Deportivo La Coruna vs Alaves predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s Spanish Copa del Rey 2nd Round game. Read on for analysis and a score prediction as Alaves travel to the Riazor.
- DATE: Wednesday 6th January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 19:00 (local time)
- STADIUM: Riazor
- COMPETITION: Copa del Rey 2nd Round
Deportivo La Coruna vs Alaves Preview
Two-time champions Deportivo La Coruña host Deportivo Alavés in a massive Copa del Rey second round fixture at the Riazor on Wednesday evening. The Galicians might be two tiers below the visitors but they really cannot be taken lightly in this clash.
Dépor were relegated from the Segunda at the end of last season, so this is a huge opportunity for them to beat a Primera División opponent and make a big statement. A win here would also be an immense boost in confidence for Deportivo who hit a new low last month going down 2-1 at home to the B team of their biggest rivals, Celta.
Alavés were Copa finalists for the first time in 2017 when they lost 3-1 to Barcelona. They, however, haven’t gone past the quarter finals since then and even fell in the first round last season to fourth-tier Real Jaén. This season they started off with a 2-0 win over fifth-tier CD Rincón in the first round, with both goals coming from John Guidetti.
Deportivo are placed second in their Segunda B group at the moment, two points behind leaders Unionistas de Salamanca, the same team which knocked them out of the cup last season on penalties. After the humiliation at the hands of Celta B, which was also their first defeat this season, Fernando Vázquez’s men picked themselves up and edged out El Ejido 1-0 in the Copa del Rey first round to end a forgetful year. Deportivo would want to begin 2021 on a positive note and there’s no better way to do that than winning Wednesday’s tie.
Alavés are one of LaLiga’s relegation candidates this term and although they are currently 14th, the gap to danger is only two points. Pablo Machín’s side, however, have stepped up against big names. They have taken points off Real Madrid and Barcelona this season and nearly added Atlético to that list on Sunday until Luis Suárez’s late winner.
Alavés went six matches unbeaten from late October to early December last year before falling to successive defeats away at Huesca and Celta, which shows their lack of consistency. They also failed to beat bottom-placed and 10-man Osasuna on New Year’s Eve. This poor run of away form will surely be a confidence-booster for Deportivo who have won four of their five home games this term.
Deportivo La Coruna vs Alaves Predictions
Score Prediction: Depor 1-1 Alaves – Match goes to Extra Time/Pens
Pablo Machín rotated heavily in the first round meaning his team’s priority is LaLiga survival. We can expect the same in this match and as such, it could make for an even encounter. Deportivo possess one of the strongest defence not only in their group, but across the whole Segunda B. This one could be a closely fought encounter going down to the wire, and the drama of penalties cannot be ruled out.
Copa del Rey Betting Tips (18+)
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