PREVIOUS MATCH
Week 8 of La Liga pitted Deportivo de la Coruña against FC Barcelona at Riazor Stadium. It was one of the most thrilling games of the season, as the Balugrana narrowly edged the home team by five goals to four. Leo Messi grabbed a hat trick while Tello and Jordi Alba scored one goal apiece, Deportivo’s goal scorers were Pizzi (2), Bergantiños and Jordi Alba (og).
FORM GUIDE
Deportivo’s 17 points from 26 matches have relegated the Galician team to the last place of the table. Of their last five matches, they’ve lost four and tied one. The defeats came at the hands of Getafe (3-1), Granada (0-3), Sevilla (3-1), and Real Madrid (1-2). The draw was secured last week at Riazor against Rayo (0-0).
Games like the one on Saturday are often referred to as ‘partidos trampa’ (booby-trap games) in Barcelona because the visiting team’s lowly position in the table might give way to a premature sense of optimism and overconfidence. However, what makes Deportivo a dangerous rival is precisely its position in the table. Fernando Vázquez’s men need 8 points to climb out of the relegation zone, and with only 12 matches left on the schedule this season, every point is worth its weight in gold.
ONES TO WATCH
Unfortunately, Fernando Vázquez will be without his top scorer on Saturday, Riki, due to injury. However, Pizzi, the player that kept Deportivo in the match against FC Barcelona on Week 8 with two goals, will feature against the Blaugrana on Saturday. He’s found the back of the net 7 times in his 24 league appearances for the Galician team in addition to providing 5 assists.
