Matchday 14 - Featured Preview: Deportivo La Coruna vs Hercules

This week, Monday night football sees Esteban Vigo's Hercules side visit Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor. Depor have pulled clear of the relegation zone after an impressive November but they were beaten badly by Racing Santander on matchday thirteen and Miguel Angel Lotina will hope to get back on track this weekend against the small promoted club from Alicante. Hercules have surprised many since they returned to the top flight, however, and a brief glance at their team sheet suggests that they no longer deserve to be labelled minnows.

DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA

Player to Watch: Pablo Alvarez

Deportivo La Coruna's recent renaissance suffered a setback last weekend as they fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Racing Santander, which could have been a lot worse but for the profligate finishing of their victors. That ended an extended unbeaten run by the Galician club and made it WWDWL in their last five matches in the Primera Division. Their chance to get immediately back on track comes next Monday at home to Hercules. If they are to respond with a win, Miguel Angel Lotina's side will have to be far more composed on the ball as they gave it away far too readily at the Sardinero and defended badly despite playing with the five man defence which has served them so well since Lotina first implemented it around five weeks ago. Depor still have a four point cushion over the bottom three from 14th place heading to the Riazor.

Apart from a virus going around which Knut Olav Rindaroy and Jose Ze Castro appear to have got over, Miguel Angel Lotina's injury list looks very much the same with important components Riki, Jose Andres Guardado, Juliano Juca and Michel still missing. There is hope that Guardado will be training fully some time next week and will henceforth be at the manager's disposal but it is too soon to expect him fit by Monday. Lotina faces a bit of a conundrum with his team selection now as the 5-4-1 has worked wonders for them in the last few weeks but form deserted them in Cantabria and they were left with no attacking outlets and a very vulnerable defensive line despite the weight of numbers. The Racing defeat might be filed as a one-off, in which case, we will probably see a repeat of the five man defence and four man midfield behind Adrian up front. Whether or not he sticks with the same personnel is another matter. Pablo Alvarez was the big novelty last week and unfortunately his inclusion conincided with the worst performance for weeks; we will see if it counts against him when the team sheet is read out on Monday. Apart from the injured players, Lotina cannot call on Claudio Morel, who has the club's permission to be in Paraguay for personal reasons.

Possible starting XI: (4-5-1) Daniel Aranzubia; Diego Seaone, Aythami, Diego Colotto, Manuel Pablo, Alberto Lopo; Jonathan Urreta, Ruben Perez, Juan Rodriguez, Pablo Alvarez; Adrian;

HERCULES

Player to Watch: Royston Drenthe

Such has been the impression that Nelson Valdez and David Trezeguet have made in their few short months at the club that speculation is mounting that either or both strikers could be sold for hefty profits in the January transfer window. Hercules, of course, are denying the rumours. After all, why would they want to sell with the two forwards firing the goals that could keep the Alicante-based club in the Primera Division? Valdez and Trezeguet were both on the scoresheet last weekend as Hercules beat Levante 3-1 at the Jose Rico Perez. That win pushed Esteban Vigo's side up to 13th and gave them a healthy five point advantage over the relegation zone dwellers, which the blanquiazules will be hoping to increase on Monday night when they travel to the Riazor to play Deportivo La Coruna. It is about time they got an away win as their last five matches away from their east coast home have garnered just two points in a run of DLDLL.

Royston Drenthe was left out of last week's squad despite declaring himself fit for selection. The week prior, the Holland international was hospitalized due to a stomach ulcer and, although he was later given the medical all-clear by the doctors, the Hercules physios were concerned about his rapid weight loss. This week, the former Real Madrid winger is still claiming he is fully fit and he has been named in the squad to travel to Galicia. Given his excellent form since a summer loan move from Real Madrid, he should come straight back in to re-join Nelson Valdez and either Olivier Thomert, Tote or Kiko Femenia in attacking midfield behind David Trezeguet. Tiago Gomes had an excellent game last week in central midfield so he will continue in the withdrawn position next to Matias Fritzler or Abel Aguilar, while Tote was also near his best and is pushing for a start. Javier Farinos remains the only long term injury victim so he will not be involved. The back four could remain unchanged, with Noe Pamarot, Abraham Paz, Rodriguez and David Cortes starting and Pena trying to force his way in after being named in the squad. Juan Calatayud is back from a suspension and is expected to return in goal but Piet Velthuizen had a fine game in his stead against Levante and will not give up the goalkeeping position without a fight.

Possible starting XI: (4-2-3-1) Juan Calatayud; Abraham Paz, Noe Pamarot, David Cortes, Rodriguez; Tiago Gomes, Matias Fritzler; Tote, Royston Drenthe, Nelson Valdez; David Trezeguet;