Going into the weekend’s action, Deportivo La Coruna are Hercules both command positions in the lower mid-table reaches of the Primera Division. Victory in their Monday night clash promises the relative safety of a firm footing in the middle order, and both clubs will be eager to attain that.
For Deportivo, a poor run of early season form suggested that it could be a long season. But the Galicians have shaken those blues and have settled into a far more settled pattern, earning 10 points from their last five fixtures.
The brakes were put on Miguel Angel Lotina’s side to some extent last weekend as they went down 1-0 against Racing Santander, but the positive momentum enjoyed by the northerners has not yet abated and they will approach Monday’s match with real optimism.
“We can still improve when we have the ball possession,” Lotina told the press this week. “I don’t know if people have the same impression, but I think that we are a team with doubts, because we are still failing when we have the ball.
“The most important thing in football is the pass, and we are not good on that. The other day we missed several passes and it in that way is very hard to create scoring opportunities. All the trainings on this week are related to the ball possession.”
If Lotina’s hard work on the training ground pays dividends, Deportivo should have few problems picking up maximum points.
Careful
While solidarity and reliability are traits that could be attributed to Deportivo, they are certainly not words associated with the Hercules team that is cutting its way into the middle of the Primera Division table in a rather unconventional manner. Esteban Vigo’s side have been wonderfully unpredictable, winning unexpectedly at Camp Nou but failing in more mundane challenges.
Prior to last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Levante, which was a win unexpected precisely because it was so expected, the Alicante side had fallen close to the relegation dogfight and were nearing the teeth of the battle before they picked up three valuable points. Inevitably, it was star duo Nelson Valdez and David Trezeguet who scooped the goals.
“We've done it the way hard because we scored a goal but were then tied on the next,” Vigo complained after the game. “We cannot make these mistakes because if we played another team, we would be talking about something else.
“We have to play carefully and keep a clean sheet and, well, maybe with a goal we can win the games that we have not managed to.”
Given Deportivo’s defensive resilience, it is important that Hercules stay tight at the back, as even Trezeguet and Valez will struggle to pick a hole in the hosts’ watertight rearguard.
TEAM NEWS
Deportivo
Michel, Juca and Riki are all out injured. Andres Guardado has overcome such problems but hasn't been selected.
Hercules
Juan Calatayud and Royston Drenthe return to the squad in the only changes made by Esteban Vigo.
Prediction
As tends to be the case whenever Deportivo La Coruna play, a tight game should be anticipated. In recent weeks the Galicians have improved offensively and have a right to expect that they can narrowly edge their recently promoted opponents, who nevertheless possess a real sting in attack.
Deportivo 1-0 Hercules 
