Barcelona vs. Deportivo La Coruna: Complete La Liga Preview, Team News
Barcelona will hope the visit of bottom club Deportivo la Coruna will prove the perfect antidote to three defeats in their last four games.
With AC Milan to come next week, Saturday's match provides an opportunity for Barca to get that shackle off their back of conceding in each of their last 13 matches.
Once Super Depor find themselves on their third manager of the season—Fernando Vazquez—and with each passing week slip close an instant return to La Segunda.
Ahead of this weekend's fixtures they're four points behind second bottom Mallorca, but most importantly they're eight points away from safety—only 12 games remain.
We've got all you need to know ahead of the match here...
Team News
1 of 4Barcelona:
La Blaugrana will be without Victor Valdes for Depor's visit. The goalkeeper was sent off after full-time in last weekend's Clasico and has since been given a four match ban.
Xavi Hernandez is also out, a relapse of a muscle injury which he had at the start of February will likely keep him out of the AC Milan tie too.
Elsewhere Jordi Roura will try to strike a balance.
He will want to play his team back into good form ahead of that vital Champions League tie, but he will also want to keep his players fresh.
Deportivo la Coruna:
Deportivo have concerns at the back ahead of the game in Catalunya.
Former Valencia and Villarreal defender Carlos Marchena is suspended and January signing Kaka is injured.
Versatile full back Laure is also a long-term absentee, so it will be a shaky back four which Vazquez puts out at Camp Nou.
The Galician's only hope is the unlikely scenario that they outscore Barca—Riki and Pizzi have been impressive against the better sides this season, but that seems a big ask.
Form
2 of 4Barcelona's form is well documented at the moment. They've lost three of their last four in all competitions, however they're still 11 points clear at the La Liga summit.
In the 12 games since, and including, the defeat to Real Sociedad in January they have won five, drawn three and lost four.
Deportivo were successful in their first game of 2013 against Malaga but are without a win in their eight league games thereafter.
Worse still, is that they are the only team in Spain's Primera yet to win an away game—although local rivals Celta Vigo have accumulated less points on the road.
Last Time
3 of 4The meeting between the two at the Riazor back in October produced one of the best matches of the season.
A breathless opening 20 minutes saw Barcelona race into a 3-0 lead; Jordi Alba, Cristian Tello and Lionel Messi the scorers.
Depor fought back though, Pizzi and Alex Bergantinos reduced the arrears before Messi added his second—all before half time.
Pizzi was on target again to make it 4-3, Messi completed his hat-trick for 5-3 and Jordi Alba scored a comical own goal to set up a tense final 10 minutes.
La Blaugrana held out though, celebrating a surreal 5-4 win at the full time whistle.
Predictions
4 of 4Barcelona: Pinto; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano; Song, Thiago, Fabregas; Villa, Tello, Messi.
Deportivo la Coruna: Aranzubia; Silvio, Castro, Aythami, Evaldo; Assuncao, Aguilar; Gama, Valeron, Pizzi; Riki.
Barcelona 3-0 Deportivo la Coruna (Lionel Messi 2, David Villa)
What are your predictions for Saturday's match? Can Barcelona keep that illusive clean sheet?
