La Liga: Celta vs. Deportivo

Posted on | April 13, 2007 | No Comments

If any of you who are familiar with Spanish football you will know that this is the toughest ‘unofficial’ derby in the liga. Celta is from a city called Vigo and Deportivo is from La coruña. Two different cities both in the Spanish region of Galicia. So it’s not really a derby. But there is so much bad feeling between the fans that this game always brings excitement and the players from both sides have to give that bit extra.

This year things aren’t going too well for either team. Celta are third from bottom and are fighting relegation, while Deportivo –once a Champions league regular- are now mid table and fast going nowhere.

Celta have just sacked coach Fernando Vazquez after a string of dismal results. They currently have the worst form in all the league having picked up just one win and six draws from their last sixteen games. New coach Hristo Stoichkov makes his debut on Sunday hoping to start turning things around as soon as possible.  He’s no stranger to Spanish football, being almost a legend in Barcelona. Maybe his unique way of viewing football may have an effect on the players. Some were quite surprised by his contraction; Stoichkov has only ever managed the Bulgarian national team, and without too much success. What he does have and will bring to Celta is his enthusiasm and his complete hatred of losing.

Deportivo meanwhile, are having something of an identity crisis. They no longer have the big name players like Mckaay, Rivaldo or Molina. Instead, coach Caparros has brought youngsters from inferior categories into the side.

Sunday’s game is going to be a very close, hotly disputed match. Watch out for one or even more red cards. Celta’s home form this season has been absolutely atrocious but then again Deportivo’s away form isn’t much better.  I am putting my money on a home win but  with only one goal, mainly because Celta have a new manager and the players will want to go out and play to impress. Keep an eye on Celta’s striker Ángel Javier Arizmendi. He’s only twenty three years old but seems to have a bright future in front of him, but not necessarily in Celta de Vigo.

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Zaragoza vs. Celta
2. La Liga: Celta vs. Levante
3. La Liga: Real Sociedad vs. Celta
4. La Liga: Athletico de Madrid vs. Celta
5. La Liga: Celta vs. Betis

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