Deportivo return to La Liga against Elche
After eight years away, Deportivo host Elche at Riazor at 9 PM, with Croatian fans particularly interested in Matija Baržić Gutiérrez and Gonzalo Villar.
After eight years away, Deportivo host Elche at Riazor at 9 PM, with Croatian fans particularly interested in Matija Baržić Gutiérrez and Gonzalo Villar.
Deportivo de La Coruña kick off their return to La Liga tonight at 9 PM. In the first round, they host Elche at their home ground, Riazor, with the match broadcast exclusively on Sport Klub 1. For the Galician side, this is the first of 38 league challenges this season, and the goal is clear, to secure the first three points immediately.
Deportivo return to the elite of Spanish football after eight long years of waiting and playing in lower divisions. The club's primary objective is to secure their top-flight status and stabilize among the best, but the path will be far from easy. The return is also marked by off-pitch tension, as fan factions, disagreeing with the board's actions regarding Marathón Inferior, have announced protests by arriving in orange shirts and halting coordinated cheering. This means the iconic, fiery atmosphere at Riazor will be absent.
Deportivo coach Antonio Hidalgo is dealing with several selection doubts and injuries ahead of the first round. Noé is definitely unavailable due to an ankle sprain, while David Mella has fully recovered and is ready to play. The biggest uncertainties are Altimira, Asp, and star player Yeremay. If the latter two are absent, there will be a void on the left wing, and the left-back, new signing Angeliño or Quagliata, will have to take on the responsibility of driving forward down the flank.
Deportivo and Elche have faced each other 12 times in the top flight, with Elche holding the upper hand with six wins compared to Deportivo's four. However, the hosts are known for slow starts to the season, they have failed to win their opening match in 12 consecutive league campaigns, and they have not tasted victory in a first round in 53 years. Deportivo will look to extend that streak and claim the first three points right away.
Viewers from Croatia will be particularly interested in following young 22-year-old Elche centre-back Matija Baržić Gutiérrez, who is expected to start the match on the bench. The former Croatian youth international, born in Madrid to a father from Split and a Spanish mother, developed through Atlético Madrid's youth system before joining Elche in 2023. Standing at 190 centimetres, he primarily plays as a left-sided centre-back but often featured in attacking roles during his youth career.
Fans of Croatian football will also be pleased to see a familiar face from the HNL. Gonzalo Villar, the former Dinamo midfielder who left Maksimir in January on loan to Elche and later made the move permanent, is likely to start for the visitors.
The match kicks off at 9 PM and can be watched live exclusively on Sport Klub 1, with expert commentary from Ivan Hodoba. Viewers in Croatia can continue to watch the regional sports channel Sport Klub on A1, Hrvatski Telekom, Telemach, Total TV, OptiTV, and via the EON platform, which is available to everyone.
