmi; Scaloni, César, Naybet, Romero; Sergio, Mauro Silva; Víctor, Capdevila Fran; Makaay.
Real Madrid: Del Bosque has been dealt a blow with the news that Raul will miss the clash as he is suffering from acute gastro-enteritis. Makelele, Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo travel with minor injuries but should play. Cambiasso will continue in the midfield despite his mediocre form.
PL (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Cambiasso; Figo, Guti, Zidane, Ronaldo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Roy MaKaay (Deportivo): the Dutchman's hot streak just seems to go on and on. His midweek strike against Bayern was his 12th goal in all competition.
Ronaldo (Real Madrid): time for the Brazilian to deliver. He was on the receiving end of some whistles last week but he wasn't the only one. The fans see that he is putting the effort it, now he just needs the goals...