Real Madrid vs. Deportivo: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream, TV Info
At the end of a difficult week, Real Madrid will hope to produce a convincing performance and take all three points when they host Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
The Madrid squad have come in for plenty of criticism in the wake of their 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid last time out. Carlo Ancelotti questioned his side’s attitude in his post-match press conference, and Marca reported that club president Florentino Perez visited the training ground during the week to speak to the players and implore them to “be the team they were before.”
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Ancelotti and his side could hardly have wished for better opponents against whom to make a statement of intent. Per Soccerway, they have won seven of their last eight competitive fixtures against Deportivo, including an 8-2 victory at the Riazor earlier this season.
Deportivo’s last victory at the Bernabeu came back in 2004.
The Galician club have, however, improved since their heavy defeat to Madrid earlier this season and travel to the capital in good spirits following two consecutive league victories.
Per La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish), coach Victor Fernandez has said that he wants his team to take a bold and brave approach on Saturday but admitted that it will be difficult to get a result against a team with such a potent attack.
He is still wary of Depor being drawn back into the relegation battle. But after recording just two wins in their first 14 matches of the campaign, four wins in their last eight and a current five-point, six-team cushion to the bottom three suggest they should be okay if they continue as is.
Date: Saturday, February 14
Time: 5 p.m. GMT / noon ET
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK only) / beIN Sports (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (U.K. only)/beIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)
Form
| Real Madrid | Deportivo La Coruna |
| Atletico Madrid (A): Lost 0-4 | Eibar (H): Won 2-0 |
| Sevilla (H): Won 2-1 | Rayo Vallecano (A): Won 2-1 |
| Real Sociedad (H): Won 4-1 | Granada (H): Drew 2-2 |
| Cordoba (A): Won 2-1 | Barcelona (H): Lost 4-0 |
| Getafe (A): Won 3-0 | Levante (A): Drew 0-0 |
| Atletico Madrid (H): Drew 2-2 | Athletic Bilbao (H): Won 1-0 |
Predicted Formations
Ancelotti is currently in the midst of an injury crisis. Per Marca, Fabio Coentrao has joined James Rodriguez, Luka Modric, Pepe, Sami Khedira and Sergio Ramos on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury that will keep him out of action for up to three weeks.
Coentrao will be replaced in the starting XI by Marcelo, who returns from the one-match suspension that ruled him out of the defeat to Atletico. Per Manu Sainz of AS, Asier Illarramendi is set to start alongside Isco and Toni Kroos in midfield, while Alvaro Arbeloa could come in at right-back in place of Dani Carvajal.
But there will be no change of goalkeeper for Real Madrid, insists Ancelotti.
Per La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish), Deportivo will be without the injured Diogo Salomao, Helder Postiga, Luis Farina and Sidnei for Saturday’s match, while Pablo Insua is suspended. Madrid-loanee Jose Rodriguez is also unavailable due to the terms of his loan agreement.
With Insua and Sidnei both out of action, Borja Lopez is the most obvious deputy, but there remains a possibility that Alex Bergantinos could drop back from midfield into the centre of defence.
Former Castilla player Juanfran is likely to be moved forward to the right of midfield in place of Isaac Cuenca in order to provide better defensive cover.
Likely Deportivo XI (4-2-3-1): Fabricio, Laure, Lopo, Lopez, Luisinho; Bergantinos, Borges; Juanfran, Lucas, Cavaleiro; Riera.
Players to Watch
Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has come in for some unwarranted criticism over the last week, primarily for having the temerity to celebrate his 30th birthday. And he was far from the only Madrid player to perform terribly in the derby defeat to Atletico.
The Portuguese scored a hat-trick in the 8-2 victory away to Depor earlier this season and also scored against them three times on their last visit to the Bernabeu back in 2012. His goal rate has slowed since the turn of the year, and he will be keen to get his campaign back on track by making a strong contribution to a Madrid success on Saturday.
Deportivo La Coruna: Celso Borges
Costa Rica international Celso Borges has made an immediate impact since joining Depor from AIK during the January transfer window. He scored twice on his debut against Rayo Vallecano and has already gained the trust of his coach and team-mates.
"His contribution is very positive, he has good judgement and does a great deal of work," Fernandez said in the wake of the victory over Eibar last weekend, as per Inside Spanish Football. "With him out there on the pitch, everything goes much better for us."
Key Battle: Madrid’s Left vs. Deportivo’s Right
With James Rodriguez out of action, much of Madrid’s best play is likely to be built down their left-hand side through Marcelo, Isco and Ronaldo.
The trio enjoy an excellent understanding, combining well and each altering their position in line with that of the others. They are occasionally joined by Karim Benzema, who drifts wide when Ronaldo moves infield.
The fact Fernandez appears likely to field Juanfran at right-midfield shows he recognises this threat and is willing to take preventative action. He should, however, also be keen to exploit the space in behind Marcelo on the counter-attack. That could represent one of Depor’s best routes to goal.
Odds
Real Madrid: 2/25
Deportivo La Coruna: 20/1
Draw: 12/1
*All odds via Oddschecker
