Three days after dropping two points in a 1-1 draw at Getafe, Deportivo La Coruna return to Riazor looking to get back to winning ways against a Sevilla side that edged Valencia 1-0 on matchday 5. One point splits the two clubs in the La Liga table, with Deportivo sixth on nine points and Sevilla fifth on ten, meaning a win for either side would shift the dynamics in the upper-mid table picture. Antonio Hidalgo’s side have yet to lose in five league outings, but three draws are keeping them just outside the European spots. P. Aubameyang, La Liga’s joint-top scorer with five goals, gives Deportivo a genuine threat to build around at home.
What’s at stake
La Liga’s top nine qualify for European competition this season, and both clubs currently sit inside that bracket. Sevilla, in fifth, are on course for the Europa League group stage based on current standings. Deportivo, sixth, occupy an ECL playoff berth. A Deportivo win would pull them level with Sevilla on points and potentially above depending on goal difference, while Sevilla could create a four-point cushion over their hosts with three points. The four sides immediately below both clubs, Real Betis through Athletic Club, are all within two to three points, so there is no breathing room for either team.
For Deportivo, the fact that they remain unbeaten after five rounds despite only two wins is both a sign of resilience and a source of mild frustration. Three draws at this early stage cost points that can feel more costly later in the campaign. A home win over a direct rival would be the most efficient way to translate that solidity into something more meaningful on the table. For Sevilla, Luis Garcia Plaza’s side bounced back from a 3-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid by taking four points from the next two, and another away win would cement their credentials as a genuine top-five contender.
How they got here
Deportivo’s last five in La Liga read W-W-D-D-D (reading from most recent: draw at Getafe, win at Villarreal 3-2, win over Valencia at home 3-1, draw at Malaga, draw at home to Elche). The two road wins, notably a 3-2 result at Villarreal, show they can play with attacking intent, but the goal-scoring tends to come in bursts rather than as a steady production line. Sevilla’s equivalent run shows W-D-L-W-W, with the loss a 3-1 home reverse against Atletico sandwiched between productive stretches. The Valencia win, secured narrowly at 1-0, suggests Sevilla can grind out results even when not at their best.
Deportivo sit sixth with nine points from five games: two wins, three draws, zero defeats. Sevilla are fifth with ten points from five games: three wins, one draw, one loss. Barcelona lead La Liga on fifteen points, Real Madrid are second with twelve, and Alaves and Atletico Madrid are both on ten alongside Sevilla. The gap between fifth and the top three is already notable, but the race for the European places from fifth downward is tightly packed.
Key battle to watch
P. Aubameyang’s movement against Sevilla’s defensive line will be the central duel. The striker has scored five league goals in five appearances, making him one of La Liga’s most productive forwards so far. Sevilla have conceded six goals in five games, a record that suggests they are not impenetrable, and their 3-1 loss to Atletico showed they can be exposed by direct, physical attacking play. Whether Hidalgo deploys Aubameyang in a narrow central role or allows him to drift wide and exploit space will determine how much Deportivo can pressure an away side that tends to set up compactly on the road.
Key Stats
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Our Prediction
History is firmly on Sevilla’s side here: in ten prior meetings, Deportivo have not managed a single win, with seven of those going to the visitors. That said, Deportivo’s unbeaten home record this season and Aubameyang’s scoring form make Riazor a different proposition than it was in those 2016-18 encounters. A draw feels the most likely outcome given how evenly matched the two sides are on points and given Deportivo’s tendency this season to draw rather than lose when they cannot find a winner, but Sevilla’s slight edge in wins and confidence from back-to-back positive results since the Atletico defeat gives them a marginal advantage if the game opens up.