Deportivo scrap for cup salvation

RC Deportivo La Coruña and RCD Espanyol are looking to save their seasons as they meet in tonight's Spanish Cup semi-final second leg.

Rare success
Espanyol travel to the Riazor with a 2-1 first-leg lead and will have been buoyed by Saturday's win against RC Celta de Vigo in the Primera División. Victories have been few and far between for Miguel Ángel Lotina's men, who lie 12th in the table, still not safe from relegation.

Positive attitude
With defender David García absent for a month with an ankle injury, Lotina may also be without midfielder Moisés Hurtado, who has strained a groin muscle. However, the coach is not too downhearted, saying: "We are the away team and we will do all we can to make our fans proud."

Deportivo misery
Deportivo's supporters could also do with a lift following their 1-0 home defeat by Real Sociedad de Fútbol at the weekend. The ninth-placed club are resigned to being without Francisco Gallardo (thigh), Jorge Andrade (knee), Sebastián Taborda (ankle) and Juan Carlos Valerón (knee).

Home form
Joaquín Caparrós's side will be aware that poor home form has undermined their campaign, but the coach hopes to turn that particular tide against Espanyol. "It's sad that we can't win at home, but we have to forget that and aim for the cup final," he said.