La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Deportivo de la Coruña

Posted on | April 3, 2008 | No Comments

High flying Racing de Santander could end the weekend in a Champions league spot and will make history if they do as they have never reached such an elevated position so near the end of the season. Deportivo, after some very good results, are four points from the relegation zone and can now start to breathe a bit easier. They have lost just twice in their last ten games, which has taken them out of the bottom three and up to fifteenth, which also allows coach Manuel Angel Lotina to sleep a little better at night.
Racing de Santander, after thirty league games this season, have the best defense in the league by conceding just twenty seven goals, better even than Barcelona and Real Madrid. Racing’s goalkeeper, Toño, has even been nominated to enter the line up of the best eleven in the prestigious Italian sports newspaper ‘La Gazetta dello Sport’. Another very interesting fact is that Racing have kept sixteen clean sheets this season, which is over half the games played. They have won five of their last six league matches, losing only to Getafe, and their home form is even better, winning nine, drawing three and losing just two, against Atlético Madrid and Villarreal.
Deportivo de la Coruña cannot boast any such figures, and it seems that the two teams have swapped roles. Usually it is Racing de Santander who is always trying to avoid relegation and Deportivo challenging for a place in the Champions league. Last weekend Deportivo got a good win at home to Murcia and scored three goals for the home fans too. Racing de Santander meanwhile visited Espanyol and went home with a three nil win.
I’m going for a Racing win here, even though Racing de Santander haven’t beaten Deportivo at home since 1996. Deportivo have done just about enough to stay in the top flight of Spanish football, but I doubt very much whether they can overcome this Racing side who are on the verge of entering the Champions league.
Prediction: home win (2-1)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Valencia vs. Racing de Santander
2. La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Betis
3. La Liga: Valladolid vs. Racing de Santander
4. La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Zaragoza
5. La Liga: Espanyol vs. Racing de Santander

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