Nine months ago, Deportivo and Leganés kicked off LaLiga with a shared dream: promotion to the top flight. Their paths crossed in the third matchday at Butarque, where they played to a thrilling 2-2 draw, each side dominating a half. Since then, however, their trajectories have diverged so sharply that they now stand as polar opposites. Deportivo sit third, just two points off second place and four behind the leaders, keeping their automatic promotion hopes very much alive. They are on an eight-game unbeaten run, and one more without defeat would set a new season-best streak.
For Leganés, the margin for error is running out. Six points above the relegation zone, they have managed only two wins in their last twelve matches, arriving in A Coruña deeply shaken after a 4-0 home loss to Andorra.
This contrast in momentum will be reflected in the stands, as Riazor is expected to be full of home fans eager to see their team return to Primera. The match has been classified as ‘High Risk’. Tickets sold out a week ago, and the club is celebrating ‘Peñas Day’ with a festive atmosphere, concerts, and pre-match events before the team’s arrival. A month ago, when Málaga visited, Riazor drew 28,423 spectators – a season record in Segunda. Last week, Málaga responded by packing 28,601 fans into La Rosaleda against Castellón. The goal of Deportivo’s supporters is to reclaim the crown this Friday. With all tickets sold and the club urging members who cannot attend to release their seats, a new attendance record is expected.
**Referee tension**
The festive mood expected this evening contrasts starkly with the week’s events. The controversy began at El Plantío with a clearly non-existent penalty that cost Deportivo two points in a 1-1 draw. The situation prompted the club, usually measured in its statements, to issue a communiqué on Monday demanding “respect” and denouncing “external dynamics that seek to influence the refereeing environment.” On Tuesday, the CTA’s ‘Tiempo de Revisión’ program sided with Deportivo, admitting that Quagliata’s contact was not a penalty and that the VAR should not have intervened. Today, the crowd’s sensitivity towards refereeing will undoubtedly be razor-sharp.
Beyond the atmosphere and the polemic, coach Hidalgo knows this is a match where failure at home is not an option. As usual, he has kept his cards close to his chest all week, but continuity will be the main principle. The possible inclusion of Loureiro in central defense, or the return of Villares – who reaches 200 appearances – seem to be the only realistic changes. On the positive side, the only injury absentee remains David Mella. Conversely, yellow cards loom as a threat, with seven players just one booking away from suspension: Yeremay, Quagliata, Noubi, Luismi, Mulattieri, Altimira, and José Ángel.
Leganés, for their part, travel to Riazor with a depleted squad. Eight absences, particularly in defense, leave Igor Oca with only three first-team defenders available to start. Pulido, though listed, is not yet ready to start. As a result, converted winger Naim will again have to play at full-back, given the team’s struggles without Cissé, Guirao, and Marvel (suspended), as well as Melero, Peña, Jorge Sáenz, Franquesa, and Leiva (injured).
**Deportivo – Leganés**
Hidalgo on refereeing: “What’s certainly missing is common sense.”
Oca: “We shouldn’t need to be near the relegation zone to react.”
Six reserve team players from Leganés have been called up for this high-intensity match.