Makaay return boosts Deportivo

RC Deportivo La Coruña will not need reminding that Matchday Eight was the occasion when they conceded their unbeaten status in last season's UEFA Champions League, and on Tuesday in the BayArena they will guard against history repeating itself. However, neither they nor Bayer 04 Leverkusen approach their Group D fixture in the best frame of mind.

Recent defeats
Although Deportivo got their second group stage campaign off to a resounding start with a 2-0 defeat of Arsenal FC two weeks ago, they have since stumbled in the Primera División and have consequently been knocked off top spot. Leverkusen went down 4-0 in their delayed Matchday Seven clash with Juventus FC (only the second time in 25 games this season that the German side had failed to score) and have since relinquished their unbeaten record in the 1. Bundesliga.

Identical path
Deportivo have been following an identical Champions League path to that of 12 months ago when their ultimate destination was the quarter-finals where they succumbed to Leeds United AFC. Just as then, the Spanish side came through the first phase of the competition with a record showing two wins and four draws. Matchday Seven came and went with a victory and it was in this same week 12 months ago that Javier Irureta's side tasted defeat for the first time when Milan AC triumphed in the Riazor stadium.

Rocky patch
They would be confident of extending their unbeaten 2001/02 sequence against a German team that leaked so many goals in Turin last Thursday were it not for the fact that Deportivo have hit a rocky patch at home and encountered back-to-back away defeats.     

Sturdy defence
In this their fourth away fixture in eleven days, Deportivo will be looking to recapture the goalscoring ability which, supported by a sturdy defence, saw them overcome Arsenal. Following that they were hammered 4-1 away by RCD Mallorca and last weekend were beaten 1-0 by RCD Espanyol, allowing Deportivo Alavés to take over top spot in the league.

'Slightly worrying'
"The first half was very evenly balanced but after the interval we committed a clear error which allowed them to score" said Irureta. "After that we had a couple of good chances but we simply couldn't win. There's nothing else to add. We found it very difficult to create scoring chances and that is slightly worrying."

Makaay back
It was the first time in 42 games that Deportivo had failed to find the net although things should improve with the return of Dutch striker Roy Makaay after injury. He appeared for the final 38 minutes. In between the two league games, Deportivo travelled to León for a Copa del Rey meeting with Cultural Leonesa and trailed with 20 minutes remaining until Diego Tristán got to work and turned the tie around with a double strike.

Still on top
Two days after going down in Turin, Klaus Toppmöller and his players travelled to face SV Werder Bremen and lost 2-1 while also losing Jens Nowotny to a second yellow card. Bernd Schneider shot the visitors ahead but they could not hold on. Although they forfeited their unbeaten league record the consolation was in keeping their hold on first place.

'Physically stronger'
"Werder Bremen were physically stronger than us," commented Toppmöller. They were also better organised on the day. We were not lucky and, after two defeats in 48 hours, it is important for my squad to retain their confidence for the match against Deportivo."