Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Deportivo La Coruna are making a long-awaited and emotional return to La Liga as the Galicians welcome Elche to the Riazor on the opening day of the campaign.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Deportivo La Coruna preview: Rising back to the top-flight
The famous Deportivo La Coruna, who fell out of La Liga in the 2017-18 campaign and have since spent time in the third-tier before finally fighting their way back with two promotions in their last three seasons, last year under the management of former AEK Larnaca boss Antonio Hidalgo.
Depor have made some really interesting signings over the summer, too. Headlined by the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, their other incoming business has also seen them bring in goalkeeper Leo Roman from Real Mallorca, former Manchester City full-back Angelino and young starlet Jonathan Asp-Jensen from Bayern Munich.
Elche preview: Trusting Martin Anselmi
Elche were a newly-promoted team this time last season and they were brilliant to watch at the start of the campaign, often pushing towards the European spots in La Liga before majorly drifting and only just narrowly avoiding relegation towards the end of the campaign with the attacking management of Eder Sarabia.
Eder Sarabia has since been replaced by Martin Anselmi, who endured a short and poor stint in charge of FC Porto last year before another underwhelming time of it at chaotic Brazilian Serie A club Botafogo earlier on in this calendar year.
Deportivo La Coruna team news: A few doubts
Key winger Yeremay Hernandez, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, is not expected to be involved here, dealing with a knee injury. Adria Altimira and new signing Jonathan Asp-Jensen are also doubtful.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alvaro Fernandez; Miguel Loureiro, Ede, Arnau Comas, Angelino; Diego Villares, Amatucci; David Mella, Gijselhart, Eddahchouri; Aubameyang
Unavailable:
Questionable: Adria Altimira (Injured), Yeremay (Injured), Asp-Jensen (Injured)
Elche team news: Several injury issues
Former West Bromwich Albion attacker Grady Diangana begins the season as a doubt after picking up a knee injury this week. He is potentially unavailable alongside Pedro Bigas, Yago Santiago and Adam Boayar.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Matias Dituro; Affengruber, Diaby, Victor Chust; German Valera, John, Marc Aguado, Lucas Cepeda; Buonanotte, Tete Morente; Josan
Unavailable:
Questionable: Pedro Bigas (Injured), Yago Santiago (Injured), Diangana (Injured), Boayar (Injured)
Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche prediction
Elche are expected to struggle once again this season and the appointment of Anselmi is not one that guarantees any level of stability and improvement away from the bottom three and the relegation places. Depor will have the raucous home crowd behind them and they will be expected to play with some aggression and intensity from the start here and that should aid them. Siding with the hosts seems a decent value bet for this one.
Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche tip: Deportivo La Coruna to win & both teams to score
