Prediction: Real Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna

3rd October 2010

Real Madrid can make no mistakes against Deportivo as Valencia and Barcelona are slowly getting away with los Merengues set to attack the visitors from the off. La Coruna sit deep in the relegation zone after losing at home to Almeria and this is clearly not the game where they should be searching for points needed to survive.

Jose Mourinho is still getting to grips with his new job and the media attention surrounding it, but it is evident the team aren’t playing in the way he would have liked. The Portuguese did manage to patch up leaky defence with Real keeping no less than 6 clean sheets in 7 games this season, and if he succeeds in improving the scoring record without upsetting the balance of the side, Real will become a force to be reckoned with. The narrow win over Auxerre helped the players win back some of the confidence damaged by the slip up against Levante and they now enter this match in high spirits. Despite the poor scoring form they are in, Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain should prove too much for Depor’s defence and Real could finally record a comprehensive win. Pepe returns to the side after missing the Levante game through suspension, but Pedro Leon is again left out, just like Raul Albiol and Sergio Canales, who are short of match fitness.

Having finished last season in the upper half of the table, Deportivo were expected to start the season strongly, especially as had had a pretty good fixture list. Nonetheless, injuries to key players clearly destabilized the team and Depor subsequently picked up just 3 points from first 5 games, while slipping into the relegation zone in the process. On top of that, the team failed the opponent’s net in four of those five games, so we can hardly expect the poor run to end at Santiago Bernabeu. Everything suggests the visitors are unlikely to score in Madrid, but the back line will certainly have their work cut out in this match even if keeper Daniel Aranzubia should take his place between the sticks for the first time this season. Nevertheless, Miguel Angel Lotina is without Diego Colotto and Juan Carlos Valeron through suspension and injury respectively, while Michel and Riki remain long-term absentees.

Conclusion

Real are clearly making progress under Jose Mourinho, who already managed to sort out team’s defence, which was the right thing to do as Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain are bound to come good any time now. With Deportivo missing so many key players and largely struggling up front, they stand little chance of scoring a goal, let alone getting something from the game, so Real’s win should never come into question. There is also a good value in backing Real to win to nil.

Verdict: Home win Real (1)

Best Odds: 2/11

Bookmaker: Paddy Power