The lead-up to Christmas brought hope for Deportivo La Coruna that they might miss the worst of the relegation storm, but a poor run of results has been quick to suck them back into problems. Miguel Angel Lotina’s side may be stationed 13th in the table, but they are only four points clear of the bottom three, and the coach will want them to press on the accelerator immediately.
Over the course of their last three matches, Depor have failed to even muster a goal. Their defences were ripped to pieces in a 5-0 defeat at the Riazor against Barcelona before Valencia overcame them 2-0 on the east coast. Neither of these defeats was especially damaging, but the 1-0 loss in Zaragoza last weekend was an outcome that certainly leaves the Galicians with something to ponder.
“The feeling that I've got is that the players weren't conscious of the importance of the game,” Lotina told the media after the fixture. “The players just went out to see what could happen, and without scoring opportunities you can’t win in football.
“The game should have been a 0-0, but the players didn’t go out with ambition. We could have played worse, but we need more intensity, more will. We didn’t do the required things to win a Primera Division match.”
The pressure is clearly starting to tell on the coach, and a further defeat on Saturday will be another kick to the guts of the club.
Midweek Lament
Eleven points behind fourth-placed Valencia, the prospects of Sevilla reaching next season’s Champions League would appear to be slim. Having lost nine times already this season, los Nervionenses are well off their expected pace and only a remarkable resurgence in the closing months of the campaign will see them hit the targets they set for themselves at the campaign’s outset.
Defending their Copa del Rey title now looks like a difficult task too. Though los Rojiblancos played a hard game against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, they would ultimately go down 1-0 at home, leaving themselves a mammoth task of winning at the Bernabeu next week.
One incident in particular riled the Andalucian side, who felt that Luis Fabiano’s effort on the stroke of half-time hadn’t been successfully cleared by Raul Albiol on the goal line. “It was a very decisive moment for us, and perhaps may decide the tie during the second leg,” coach Gregorio Manzano lamented, though he would admit to being pleased with his side’s efforts overall.
“My players did not deserve to lose this match. We put in a great effort with a great attitude after they scored.”
Having gone well in the league since the turn of the year, Sevilla will want to maintain their strong form in rainy Galicia and cannot afford to be distracted by any lingering sense of injustice.
TEAM NEWS
Deportivo
There’s been more bad news for Andres Guardado, who has suffered yet another niggle to his hamstring. It could be three more weeks before the Mexican left-winger is able to play. Saul (knee) and Knut Olav Rindaroy (Achilles) are both problems too.
Manuel Pablo has been cleared to play after picking up a knock last weekend, while Michel and Riki are also available to coach Miguel Angel Lotina.
Sevilla
Sergio Sanchez and Romaric both picked up problems in midweek against Real Madrid and are hence extremely unlikely to play on Saturday. Frederic Kanoute is suspended.
Prediction
Defensive Deportivo La Coruna will attempt to keep this match tight, hoping to hit Sevilla on the counterattack. The Galicians don’t show a great deal of ambition even at home, and to that end they often invite their own problems. Los Nervionenses aren’t especially reliable opponents, and though they have been going better of late, victory after regular cup exertions may be too much to ask. One would expect Sevilla to come through, however.
Deportivo 0-1 Sevilla 
