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LoginAtletico Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna
2 posts
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2003/2004
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 0-0 Deportivo La Coruna 21-02-2004
Copa del Rey Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Atletico Madrid 15-01-2004
Copa del Rey Atletico Madrid 0-0 Deportivo La Coruna 06-01-2004
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 5-1 Atletico Madrid 04-10-2003
2002/2003
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 Atletico Madrid 01-06-2003
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 3-1 Deportivo La Coruna 12-01-2003
1999/2000
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 4-1 Atletico Madrid 08-04-2000
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 1-3 Deportivo La Coruna 28-11-1999
1998/1999
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Atletico Madrid 03-04-1999
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna 08-11-1998
1997/1998
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna 11-04-1998
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 2-2 Atletico Madrid 30-11-1997
1996/1997
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 0-0 Atletico Madrid 16-02-1997
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 0-2 Deportivo La Coruna 15-09-1996
1995/1996
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 2-2 Atletico Madrid 03-03-1996
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 1-0 Deportivo La Coruna 14-10-1995
1994/1995
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 0-1 Atletico Madrid 18-03-1995
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna 15-10-1994
1993/1994
Spanish Primera Liga Deportivo La Coruna 2-1 Atletico Madrid 06-04-1994
Spanish Primera Liga Atletico Madrid 0-1 Deportivo La Coruna 28-11-1993 -
Preview
On the surface there is not much to separate Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna ahead of Sunday's clash - but visiting coach Javier Irureta is wary of the hosts.
Both teams have 22 points, with Atletico seventh and Deportivo eighth, both are likely to be in Europe next year - and yet both are struggling to live up to expectations.
But in highlighting Atletico's strengths before Sunday's clash in the Vicente Calderon, Irureta perhaps unintentionally reveals the very weaknesses currently existing in his own misfiring side.
``Atletico are a much harder team to play against this year, than they were last season, and they have made some astute signings during the summer,'' Irureta told sports daily AS.
``The emergence of Luis Perea in defence has been a particular surprise for me, and they have a good keeper now in Leo Franco, and Salva up front, they have done well. Combined with those from last year they have a good team.
``It is clear that Cesar Ferrando has imposed his style on the club and they play a much simpler, organised game, and work hard as a unit.
``They now build from the back and their strongest weapon is their defence. It is something Ferrando has obviously worked hard on in training. They are a well-balanced side, play as a team, and are difficult to break down.''
This appears to be in stark contrast to his own side who seem to be falling apart at present. They have crashed out of the Champions League, the UEFA cup, the Copa Del Rey and had three consecutive draws in the league.
With an ageing squad and few replacements to freshen things up, Depor have started leaking goals at an alarming rate, with only four other teams having conceded more than Depor's 21 goals in 15 La Liga games. And the five conceded to Monaco last week still hurt.
``We have to start defending better and making ourselves harder to beat,'' Irureta added. ``I am not advocating my players to go out and give away a lot of fouls, but it is significant that against Monaco last week we only conceded eight and they had 20.
``I don't want people to think we are soft touch. It is difficult to change some players. Some you have to hold back, but others need pushing into being more aggressive.''
Irureta will probably be without the injured striker Marcos Changui for Sunday but Mauro Silva, Diego Tristan, Raul Molina and Albert Luque will all be available after recovering from knocks.
Atletico boss Ferrando looks to have a full squad to chose from, with playmaker Ariel Ibagaza expected to start his first game for some weeks, and Marcelo Sosa back from suspension.
Defender Sergi Barjuan has reiterated the message that seems to be issued every week now, that Atletico have got to go in search of goals, and have to believe in their abilities.
``The last four games of this half of the season are vital for us to know where we really sit in the table,'' said Sergi.
``I don't believe we are suffering from a mental problem when it comes to scoring. It is simply that we lack a little conviction in front of goal. In this half of the season it has cost us a lot.
``Like last week's 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, opponents are having very few glimpses of goal but making them count. We are creating chances but failing.''
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