Prediction: Deportivo La Coruna vs Levante

Deportivo La Coruna and Levante will meet at ABANCA-Riazor on Friday evening as both teams look to return to winning ways in La Liga. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM CEST on October 16.

Deportivo has collected 10 points from eight matches, while Levante arrives with six points from seven after a dramatic draw against Sevilla.

Verdict: Both teams to score
Best odds: 73/100
Bookmaker: 1xBet

Deportivo La Coruna

Deportivo came close to rescuing something from a difficult afternoon at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Antonio Hidalgo’s side was trailing 3-0 before Mario Soriano and Yeremay Hernandez scored to set up a tense finish. The 3-2 defeat in San Sebastian ultimately brought no reward, although the response offered encouragement.

There was enough attacking intent to trouble the home defense, even with several important players unavailable. Deportivo created chances before falling behind and continued to threaten once the game appeared to be slipping away.

That attacking persistence has been a feature of its return to La Liga. Deportivo has scored in seven of its eight league matches, with the 1-0 home defeat against Sevilla the only exception.

The defensive record is much less convincing. Hidalgo’s team has conceded in every league fixture and is now four matches without a victory.

At Riazor, Deportivo should see this as an opportunity to push forward and end that run. Yeremay can create openings with his movement and close control, while Soriano provides support from midfield.

The concern is what happens when those attacks break down. Levante has enough pace and ambition to make Deportivo pay for leaving space behind the ball.

Deportivo La Coruna Team News

Lorenzo Amatucci is suspended after his late red card against Real Sociedad, adding another complication to Hidalgo’s midfield selection.

Marc Casado remains unavailable through injury. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is recovering from knee surgery, while Zakaria Eddahchouri is also sidelined.

Those absences leave Deportivo short of experienced options through the middle, although the performance in San Sebastian showed that the remaining attackers can still create chances.

Leo Roman should continue in goal. Ximo Navarro, Jose Maria Gimenez, Bright Ede and Giacomo Quagliata are defensive options.

Diego Villares should have an important role in midfield, with Riki Rodriguez another option following Amatucci’s suspension.

Yeremay and Soriano are expected to provide much of the creativity, while Nsongo could continue up front. David Mella, Luismi Cruz and Adama Traore give Hidalgo alternatives in the wider positions.

Levante’s Monday night meeting with Sevilla was another reminder of how difficult this team can be to put away.

Luis Castro’s side recovered from 2-0 down, equalized in stoppage time, conceded again and still found a final response to secure a 3-3 draw at the Ciutat de Valencia.

Ivan Romero started the comeback before Adrian de la Fuente and Ndukwe scored the late equalizers.

The point was valuable, particularly after consecutive defeats against Barcelona and Villarreal. The manner in which it arrived should also help confidence before a quick turnaround for the trip to Galicia.

Defensively, however, the same concerns remain.

Levante has conceded 15 goals in seven league matches, including 10 across its last three. Even allowing for the quality of those opponents, Castro needs his team to become harder to play through.

There has been more encouragement at the other end, with 11 league goals scored so far.

Levante’s away performances provide a reason for caution. Its last two trips produced a goalless draw at Malaga and a 3-1 defeat at Villarreal, so Monday’s attacking display will not automatically carry over.

Still, Deportivo’s search for a first clean sheet and its weakened midfield should give the visitor opportunities to improve that record.

Levante Team News

Hugo Sotelo and Karl Etta Eyong remain fitness doubts after missing the Sevilla match. Backup goalkeeper Alex Primo also requires assessment, according to the latest availability update.

Eyong has resumed some work with the group, but his return to competitive action has not been confirmed.

Mathew Ryan should retain his place in goal. Jeremy Toljan, De la Fuente, Ndukwe and Manu Sanchez started across the defense on Monday and could continue.

Oriol Rey and Jon Olasagasti are midfield options, while Ivan Romero should remain central to the attack.

Roger Brugue, Thiago Fernandez, Yanis Musuayi and Petar Ratkov give Castro several choices around him, particularly if the short recovery period prompts changes.

Deportivo La Coruna vs Levante key factors to consider

• Deportivo has scored and conceded in seven of its eight league matches.
• The home side is still waiting for its first La Liga clean sheet this season.
• Deportivo lost 3-2 at Real Sociedad after recovering from a three-goal deficit.
• Hidalgo’s team is winless in its last four league games.
• Levante drew 3-3 with Sevilla on Monday.
• Levante has scored 11 goals and conceded 15 in seven league matches.
• The visitor has conceded 10 goals across its last three games.
• Deportivo is without the suspended Amatucci, while Sotelo and Eyong remain fitness doubts for Levante.

Conclusion

Both teams have shown that they can create chances even when results are going against them. Their recent comebacks also suggest that conceding first would not necessarily take either side out of the contest.

Deportivo’s attacking absences deserve consideration, but it still scored twice at Real Sociedad and has found the net regularly throughout the season.

Levante has been less productive away from home, although it now faces a defense that has conceded in every league game. Amatucci’s suspension further complicates Deportivo’s efforts to protect its back line.

With neither defense inspiring much confidence, there is a reasonable case for both attacks finding a breakthrough.

Both teams to score is the best selection.

Verdict: Both teams to score
Best odds: 73/100
Bookmaker: 1xBet

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