Valencia vs Deportivo La Coruna preview - Valencia prepared for Depor clash

Posted Thursday, March 12, 2015 by PA

Valencia are riding a five-match unbeaten run in the Primera Division but will not take lowly Deportivo La Coruna lightly when the two sides square off at the Mestalla stadium on Friday.

The Che outfit lost 3-0 at Depor earlier this season but defender Antonio Barragan is confident they can record a win this time out.

"I remember that game and we didn't play well," Barragan told the Spanish press. "We will try to do a better job this time and take three points.

"The most important thing is the win."

Valencia held defending Spanish champions Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Vicente Calderon last weekend to maintain their push for Champions League football next season.

The side coached by Portuguese boss Nuno has lost just one of their last 13 games and sit fourth in the standings - one point behind third-place Atletico.

"We are just focusing on ourselves and not on others," Barragan said. "Our aim is to play in the Champions League next season.

"We need to keep working hard and playing well."

A top-four finish would guarantee Valencia a spot in the Champions League.

Valencia have not lost at the Mestalla stadium since November 30 and have collected six league wins since, while Depor have collected just one point since their last victory on February 6.

The Galician outfit lost 4-3 at home to Sevilla in the previous round to fall to 16th place, three points clear of the drop zone.

"The word relegation scares me," Depor goalkeeper Fabricio Agosto said. "We are not even considering that possibility.

"We know we have to play a perfect game against Valencia in order to take a positive result.

"Valencia are a great side and a draw would be a good result for us."

Depor, coached by Victor Fernandez, are without injured striker Helder Postiga but winger Diogo Salomao and forwarad Toche have both shaken off muscular injuries and could feature on Friday.