Chasing the Big Leagues Deportivo La Coruna (Spain Segunda) is a post from: Just Football

Just Football's Tales from Tier Two series continues now with a look at the promotion chances of Deportivo La Coruña in Spain's Segunda Division:

Deportivo La Coruna

Deportivo have a three point lead on Valladolid and Hercules going into week 22 as the blanquiazules aim to bounce back to La Liga at the first time of asking.

January, the start of a new year, is often seen as a month of hope. Resolutions made as the previous year came to an end are still fresh in the mind as is the belief that they will be maintained. That similar resolutions were made (but not kept) before doesn't matter. This time round will be different, this time round I will make it.

Welcome to The Yorkies' regular off-season rumour roundup - "The Rumoumeter". Too busy to keep your TFC ear to the ground every week? Just stop by the site and we will quickly show you what rumours are hot - and which ones have hit the back burner. Some of the rumours have weight - others little more than whispers; we take their temperature with.

Liverpool is reportedly preparing a £12 million swoop for Newcastle United defender Fabricio Coloccini.
The Argentinian has been earmarked as a target by Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, who is looking to bolster his defence.
Coloccini has 18 months remaining on his current deal at St. James' Park, and Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is growing concerned that he could lose the 29-year-old.

As I write this Messi has glided past three defenders to add his name to the score-sheet against Athletico Madrid. It's the 26th minute and Athletico are already 3-0 down at the Camp Nou.

It's a little embarrassing and not in the sense that Barcelona are romping home to another victory.

For some time Sevilla President, Jose del Nido has been the fiercest critique of the La Liga TV deal which results in the big two, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid taking home 50% of the share. He has uped the ante by recently calling upon other Club Presidents to go for a French revolution style revolt and force the big two accept an equal sharing deal.

By Chris Wright

Read any Djalminha retrospective and the same words seem to crop up; brilliant, mercurial, elusive, tumultuous, profligate, turbulent and it's little wonder why.

Having intermittently illuminated Spanish football with his extrovert brand of grace and skill after arriving at Deportivo La Coruna in 1997 (including a starring role in their title-winning side of 1999/2000), Djalminha looked a shoe-in for a spot in Brazil's 2002 World Cup squad right up until he pressed the self-destruct button two days before Phil Scolari was due to announce his final draft headbutting Deportivo coach Javier Irureta during a training ground scuffle.

By Chris Wright

Read any Djalminha retrospective and the same words seem to crop up; brilliant, mercurial, elusive, tumultuous, profligate, turbulent and it's no wonder why.

Having intermittently illuminated Spanish football with his extrovert brand of grace and skill after arriving at Deportivo La Coruna in 1997 (including a starring role in their title-winning side of 1999/2000), Djalminha looked a shoe-in for a spot in Brazil's 2002 World Cup squad right up until he pressed the self-destruct button two days before Phil Scolari was due to announce his final draft headbutting Deportivo coach Javier Irureta during a training ground scuffle.

Having all sort of problems last season, Newcastle United managed to reach their target of surviving in the premier league, this success brings a little bit confidence on one of their star performers, Fabricio Coloccini, who believes that his team can improve next season.

Coloccini however, doesn't expect the team to challenge for higher objectives such as getting into European football as just yet but simply finishing higher than 12th position would already be a positive thing for Newcastle.

Spain grabbed control of Group B with a comprehensive 2:0 victory over the Czech Republic in Viborg.
Deportivo La Coruna marksman Adrian grabbed a goal in either half to condemn the Czechs to their first defeat in two years and place Spain a point ahead with a game to play. Valencia midifelder Juan Mata supplied the bullets with two killer assists for Adrian.

With the CONCACAF Gold Cup just days away from starting there's an opportunity for players from around the region to use the regional tournament as an individual showcase.

What players can make the most of the opportunity? Here's a look at some players who can profit from a big month of June representing their country and parlay that success to the club level.

Who is out and who is close to the Relegation Zone as of Mon May 16:
3 more got knocked down this weekend: Birmingham, Blackpool & Deportivo La Coruna.
UNREAL: With 1 round left in Ligue 1 there are still nine teams trying to avoid the one final relegation spot!
Only 2 relegation places are left in the top 5 leagues of Europe - France and Germany.

In the end, some will be left crying. This, my friends is football and even teams like Deportivo la Coruna had to learn the hard way following their 0-2 loss to the Valencians last night. Los Turcos have been relegated from La Liga, and will face a painful season in second flight with Almeria and Hercules.

By IAN HOLLIDAY

The last time Lille won the French top flight, the European Cup didn't exist yet. Now, after 57 years, the club will enter the UEFA Champions League as French champions for the first time in its history.

Lille entered the weekend needing only a point from its match at Paris St.

By IAN HOLLIDAY

The last time Lille won the French top flight, the European Cup didn't exist yet. Now, after 57 years, the club will enter the UEFA Champions League as French champions for the first time in its history.

Lille entered the weekend needing only a point from its match at Paris St.

French League leaders Lille will look to lock up the Ligue 1 title today in a home showdown against Paris St. German.

With the English Premier League, German Bundesliga and Serie A all having already decided their champions, Lille will look to be the next in line to lift a trophy (or drop one off a bus), but with PSG having its own European aspirations to fight for, it won't be a cakewalk for Eden Hazard and Co.

The championships in all of the major European leagues are already spoken for, but there's still plenty on the line in this weekend's soccer around the world.

The five-team relegation battle in England's Premier League is one thing to keep an eye on, as is the race for spots in next year's European competitions.

CONCACAF's regional championship is just two and half weeks away and two teams are the clear favorites to take the Gold Cup and a coveted spot in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. Those two teams: the United States and Mexico.

These two teams are the deepest and most talented squads in the North and Central American region, but which is the favorite?

Valencia ensured third place in La Liga and an automatic berth in next season's Champions League when they drew 0-0 at home to city neighbours Levante and nearest rivals Villarreal lost 3-1 at home to Real Madrid.

With one match remaining, Valencia have 68 points, six ahead of Villarreal, who are assured of fourth and go into the qualifying round for Europe's elite club competition.

Liga: Il miracolo di Pellegrini! Di Pietro Colella La 35esima della Liga offre, negli anticipi del sabato, ben sette partite: Getafe-Almeria, Valencia-Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao-Levante, Sporting Gijon-Deportivo La Coruna, Hercules-Racing Santander, Atletico Madrid-Malaga e Siviglia-Real Madrid.Il Getafe di Michel vince per 2-0 condannando matematicamente gli andalusi alla retrocessione (

Manchester United sensation Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez was today named to Mexico's provisional Gold Cup roster. Hernandez has had a phenomenal start to his career in the Premier League, and he could be linking up with fellow Premier League players Carlos Vela and Carlos Salcido in this summer's tournament.

Arsenal's title hopes have faded, but now the Gunners must focus on holding off Chelsea for second place in the English Premier League.

In order to avoid sliding into third place permanently the Gunners will need to beat a struggling Bolton side looking to erase the memories of its ugly FA Cup exit.

Deportivo La Coruna keeper Daniel Aranzubia rescued a valuable point for his side against fellow strugglers Almeria with a headed goal deep into stoppage time yesterday.

Lionel Messi was the hero for Barcelona on his 250th competitive game for the club as he scored the winner to beat Athletic Bilbao.

Goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia was Deportivo La Coruna's hero as he scored a dramatic last-gasp equaliser to earn his side a point at second-bottom Almeria.

With his side trailing to Pablo Piatti's brilliant 48th-minute opener, Aranzubia ventured forward for a corner deep into injury-time and headed in a goal that helped Depor avoid what looked set to be a fourth defeat at the hands of Almeria this season.

Manolo Preciado: The Most Interesting Man in the World

There was a time on Saturday night when Lionel Messi actually became frustrated with himself and his teammates. There was a time on Saturday night when Xavi Hernández could not find the killer pass through the hard-working, organized defense.

The last time Bolton faced Everton, Tim Howard robbed Stuart Holden of what would have been his first Premier League goal. The in-form Bolton midfielder has a second chance to beat his international teammate on Sunday.

Bolton-Everton is one of the marquee matches of the day for American soccer fans, but another one of great importance is happening in Germany, where captain Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 continue their push for a UEFA Champions League berth with a key game against Werder Bremen.

Expo 2008 was held in the city of Zaragoza, and one of the striking structures built for the expo was the Torre del Agua, shaped to represent a droplet of water. Photo courtesy of Salvador Bru.

Round 23 of 38 might be a little too early to mention relegation six-pointers, but with teams twelfth to twentieth a within a slender five points of each other and the gap widening between these teams and the first eleven of La Liga, a three-point win should not be underestimated as time snowballs downward to the end of the campaign.

The Fundación Picasso, an organization whose purpose is to promote the works of Pablo Picasso, headquarted at Picasso's birth home on the Plaza de la Merced in Málaga.

Two of the most active clubs in the January transfer window meet together this weekend in an Andalucian derby at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán between Sevilla and Málaga.

News today that Alan Pardew has been given the go ahead to scour the free agent market, to bring in a new striker, after Shola Ameobi was injured last night. Jeremie Aliadiere - this former Arsenal striker is available Pardew also lost Xisco on loan to Deportivo la Coruna, and that was just terrible timing, [.

Photo courtesy of Jon Gonzalo Torróntegui

The headlines emanating from Bilbao have had little to do with Athletic's white-hot form, as the rumors swirling around Fernando Llorente's future destination have blanketed this historic club. Tottenham Hotspur has been the main culprit of the Llorente saga, originally offering €30 million, but after Athletic rejected the bid, they upped the ante to an astronomical €38.

Deportivo 3-3 Sevilla ( Lassad Nouioui*2, Laure/ Alvaro Negredo*2, Julien Escude) Estadio Riazor, Deportivo- January 29, 2011 A six goal thriller sees Deportivo draw 3-3 with Sevilla at home thanks to Laure's last gasp equaliser. Sevilla, who were trailing 2-0 at one point of time, scored thrice in the second half to go 3-2 ahead [.

The Palau Reíal Major in Barcelona was the home for counts of Barcelona and later the Kings of Aragon.

Espanyol's surprising start has not only stretched to this juncture of the season but has also improved from a club that only garnered points at home to a team that can win the tough matches away from home.

Independiente vs Deportivo Quito Tuesday-January 25, 2011 Final score:- Independiente 2-0 Deportivo Quito (Matias Defederico 50′, Patricio Rodriguez 70′) Seven time Copa Liberatodores champions Independiente open their campaign with a 2-0 win over Deportivo Quito at home. Both the Independiente goals came in the second half.

Karim Benzema rescued Real Madrid as they stayed in contact with La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 1-0 victory over Real Mallorca. Mallorca's defence had done well to keep out the hosts until Benzema struck after 61 minutes with a well-taken goal to move Madrid to within four points of Barca.

Fans of a certain age, or those new to the sport, might not remember the last a team not named Barcelona or Real Madrid last won La Liga, but it happened. I think.

One of those teams which supposedly won it back in the day was Deportivo La Coruna (2000). The team from the small seaside city became known as Super Depor, foraying into the Champions League and meeting the likes of Europe's biggest clubs, including Milan.

Fans of a certain age, or those new to the sport, might not remember the last a team not named Barcelona or Real Madrid last won La Liga, but it happened. I think.

One of those teams which supposedly won it back in the day was Deportivo La Coruna (2000). The team from the small seaside city became known as Super Depor, foraying into the Champions League and meeting the likes of Europe's biggest clubs, including Milan.

The Passeig des Born, a picturesque promenade in the heart of Palma de Mallorca, is lined with high-end shops coupled with quaint pavement cafés while hosting numerous festivals and fiestas throughout the year.

La Liga officially begins the second half of its season this weekend, and FC Barcelona has continued its stellar form with a staggering fifty-two points out of a possible fifty-seven points, a Spanish record for the opening half of any campaign.

MADRID, Spain Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid's surprise draw at Almeria to move four points clear at the top of the Primera Division. The Catalans swept aside Malaga 4-1 at the Nou Camp after Madrid were made to settle for a 1-1 draw against the league's bottom side. Pep Guardiola's men put Malaga [.

Valencia 2-0 Deportivo La Coruna Estadio Mestalla- January 16, 2011- La Liga Final score :- Valencia 2-0 Deportivo ( Jeremy Mathieu, Pablo Hernandez) Late second half strikes from Jeremy Mathieu and Pablo Hernandez give Valencia a 2-0 win at home over Deportivo La Coruna. Valencia 1-0 Deportivo ( Mathieu goal) Valencia 2-0 Deportivo ( P.

Valencia 2-0 Deportivo La Coruna Estadio Mestalla- January 16, 2011- La Liga Final score :- Valencia 2-0 Deportivo ( Jeremy Mathieu, Pablo Hernandez) Late second half strikes from Jeremy Mathieu and Pablo Hernandez give Valencia a 2-0 win at home over Deportivo La Coruna. Valencia 1-0 Deportivo ( Mathieu goal) Valencia 2-0 Deportivo ( P.