Sporting de Gijon vs Deportivo La Coruna - Alvarez preparing for "important" clash

Posted Saturday, May 07, 2011 by PA

Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Pablo Alvarez has described the clash with his former club Sporting Gijon as the most important since he moved to the Galician outfit five years ago.

Depor make the trip along the north coast of Spain lying in 17th place in the Primera Division standings, just one point above the relegation zone.

To make matters for Depor, who have lost their last two matches, they have a tough-looking end to the season with fixtures against Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona and Valencia to finish with.

That suggests Depor can ill-afford to slip-up at El Molinon against a Sporting side who are now all-but safe from the drop.

Alvarez, who came up through the ranks at local club Sporting before switching to Depor in 2006, said: "For me, this is the most important game since I've been here. A victory would put us within touching distance of safety."

Depor have not beaten Sporting since the Asturian club returned to the top flight in 2008, but Alvarez said in La Voz de Galicia: "The time has come to break that run."

Sporting head into this weekend's fixtures in 10th spot on 42 points, five above the relegation zone having enjoyed a fine second half to the season.

Striker David Barral said of the game: "We are facing a tough opponent who are coming to El Molinon needing to win. When a team comes with this pressure it makes for a complicated match.

"I expect Deportivo to be nervous because they are in a difficult situation.

"There are many teams fighting to avoid the drop, including Sporting, but we find ourselves in a better situation...although we still need to pick up points. There are only four games left and any mistake could be decisive."

He added: "Although a draw would be useful for us, at Molinon we must go out to win."