The recent defeat of Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 against Real Sociedad determined the exemption of Cristobal Parralo, former youth coach promoted last October in place of Pepe Mel. Already that exemption was a decision by some considered hasty and not entirely motivated: in three and a half months Parralo was not able to improve the performance of the team (he did worse, indeed). The Deportivo is now in the penultimate position. As a new coach, the company has hired until the end of this season Clarence Seedorf, a former player of great popularity whose arrival in La Coruna has generated a lot of interest.
Leaving aside the general problems of the team, in recent weeks it was understood in particular how valuable a center like Sidnei, absent for a muscle injury. Although not a phenomenon, the Brazilian is currently the only one able to hold together the defense. In the two recent games in which he did not play, Deportivo lost 7-1 against Real Madrid and 5-0 against Real Sociedad. In this period also the captain Pedro Mosquera, another very useful player to stop the opposing actions, was lost due to injury.
Given the emergency situation and the inability to give players time to learn the new technical indications, Seedorf asked the company and obtained the assumption of the Ghanaian Sulley Muntari, released. He is a player with whom Seedorf has worked both as a player and as a coach, in his experience at Milan. It is completely out of shape, and for the moment its full-time use is unlikely. But Seedorf has relied heavily on him in the past, and could come in handy as a defensive midfielder or in midfield.
Judging from the first training sessions in La Coruna, Seedorf seems inclined to re-propose the most familiar modules. The defense should remain at four, but with more limited movements by the full-backs. The central canal attacks could be increased with the introduction of a half-tip. Probably Adrian Lopez will play the role that in the Milan of the 2013-2014 season have held in turn Kakà, Poli and Keisuke Honda.
The Betis of these times is not really the ideal opponent against which to start his experience as a coach in Spain. The team coached by Quique Setién has recently beat Villarreal 2-1, significantly shortening the ranking in the Europa League area. On the way he won only three times, but the most recent victory was the sensational 5-3 in the derby against Sevilla.
In general Betis is guessing all the moves. The defender Marc Bartra has taken over from Borussia Dortmund, who is already a regular and has serious ambitions to get a call to the next World Cup. And he promoted in the first team the young center forward Loren Moron, author of the two goals against Villarreal. He could have scored a third, and he was the best player on the field. On the contrary, his performance makes some reflections for the coach Quique Setién, who at this point could insert him permanently in the starting lineup (he is a central striker but he can also play as a left wing). He will certainly play for Riazor, since Ruben Castro has not been called up due to chest pain.
Deportivo la Coruna – Betis: Soccer Bet of the Day
As much as he wanted to welcome the new coach with a win, Deportivo without Sidnei showed a much more alarming defensive weakness than the usual one. And Betis is right in the attack, at times, one of the most enterprising and beautiful teams to watch throughout the league.
The probable formations
THE CORUNA DEPORTIVE (4-2-3-1): Ruben Martinez; Juanfran Moreno, Albentosa, Boveda, Luisinho; Krohn-Dehli, Valverde; Adrian Lopez, Lucas Perez, Bakkali; Andone.
BETIS (4-3-3): Adan; Francis Guerrero, Bartra, Mandi, Durmisi; Javi Garcia, Guardado, Fabian Ruiz; Joaquin, Tello, Loren Moron.
Prediction Today: 1-2
Odds: 1.53
Prediction Today: OVER
Odds: 1.61
