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La Liga Preview: Getafe - Deportivo La Coruna

Getafe host Deportivo this Saturday and both teams will be looking for a win, but for entirely different reasons...

Nov 6, 2009 3:07:23 PM

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Pedro Leon, Getafe (MARCA)

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Kick-Off: Saturday, November 7, 2009, 20:00 CET - Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Getafe, Madrid

Dust Off And Keep Moving Forward

Getafe were perhaps a little unlucky to have faced Real Madrid after putting together a string of good results, but coach Michel will hope that the loss to Los Blancos was a minor hiccup in his team's bid to keep themselves on the road to Europe.

Sitting in eleventh place, Los Azulones have a great opportunity staring them in the face this weekend. A win over Deportivo will not only put them in the top half of the domestic table, but prove to other teams in the Spanish top-flight that Getafe are a team to be feared when they play on home soil.

With the knowledge that any team travelling to Coliseum Alfonso Perez will face major problems if they arrive with thoughts of taking three points, Michel will be able to focus his efforts on improving Getafe's performances away from home, and work towards a place in next season's Europa League.

Possession Means Nothing Without Goals

Deportivo La Coruna's distinct lack of quality in front of goal of late has proven to be a major hindrance in the team's effort to remain near the head of the Spanish table. Despite dominating most of their previous fixture against Sporting Gijon, Depor failed to capitalise on several occasions.

Even if, in fairness, they might have had an early penalty after Riki was brought down by Juan Pablo, not too much sympathy can be thrown their way. Super Depor started off the season looking like a real force to be reckoned with, but now, struggling to find goals, the now sixth placed side look destined to slide down the table if Miguel Lotina can't figure out a solution to his team's problems.

Going into Saturday's clash with Geta, Lotina will hope that their hosts will be wounded after the loss to Real Madrid. However, the Spanish coach must first have a stern word with his goal scorers before he can hope to leave the now daunting Coliseum Alfonso Perez with any points.

FORM GUIDE

Getafe

Oct 30 Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe (Liga)

Oct 28 Getafe 2-0 Espanyol (Copa del Rey)

Oct 25 Getafe 2-0 Athletic Bilbao (Liga)

Oct 18 Mallorca 3-1 Getafe (Liga)

Oct 04 Getafe 2-1 Osasuna (Liga)

Deportivo La Coruna

Nov 01 Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Sporting Gijon (Liga)

Oct 28 Real Murcia 0-1 Deportivo La Coruna (Copa del Rey)

Oct 25 Real Valladolid 4-0 Deportivo La Coruna (Liga)

Oct 17 Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 Sevilla (Liga)

Oct 03 Tenerife 0-1 Deportivo La Coruna (Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Getafe

Trouble in the Geta camp includes injuries to David Cortes, Cosmin Contra and Fabio Celestini, while Kepa and Franck Signorino, yet again, have been omitted from the line-up altogether.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Ustari - Mane, Cata Diaz, Mario, Torres - Galivan, Boateng, Parejo, Pedro Leon - Soldado, Albin

Deportivo La Coruna

Both Andres Guardado and Lassad Nouioui look like they'll start for the visitors on Saturday, having recovered from slight knocks during the week. Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Juca is definitely a no-show for the showdown in Getafe due to his ongoing thigh problem.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Arazubia - Filipe, Colotto, Lopo, Manuel Pablo - Sergio, Tomas - Guardado, Riki, Juan Rodriguez - Lassad

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Getafe

Continuously impressing with his vision and agility, Pedro Leon just does not stop. Never a hindrance and always doing something positive with his possession, the young Murcian is sure to bump up his price tag with yet another gleaming performance.

Deportivo La Coruna

With two goals in seven games in La Liga this season, Tunisian striker Lassad Nouioui seems to be Depor's biggest threat in front of the opposition's goal. It's becoming increasingly likely that the 23-year-old will be deployed as a lone striker against Getafe, and his manager will be looking at him to create enough magic to give the hosts the advantage over their opponents.

PREDICTION

Michel, while still struggling to produce good results away from home, seems to have found some continuity on home soil, winning three out of three in Geta's last home games. Depor on the other hand, have produced a mixed bag of results for their efforts this season, rarely managing to score more than a single goal in each fixture. With that in mind, this pundit can't see past a comfortable win for the hosts.

Getafe 2-0 Deportivo La Coruna

Stephen Crawford, Goal.com

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