Match Preview: Saturday 31/03/2007 22:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 28
FC BARCELONA - DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 99.000
Referee: Ayza Gamez


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Belletti (Oleguer), Thuram, Puyol, Gio (Sylvinho) - Edmilson, Xavi, Iniesta - Messi, Eto´o, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Deportivo (4-2-3-1): Aouate - Coloccini, Lopo, Jorge Andrade, Capdevila - Juan Rodriguez, De Guzman (Sergio) - Estoyanov, Verdu, Cristian - Riki - Manager: Joaquin Caparros


Match Preview:

In tonight´s La Liga match leaders FC Barcelona (1st/53 points) faces Galician out fit Deportivo La Coruña (12th/36 points) at Camp Nou.
FC Barcelona look to set the pace by bagging 3 points in this evening´s match and move clear at the top of the table. Barca is still on course for the double and have it all in their own hands.


La Coruna missed out to qualify for a European competition two year ago, reason enough for extrovert president Augusto Lendoiro to sack coach Irureta. The new coach Joaquin Caparros worked on a small budget but brought in several new players at the start of this season and Deportivo started well into the campaign. Barca was the first team that took a point from Riazor on match day 9. Hopes to return to European football were justified. But a slump in form in the last 2 month of the year, even brought Depor close to the relegation zone but a win over Real Madrid saved Caparros the job. Since then, the performance improved slightly. 7 points behind position 6 in the table that qualifies for the UEFA Cup is probably too much of a distance but Depor has still the chance to qualify via the Copa del Rey.


FC Barcelona will miss Deco through suspension, but the Barca midfielder would have missed the match anyway as he continues his recovery from surgery on his right hand finger. Rafael Marquez has been given a rest after his tiring travel to play for Mexico. Javier Saviola and Santiago Ezquerro are the other 2 players missing the match due to Rijkaard´s rotation policy.


Caparros will probably start with a 4-2-3-1 formation, fielding Riki as the lonely striker at Camp Nou. Top scorer (5 goals this season) Arizmendi is out due to suspension. Former Barca youngster, Cristian Hidalgo, will probably play on the left of central midfield and another Barca youngster, Joan Verdu, might also get a run out in Camp Nou. Uruguyan Fabian Estoyanoff is back after suspenstion and Canadian Julien de Guzman is set to replace Sergio in the defensive midfield position.


My Prediction:


3 points against Deprotivo is a must. Barca have to set the pace in the title race and have to put their rival contenders under pressure. Deportivo is a difficult squad to play and will apply a very defensive tactics. The Galicians will come to defend in numbers and will be happy to settle for a draw.


If Barca can reproduce their performance against Recreativo de Huelva, then Deportivo will face a tough evening. I do expect a difficult match, but Barca will manage to unlock Depor´s defense line twice!


FC Barcelona - Deportivo 2:0



Visca el Barca!