Eibar vs Deportivo La Coruna - Arruabarrena targets nervy Depor

Posted Sunday, September 14, 2014 by PA

Eibar striker Mikel Arruabarrena is hoping to play on the nerves of Deportivo La Coruna as his side seek their second victory in La Liga on Monday night.

The newly-promoted side have taken plenty of encouragement from their first two games since earning promotion to the top flight for the first time, beating Real Sociedad 1-0 before putting up a good effort in a 2-1 defeat to champions Atletico Madrid.

Now they have Depor in their sights, and the Brancoazuis' slow start - they have only one point so far - is something Arruabarrena hopes to use.

"They look happier than last season," he said of Depor. "They are showing they're wanting to play more open football and use their quality. This is a better team than they had last year. But they will be nervous because they have not started as well as we have and we will use that."

Eibar were desperately close to taking a point off Atletico with a late fightback before the international break, and Arruabarrena wants to make sure there is no let up in effort.

"It has given us confidence because we know we can compete with anyone," he said. "But it scares me to think we might imagine we are better than we are and we might relax in the next game thinking this is an inferior opponent."

Depor are desperate for some kind of kick-start to their season after an opening 2-1 loss to Granada was almost followed by a second defeat before Isaac Cuenca's stoppage-time penalty salvaged a point against Rayo Vallecano.

Alberto Lopo was grateful for that equaliser, admitting the frustration of a second defeat might have been too much to bare over the international break, but only a win will ease their minds now.

"This will be a tough game," he said. "People think they play direct football all the time. Against Real Sociedad they wanted the ball and against Atletico Madrid they were very good. I do not think they are just a team of direct football, but it is true that when we have the ball they will tighten. This is not surprising."