Deportivo La Coruna will mark their return to La Liga by hosting Elche on Monday, 17 August, in the opening round of the season. The match is the focus of a preview featuring a 1.67 betting price, while Mahamad Sangare, presenter of the sports debate programme La VAR on Burkina Info TV, has provided his analysis and prediction.
For Deportivo, the fixture represents a long-awaited return to Spain’s top flight after almost 10 years away. The Galician club, promoted last season, will hope the atmosphere at Riazor can help them begin with a positive result.
Their summer recruitment has raised expectations. Deportivo have added experienced names including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Angelino, while also bringing in goalkeeper Leo Roman and Dutch midfielder Teun Gijselhart. The squad now combines emerging players with established senior figures.
Elche are also returning to La Liga and begin the campaign with a significantly reshaped team. Their three leading forwards from last season have all departed, meaning coach Martin Anselmi must quickly build new attacking partnerships.
There are encouraging signs from pre-season, however. Elche ended their preparations with an impressive 3-0 victory over Toulouse, a performance praised for its quality in possession and overall style of play.
The opening fixture therefore carries considerable importance for both promoted sides. A strong start could prove valuable in what is expected to be a long and demanding battle to avoid relegation.
Deportivo La Coruna’s return
Deportivo were relegated in the 2017-18 season but secured their top-flight comeback by finishing second in the regular Liga 2 season last term. They ended five points behind champions Racing Santander and avoided the uncertainty of the play-offs.
The club have gone through pre-season unbeaten, playing six friendlies. They defeated Compostela 4-0, Lugo 1-0 and Genoa 1-0, while drawing 1-1 with Fiorentina, 2-2 with St. Pauli and 0-0 with Oviedo.
Their squad has nevertheless undergone several changes. Stoichkov returned to Granada after his loan spell, having scored five goals and provided three assists in the league last season.
Deportivo can still rely on several productive players. Bil Nsongo scored six times and registered one assist in the second division, Mario Soriano contributed six goals and eight assists, and Yeremay Hernandez recorded 11 goals and 10 assists in Liga 2. Zakaria Eddahchouri also made an impact with 12 goals and four assists.
The club have been particularly active in the transfer market. Alongside 21-year-old midfielder Teun Gijselhart, they signed Leo Roman from Mallorca and defender Bright Ede. Aubameyang arrived from Olympique de Marseille, while Angelino joined on loan from AS Roma.
Deportivo also recruited young midfielders Jonathan Asp Jensen from Bayern Munich and Lorenzo Amatucci, who arrived on loan from Fiorentina after recording four assists for Las Palmas in the second division. Adria Altimira completed a permanent move from Villarreal.
Yeremay Hernandez is a doubt for the opener because of a groin problem, while midfielder Carrillo is also uncertain.
Elche rebuild after attacking departures
Elche narrowly avoided an immediate return to the second tier last season. A 1-1 draw away to Girona at Montilivi on the final day secured 15th place and confirmed their survival.
They will need to improve if they are to remain in La Liga again. Their summer began with a 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs, followed by draws against Johor DT, Al-Ain and Cordoba. The matches against Johor DT ended 0-0, while the other two finished 2-2 before the emphatic victory over Toulouse.
The club’s most significant losses have come in attack. Alvaro Rodriguez, who scored seven goals and supplied five assists, Rafa Mir, who scored eight, and leading scorer Andre Silva, with 10 goals, have all left.
Elche have also lost defender Leo Petrot, who joined Anderlecht on a free transfer, while Hector Fort and goalkeeper Inaki Pena returned to FC Barcelona after their loan spells. Midfielder Febas, who scored twice and provided two assists in La Liga, moved to Celta Vigo.
Gonzalo Villar and Victor Chust have joined permanently, while Spain Under-19 international Buba Sangare represents a younger addition. Elche have also signed Nino Fer from Burgos and Javi Morcillo from Atletico de Madrid, and secured the loan signing of Argentine attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton.
Yago Santiago is expected to miss the match, while Diangana remains a major doubt.
The teams have met 47 times in official competition. Elche lead the overall record with 19 victories to Deportivo’s 18, while there have been 10 draws. Elche have scored 61 goals in those matches, compared with Deportivo’s 47.
Recent history is slightly more favourable to Deportivo, who have won six of the 13 meetings since 2004. Elche have won five, with two draws.
Deportivo’s homecoming in front of the Riazor crowd, combined with a strong defensive pre-season, offers them an important psychological lift. The wider expectation is of a cautious, tactical contest in which defensive discipline could be decisive.
Elche are an attacking-minded side and enjoyed a good preparation period. They should not find it difficult to score, although the odds may change.
