Deportivo La Coruna will be aiming to move closer to the Segunda Division playoff spots when they continue their campaign with a contest against Castellon on Monday night.
The visitors are currently 11th in the Segunda Division table, boasting 40 points from their opening 30 matches of the season, while Castellon are 14th, one point behind their opponents ahead of the fixture.
Match preview
Castellon will enter Monday's match off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Elche, which proved to be their first loss in Spain's second division since the start of February, posting three wins from their last five matches.
Johan Plat's side earned promotion from the third tier last season, so their main focus for this term was to avoid relegation, and by that standard, it has been a successful campaign thus far.
Indeed, the Valencia outfit are 14th in the table, boasting a record of 11 wins, six draws and 13 defeats from 30 matches to collect 39 points, which has left them five points ahead of the relegation zone.
Castellon still have a lot of work to do when it comes to remaining in the division, and their main issues this season have been defensively, conceding 41 times, while they have found the back of the opposition's net on 40 occasions.
Plat's team have picked up 20 points from their 15 home league matches this season, but they will be welcoming a Deportivo side that have the third-best away record in the division during the 2024-25 campaign.
Deportivo have won six, drawn four and lost five of their 15 away league fixtures this season to collect 22 points, with only Racing de Santander and Levante proving to be stronger on their travels.
The Blue and Whites are a gigantic club at this level of football, and they secured a return to the second tier last season, while their last campaign in the top flight was in 2017-18.
Deportivo have played 46 seasons in the top tier, while they have won the La Liga title on one occasion, lifting the trophy in 1999-2000, finishing five points clear of second-placed Barcelona at the summit.
Oscar Gilsanz's side have picked up 40 points from their 30 league matches this season, which has left them 11th in the table, 11 points off the playoff spots, so it is going to take some effort to make the top six.
The Blue and Whites will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Cordoba, while they have only been beaten in one of their last seven matches during an impressive run of form.
Team News
Israel Suero has been Castellon's standout player in the final third this season, and there will again be a start for the 30-year-old, who has seven goals to his name during the 2024-25 campaign.
Raul Sanchez is another to contribute seven goals, and he will continue in a wide area, with the home side again expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation.
Thomas van den Belt has been another excellent performer for Castellon, and he will continue in the holding midfield position, allowing Milos Jojic and Giovanni Zarfino to break forward.
Deportivo have not reported any fresh injury concerns from their clash against Cordoba last time out, and it is expected that head coach Gilsanz will name the same starting side for this fixture.
Yeremay Hernandez has been in strong form for Deportivo this season, scoring nine times and registering four assists in 27 appearances, and the 22-year-old will again feature in a wide area.
David Mella, meanwhile, has six goals and four assists in 29 appearances for the club this term, and the 19-year-old will be another starter for a Deportivo side that are looking to make a late push for the playoffs.
Castellon possible starting lineup:
Crettaz; Chirino, Gil, Vertrouwd; Mabil, Zarfino, Van den Belt, Jojic, R Sanchez; De Miguel, Suero
Deportivo La Coruna possible starting lineup:
Leite; Navarro, Vazquez, Barcia, Obrador; Mella, Angel, Villares, Hernandez; Soriano, Eddahchouri
We say: Castellon 1-2 Deportivo La Coruna
Deportivo have been impressive on their travels this season, and we fancy them to secure a vital three points on Monday night; it was 5-1 to Deportivo in the reverse game earlier this season, and we are backing another success for the former La Liga champions here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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