I’m quite happy to continue my work around Europe from last season, but I’m looking for a new job (in real life), so my time to pick through every incident and report it might be limited, so I’m going to go for an approach that serves both myself and (hopefully) the board. Each time (it might not be weekly, depending), I’ll have a look at a team in one of Europe’s leagues, covering a bit of history and a bit of current day, and base a mini-roundup around them and their division, while pulling a handful of big news stories out of the other leagues. It should make for a bit less of a dredge – people can pick up the main points if they want, but there’s a bit more meat on the bones if you want that, too
Based in the northern Galician city of A Coruna, ‘Depor’ were long-term players on the continental stage before a decline in their fortunes in the recent past brought a couple of relegations, both since followed with immediate returns to the top flight. The glory of the early 2000s are seemingly gone from the Riazor, though, and Depor look set for another difficult season battling against the drop.
Formed in 1906, and Copa Del Rey finalists just four years later, major silverware avoided the team in blue and white stripes, with a 1949/50 La Liga runners-up spot the only hook by which to hang their hat until the 1990s, along with a clutch of Segunda Division crowns in the 1960s – the fact they won the second tier in 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968 tells you a little about how they fared in the top flight afterwards, mind you.
![[Image: Riazor_016.jpg]](http://www.deportivo-la-coruna.com/pics/regular/Riazor_016.jpg)
The Blue and White stripes of the Riazor.
The 1970s and 1980s brought more disappointment, and a couple of seasons in the Tercera Division, but when Depor came back in the 1990s, it was with purpose, with verve and with John Toshack.
This ‘Blue and White Period’ if you will took Depor to 9 top 3 finishes in 12 years which in a league containing those powerhouses of Europe, Barcelona and Real Madrid, is no mean feat – that period brought the club’s only La Liga title, in 1999/2000, but also four second placed finishes, and two Copa Del Rey triumphs and, on the continental stage, a Champions League semi-final in 2003/04 – a quick look at their Pichichi winners from this period shows the excellence that was in A Coruña at the time; Bebeto (29 goals – 1992/93), Diego Tristan (21 goals – 2002/03) and European Golden Boot winner Roy Makaay (29 goals – 2003/04).
Having lost the first leg 4-1 at the San Siro, Depor went into this knowing they would have to create history of the most ludicrous kind to make their first semi-final. Just as in the first game, Walter Pandiani opened the scoring early on.
![[Image: 1900973_w2.jpg]](http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/3rdParties/FordClassicsUCL/01/90/09/73/1900973_w2.jpg)
However, this time, Depor were not rocked backed by a Rossoneri tide.
From then on, the Spanish side’s promise to attack Milan ‘like a hurricane’ came to a painful fruition. Victor Sanchez was the lightning rod for all the home side’s attacks as they built an impressive head of steam and created chance after chance. When Valeron put them 2-0 up after 35 minutes, the dream began to stir in earnest and by half-time, with Luque adding a third, the Riazor was rocking like a weeble.
The second half was a different story; Milan playing as if they knew one goal would see them through, and Depor playing as if one goal was the punch that would leave the Italians on the canvas. This time, despite Jon Dahl Tomasson’s best efforts, it was the Rossoneri who were left bloodied on the floor as Fran burst through to score a fourth and though that only technically added icing to the cake, Depor went wild, knowing their progress had been confirmed.
No team before or since has come back from a 3-goal deficit to qualify in the Champions League but the spirited Depor side of 2004 did it, only to go on to meet Jose Mourinho’s Porto
Depor may have been promoted last season from the Spanish second tier, but their performance, and their results was far more reminiscent of its Italian counter-part – so few goals scored, so many 1-0 wins; they made it, though, behind Eibar, and took their place amongst the elite.
The team is not particularly star-studded, but does feature a number of Portuguese loanees, as you might expect for a team so close to the border (though local rivals Celta Vigo are closer); that said, a twin strike-force of Helder Postiga and Isaac Cuenca, you may remember from Barcelona’s youth system, is certainly an upgrade from the last campaign. This promises to be a fairly difficult season, and Depor have picked up a solitary point from their 2 games so far, after Cuenca’s first goal, a penalty, earned them a 2-2 home draw with Rayo Vallecano.
After two games, only Barcelona hold a 100% record, with a clutch of teams behind them including an impressive looking Valencia and last season’s champions Atletico Madrid, now with added Mario Mandzukic and Alessio Cerci; the word is that Atleti might be even better than last season – the problem being that Barcelona and Real will probably both be better, too. Expect a strong Spanish showing in the Champions League.
‘Little’ Eibar started with a win in the Basque derby against the Royal Society, who bounced back in style to bounce back against Real Madrid – finding themselves 0-2 down early in the piece, they rallied to win 4-2, Zurutuza bagging two goals before Carlos Vela scored a delightful one to seal it.
Two teams currently sit pointless – Elche and Levante; both have relatively recently earned their La Liga stripes and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see either slipping back into the Segunda, even though Levante have had a pretty dramatic couple of seasons. Below them, Real Betis top the table, meaning neither Seville side has lost this season so far.
1. The German Hangover?
Perhaps still taking their time to get over their World Cup win, the players of both Dortmund and Bayern have looked a little bit off the pace in the Bundesliga; Dortmund conceded an early opener to Bayer Leverkusen, who are top after two games, while Bayern failed to beat a resolute Schalke team, their meeting ending 1-1. Newly promoted Paderborn are flying, standing second with four points, including a 0-3 victory at Hamburg.
Marco’s Talking Point: How long will Ciro Immobile take to settle in at Dortmund?
2. France: The Big Beasts Awaken.
Taking a little time to get into the season, both Paris Saint Germain (5-0 v. St Etienne) and Marseille (4-0 v. Reims) chalked up convincing wins to go into the break in a positive light. OM’s new coach Marcelo Bielsa had a great pre-season, but when Ligue 1 started, his side looked laboured and disjointed. Meanwhile, PSG looked more dependent on Zlatan than ever – though his hat-trick against the fancied Verts hasn’t really dispelled that.
MTP: How far will Monaco be allowed to fall?
3. Isn’t it nice to see El Shaarawy again?
Serie A is just one game old, and it is a season that looks to be grabbed by the youngsters; Stephan El Shaarawy was on top form in Milan’s 3-1 win against Lazio, while Juventus’ newboy Kingsley Coman, plucked from an unappreciative PSG, lit up the only bright parts of their win against Chievo. Elsewhere, Torino played out an utterly dreck 0-0 with Inter, but at least had the good sense to see a penalty saved, then sell their best player for peanuts the next day. More than Nemanja Vidic, whose Nerazzurri debut was rather ruined by giving away said penalty, then later getting sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee.
MTP: Before the season, Inter looked the better set side in Milan. Has that changed?
4. Greece: Atromitos strike out.
It’s too early to talk of Olimpiacos being dethroned, but they do look as if they might struggle a bit for goals this season, and Kostas Mitroglou might not quite be in the same form as when he left Piraeus last year. To that end, the champions could only muster a 1-1 draw at Panatolikos, allowing Atromitos to stand alone at the top with six points; behind them, PAOK, Panathinaikos and Olimpiacos (all on 4) are joined by PAS Giannina, Kallonis, and Kerkyra. Five teams go down from Super League this season, so being bad is not a good idea. AEK won the first leg of their cup game 4-0.
MTP: Can anyone actually catch Olimpiacos, or is it just wishful thinking?
5. Moscow doesn’t have it all.
Andre Vilas-Boas is doing a fabulous job with Zenit, having played six and won six of their games to date. That leaves them 3 points clear of Dinamo Moscow, with CSKA as far behind as fifth – Kuban Krasnodar and Terek Grozny filling the gaps. For a division dominated by Muscovite sides, its always pleasing to see a provincial team doing so well and, though Zenit are Gazprom-sponsored, they do have a lovely blue kit.
![[Image: Zenit-Bart-Simpson.jpg]](http://www.themoscowtimes.com/upload/iblock/8f7/Zenit-Bart-Simpson.jpg)
MTP: Zenit ‘signed’ Bart Simpson on deadline day. Why bother with such a prank?
Team 1 – Deportivo La Coruña (ESP)
THE PAST
THE PAST
Based in the northern Galician city of A Coruna, ‘Depor’ were long-term players on the continental stage before a decline in their fortunes in the recent past brought a couple of relegations, both since followed with immediate returns to the top flight. The glory of the early 2000s are seemingly gone from the Riazor, though, and Depor look set for another difficult season battling against the drop.
Formed in 1906, and Copa Del Rey finalists just four years later, major silverware avoided the team in blue and white stripes, with a 1949/50 La Liga runners-up spot the only hook by which to hang their hat until the 1990s, along with a clutch of Segunda Division crowns in the 1960s – the fact they won the second tier in 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968 tells you a little about how they fared in the top flight afterwards, mind you.
The Blue and White stripes of the Riazor.
The 1970s and 1980s brought more disappointment, and a couple of seasons in the Tercera Division, but when Depor came back in the 1990s, it was with purpose, with verve and with John Toshack.
This ‘Blue and White Period’ if you will took Depor to 9 top 3 finishes in 12 years which in a league containing those powerhouses of Europe, Barcelona and Real Madrid, is no mean feat – that period brought the club’s only La Liga title, in 1999/2000, but also four second placed finishes, and two Copa Del Rey triumphs and, on the continental stage, a Champions League semi-final in 2003/04 – a quick look at their Pichichi winners from this period shows the excellence that was in A Coruña at the time; Bebeto (29 goals – 1992/93), Diego Tristan (21 goals – 2002/03) and European Golden Boot winner Roy Makaay (29 goals – 2003/04).
MATCH OF THEIR LIVES
Deportivo La Coruña (5)4-0(4) AC Milan – Champions League QF 2nd Leg 07/04/04
Deportivo La Coruña (5)4-0(4) AC Milan – Champions League QF 2nd Leg 07/04/04
Having lost the first leg 4-1 at the San Siro, Depor went into this knowing they would have to create history of the most ludicrous kind to make their first semi-final. Just as in the first game, Walter Pandiani opened the scoring early on.
However, this time, Depor were not rocked backed by a Rossoneri tide.
From then on, the Spanish side’s promise to attack Milan ‘like a hurricane’ came to a painful fruition. Victor Sanchez was the lightning rod for all the home side’s attacks as they built an impressive head of steam and created chance after chance. When Valeron put them 2-0 up after 35 minutes, the dream began to stir in earnest and by half-time, with Luque adding a third, the Riazor was rocking like a weeble.
The second half was a different story; Milan playing as if they knew one goal would see them through, and Depor playing as if one goal was the punch that would leave the Italians on the canvas. This time, despite Jon Dahl Tomasson’s best efforts, it was the Rossoneri who were left bloodied on the floor as Fran burst through to score a fourth and though that only technically added icing to the cake, Depor went wild, knowing their progress had been confirmed.
No team before or since has come back from a 3-goal deficit to qualify in the Champions League but the spirited Depor side of 2004 did it, only to go on to meet Jose Mourinho’s Porto
THE PRESENT
Depor may have been promoted last season from the Spanish second tier, but their performance, and their results was far more reminiscent of its Italian counter-part – so few goals scored, so many 1-0 wins; they made it, though, behind Eibar, and took their place amongst the elite.
The team is not particularly star-studded, but does feature a number of Portuguese loanees, as you might expect for a team so close to the border (though local rivals Celta Vigo are closer); that said, a twin strike-force of Helder Postiga and Isaac Cuenca, you may remember from Barcelona’s youth system, is certainly an upgrade from the last campaign. This promises to be a fairly difficult season, and Depor have picked up a solitary point from their 2 games so far, after Cuenca’s first goal, a penalty, earned them a 2-2 home draw with Rayo Vallecano.
THEIR LEAGUE - SPAIN
After two games, only Barcelona hold a 100% record, with a clutch of teams behind them including an impressive looking Valencia and last season’s champions Atletico Madrid, now with added Mario Mandzukic and Alessio Cerci; the word is that Atleti might be even better than last season – the problem being that Barcelona and Real will probably both be better, too. Expect a strong Spanish showing in the Champions League.
‘Little’ Eibar started with a win in the Basque derby against the Royal Society, who bounced back in style to bounce back against Real Madrid – finding themselves 0-2 down early in the piece, they rallied to win 4-2, Zurutuza bagging two goals before Carlos Vela scored a delightful one to seal it.
Two teams currently sit pointless – Elche and Levante; both have relatively recently earned their La Liga stripes and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see either slipping back into the Segunda, even though Levante have had a pretty dramatic couple of seasons. Below them, Real Betis top the table, meaning neither Seville side has lost this season so far.
AROUND EUROPE
1. The German Hangover?
Perhaps still taking their time to get over their World Cup win, the players of both Dortmund and Bayern have looked a little bit off the pace in the Bundesliga; Dortmund conceded an early opener to Bayer Leverkusen, who are top after two games, while Bayern failed to beat a resolute Schalke team, their meeting ending 1-1. Newly promoted Paderborn are flying, standing second with four points, including a 0-3 victory at Hamburg.
Marco’s Talking Point: How long will Ciro Immobile take to settle in at Dortmund?
2. France: The Big Beasts Awaken.
Taking a little time to get into the season, both Paris Saint Germain (5-0 v. St Etienne) and Marseille (4-0 v. Reims) chalked up convincing wins to go into the break in a positive light. OM’s new coach Marcelo Bielsa had a great pre-season, but when Ligue 1 started, his side looked laboured and disjointed. Meanwhile, PSG looked more dependent on Zlatan than ever – though his hat-trick against the fancied Verts hasn’t really dispelled that.
MTP: How far will Monaco be allowed to fall?
3. Isn’t it nice to see El Shaarawy again?
Serie A is just one game old, and it is a season that looks to be grabbed by the youngsters; Stephan El Shaarawy was on top form in Milan’s 3-1 win against Lazio, while Juventus’ newboy Kingsley Coman, plucked from an unappreciative PSG, lit up the only bright parts of their win against Chievo. Elsewhere, Torino played out an utterly dreck 0-0 with Inter, but at least had the good sense to see a penalty saved, then sell their best player for peanuts the next day. More than Nemanja Vidic, whose Nerazzurri debut was rather ruined by giving away said penalty, then later getting sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee.
MTP: Before the season, Inter looked the better set side in Milan. Has that changed?
4. Greece: Atromitos strike out.
It’s too early to talk of Olimpiacos being dethroned, but they do look as if they might struggle a bit for goals this season, and Kostas Mitroglou might not quite be in the same form as when he left Piraeus last year. To that end, the champions could only muster a 1-1 draw at Panatolikos, allowing Atromitos to stand alone at the top with six points; behind them, PAOK, Panathinaikos and Olimpiacos (all on 4) are joined by PAS Giannina, Kallonis, and Kerkyra. Five teams go down from Super League this season, so being bad is not a good idea. AEK won the first leg of their cup game 4-0.
MTP: Can anyone actually catch Olimpiacos, or is it just wishful thinking?
5. Moscow doesn’t have it all.
Andre Vilas-Boas is doing a fabulous job with Zenit, having played six and won six of their games to date. That leaves them 3 points clear of Dinamo Moscow, with CSKA as far behind as fifth – Kuban Krasnodar and Terek Grozny filling the gaps. For a division dominated by Muscovite sides, its always pleasing to see a provincial team doing so well and, though Zenit are Gazprom-sponsored, they do have a lovely blue kit.
MTP: Zenit ‘signed’ Bart Simpson on deadline day. Why bother with such a prank?