Real Madrid vs. Deportivo: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Real Madrid host struggling Deportivo La Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday, hoping to reduce an embarrassing 19-point gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Champions Real have slipped to fourth amid growing doubts about the futures of manager Zinedine Zidane and star forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Depor are in the bottom three and struggling for goals.
Before a look at the team news, here are the schedule and viewing details:
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Date: Sunday, January 21
Time: 3:15 p.m. GMT/10:15 a.m. ET
TV Info: Sky Sports Football, beIN Sports
Live Stream: Sky Go, beIN Sports CONNECT
Ronaldo reportedly wants a return to former club Manchester United, per Spanish source AS (h/t Toby Gannon of The Sun). Sky Sports' Guillem Balague believes Los Blancos could countenance his desire to leave but stressed the Red Devils may not be keen on the financial package needed to sign the soon-to-be 33-year old.
However, Ronaldo's manager isn't enamoured with the idea of losing his best player. Per Husmukh Kerai of Sky Sports, Zidane said: "I cannot imagine Cristiano going anywhere else. He is at his club, where he should be. Everyone loves him here."
Los Blancos still need the Portugal international, particularly as Gareth Bale continues to deal with injury issues and Karim Benzema is recovering from a leg muscle problem.
What Zidane's squad also needs is for skipper Sergio Ramos to return from a calf injury and strengthen the heart of defence.
The defender was missed in the last league game, a 1-0 home defeat to Villarreal. Nacho filled in for the Spain international alongside Raphael Varane, but Los Merengues missed the 31-year-old's savvy and power in the air.
In all honesty, Real may get by without Ramos against a Deportivo side that has scored just 11 goals, the fewest in Spain's top flight. The visitors will again count on Arsenal loanee Lucas Perez to provide an attacking threat, but the forward has only found the net four times since returning to the club in the summer.
Romania international Florin Andone is an attacker who can cause any team problems on his day. However, it's tough to imagine Depor will have enough firepower to keep pace with even a disgruntled Ronaldo.
