It’s been a moderate start to the season for Deportivo La Coruna, who approach Monday’s game against Getafe without a goal to their name, yet they have already picked up two points in the early stages of this campaign.
Low scoring encounters were the speciality of the Galician side last term and having maintained their defensive resilience over the summer, the Riazor side have failed to add to their offensive firepower, leaving themselves in a very similar position to which they found themselves last term.
Sevilla were impressive stifled at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last weekend after an opening day home stalemate against Zaragoza. Miguel Angel Lotina was content with the performance last weekend, considering after the game to AS: “In the first half we were pretty good, moving the ball, without creating any clear chances, but competing fairly evenly. Sevilla tightened a lot after the break and the game was tougher then.
“We drew against a great team that shows a big physical intensity and is in more of a rhythm in official matches.”
Striker Adrian missed Depor’s best chance to win last weekend’s encounter, but he remains unconcerned about the club’s lack of goals thus far. “It is said that we don’t score goals and for me it isn’t weird,” he noted. “Just as we could win 3-0 against Getafe and people will no longer talk of it, these stories are like this. Honestly, I am not worried.
“if we don’t score the goals, then it’s normal to hear people talking. We are the main responsible for it and sincerely we are the first ones who want to fix it.”
A third scoreless draw in succession would be a frustrating manner in which to start the campaign, but that would much preferred to a high scoring loss.
Leave A Good Taste In The Mouth
Getafe have begun the season in a very different fashion to their frugal hosts. Michel’s men have seen goals galore in each of their last three competitive fixtures, which have produced a total of 12 strikes. The majority of these have been in favour of the Madrid men, who will look to keep the momentum of a two match winning streak going as they enter a frantic period of the season.
A 3-1 defeat at the hands of Espanyol on La Liga’s opening weekend was a disappointing way to start the campaign, but this was quickly followed up by a cathartic success over a Levante side who have started the term in a frightfully sluggish manner. Proving this was no fluke, los Azulones then wrestled their way to a 2-1 success over OB in midweek in Europa League play.
Michel was rather angry after the midweek success, lambasting the first half performance of his men. “At half time we talked and did not talk football or modifying positions on the pitch,” he stated to AS. “We appealed for pride and said we must be satisfied with what we do. It's something personal in each one of us. Everyone has to contribute a part to it. If we don't, the team appears vulgar, tasteless, sad, and that's not Getafe.”
Monday night football has sparked something of a debate in Spain, and Michel is one of the coaches against it. He has appeared in Marca stating that players should be given some time off, criticising the packed schedule of fixtures his team face at present.
The reality is that Geta will simply have to make do for the moment as they try to re-establish themselves as a top half club.
TEAM NEWS
Deportivo La Coruna
The big worry for the hosts is over Andres Guardado, who has struggled to train fully over the course of the last week. He trained only lightly on Friday due to a thigh problem, though Depor’s medics are yet optimistic over his participation.
Juan Dominguez also has thigh problems and will be missing for a couple more weeks. Dani Aranzubia, on the other hand, will at least make the bench.
Probable Starting XI: Manu; Manuel Pablo, Colotto, Lopo, Morel; Juca, Rodriguez; Urreta, Michel, Guardado; Riki
Getafe
Michel was left frustrated on Thursday by an injury to Jaime Gavilan, which will keep him out for a fortnight, which is a massive blow considering the form the winger showed last weekend.
Otherwise there has been good news on the injury front as both Manu Del Moral and Juan Albin have managed to shake off problems to feature in this encounter.
Probable Starting XI: Ustari; M. Torres, Cata Diaz, Rafa, Mane; Boateng; Manu, Parejo, Mosquera, Miku; Colunga
Prediction
While Deportivo are generally involved in low scoring games, it’s the opposite for Getafe, which makes Monday’s match a tricky one to call. European fatigue will count against the visitors, who may be forced to rotate their squad fairly heavily after a tough midweek game. That should play into the hands of Depor, though whether they have the firepower to take advantage remains to be seen.
Deportivo 1-0 Getafe 
