Chasing the Big Leagues – Deportivo La Coruna (Spain Segunda)

Just Football’s Tales from Tier Two series continues now with a look at the promotion chances of Deportivo La Coruña in Spain’s Segunda Division:

Deportivo La Coruna

Deportivo have a three point lead on Valladolid and Hercules going into week 22 as the blanquiazules aim to bounce back to La Liga at the first time of asking. After an inconsistent opening 14 fixtures Depor have won 6 and drew 1 of their last 7 fixtures (including 5 straight wins) up to a 1-0 win over a lowly Villarreal B side on Saturday.

Historically Deportivo are one of the strongest teams in Spain. The club has 1 league title to its name (1999/2000) and, at the zenith of a turbulent period in the club’s history, Deportivo reached the semi final of the Champions League as recently as 2004 knocking out Juventus & AC Milan before bowing out to Porto. They also competed in the UEFA Cup in the 2008/09 season. Until relegation last season the lowest Deportivo had finished in La Liga since 1992 was a 13th placed finish in 2006/07 and in that period had only finished outside the top 10 on 2 occasions.

Jose Luis Oltra is the man charged with bringing top tier football back to the Riazor. Oltra made his managerial name in a three year tenure at Tenerife before a spell at Almeria, and joined Deportivo in the summer. Following relegation Adrian left the club to join Atletico Madrid and Getafe picked up Alberto Lupo and Juan Rodriguez as Oltra tried to find the right balance to mount a promotion push.

Oltra brought in left back Ayoze from Mallorca but he has failed to impress the vociferous Riazor public and rumours are abound of the club trying to recruit former Villarreal fullback Joan Capdevila from his unsuccessful spell at Portuguese giants Benfica. Depor also raided Portugal’s top league to bring in Diogo Salamao on loan from Sporting Lisbon and Bruno Gama from Rio Ave. Oltra is also believed to be interested in strengthening his options up front in the transfer window with his scouts currently keeping an eye on Portugal. Real Betis forward Jorge Molina is also thought to be on his radar.

Tunisian forward Lassad Nouioui has notched 7 league goals whilst Mexican Jose Andres Guardado, a big money signing from Atlas in 2008 has top scored with 8 so far from midfield. The home form has been key in the 1st half of the season, conceding less than a goal a game and winning 9 of the 11 games played at the Riazor. An experienced back line with an average age of 28, marshalled by goalkeeper Aranzubia, has proved difficult to breach and if Deportivo can recruit a proven striker to convert the chances then the Riazor will be witnessing La Liga football again very soon.

Position: 1st

Points clear of chasing pack: 3

Will they last the pace or tire in the race? Last the pace – the strongest team in the league but will need to revamp and add some youth to the ageing squad in the summer.

Predicted Final Position: 1st

Key Man: Jose Andres Guardado – Capped 77 times by Mexico the midfielder could add to his 2 player of the year awards already won in Coruna.

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Deportivo la Coruña, Spanish Primera Division, Spanish Segunda Division, Tier Two Football