La Liga Preview: Deportivo La Coruna - Atletico Madrid

Completely Focused

Deportivo la Coruna have been in great form this season, and they look like serious contenders for a place in the Champions League next season as they trail Valencia and Sevilla by two and three points respectively.

But Depor, who currently stand fifth on 19 points, have been somewhat inconsistent in their last few matches, being held by Murcia and Sporting Gijon, so they will need to pick up the pace to get anything out of this match.

Despite Atletico Madrid's frustrating form this season, Depor striker Adrian Lopez has warned his side against complacency, saying his team will have to be fully focused on Saturday.

"Atletico are a team that are in a bad moment, but they can beat you; besides, they play well at the Riazor and we will have to be focused from the first until the last minute because if you make any mistake they can score," he told AS.

Must-Win Situation

Atletico Madrid have been the big disappointment of the season, and questions remain about whether changing the coach will result in an actual improvement in the capital side's fortunes.

With just seven points from 10 league matches, the Colchoneros are currently in the relegation zone and they contain the worst defence of the league, with 22 goals conceded.

Moreover, Atletico travel to the Riazor on Saturday on the back of their worst away run of the past four years, having picked up just one point from five matches.

Coach Quique Flores, who oversaw today's training after recovering from swine flu, had plenty of time to think his squad through following the international break and he has indicated his men will be "strongly committed for the match".

"I hope I will end my pathetic week with a victory. I started the week really bad because of the illness but I hope it will end well," he said at a press conference.

FORM GUIDE

Deportivo La Coruna

November 10 Deportivo la Coruna 0-0 Real Murcia (Copa del Rey)

November 7 Getafe 0-2 Deportivo la Coruna (La Liga)

November 1 Deportivo la Coruna 1-1 Sporting Gijon (La Liga)

October 28 Murcia 0-1 Deportivo la Coruna (Copa del Rey)

October 25 Valladolid 4-0 Deportivo la Coruna (La Liga)

Atletico Madrid

November 10 Atletico Madrid 6-0 Marbella (Copa del Rey)

November 7 Atletico Madrid 2-3 Real Madrid (La Liga)

October 31 Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)

October 27 Marbella 0-2 Atletico Madrid (Copa del Rey)

October 24 Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Mallorca (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Deportivo la Coruna

Brayan Angulo, Juca and Rodolfo Bodipo have all been ruled out of the match because of injury, while Sergio Gonzalez is serving a one-match suspension.

Striker Riki has been included in Miguel Angel Lotina's squad plans for this encounter after his one-match ban was suspended.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Aranzubia; Manuel Pablo, Diego Colotto, Lopo, Filipe Luis; Valeron, Antonio Tomas, Juan Rodriguez, Guardado; Lassad, Adrian.

Atletico Madrid

Jose Antonio Reyes, Antonio Lopez and Juanito have recovered from their respective knocks and should feature as starters tomorrow. Diego Forlan only landed in Madrid on Friday but Quique Flores has decided to include him in his plans for the encounter.

Tomas Ujfalusi has been ruled out of the tie with a minor injury,
while Leandro Cabrera, Roberto Jimenez and Mariano Pernia are not part of Flores' plans for Saturday's clash.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Asenjo; Antonio Lopez, Juanito, Pablo, Luis Perea; Paulo Assuncao, Cleber Santana, Simao Sabrosa, Jurado, Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Deportivo la Coruna - Juan Rodriguez

The 27-year-old midfielder has been influential for Depor's success this season, and he will look to provide consistency to his team once again.

Atletico Madrid - Sergio Aguero

With his striking partner, Diego Forlan, returning from international duty just 24 hours before the match, it seems all eyes will be on Aguero to find the back of the net for the Colchoneros.

PREDICTION

Atletico Madrid showed a renewed face against Real Madrid a fortnight ago, but Deportivo la Coruna's good form should prove to be a major headache for the visitors here.

Deportivo la Coruna 2-1 Atletico Madrid

Luís Mira, Goal.com