Galician derby glory over Celta Vigo offers Deportivo La Coruna ray of light

The Primera Liga's bottom club, who are on their third coach of the season, won 3-1, for only their fourth win in 28 games, writes Andy Mitten.

Deportivo Coruna's Brazilian defender Evaldo (C) and Colombian midfielder Abel Aguilar (R) jump for the ball with Malaga's Paraguayan forward Roque Santa Cruz (L) during the Spanish league football maShow more

Celta Vigo travelled 160 kilometres north to Deportivo La Coruna for their first top-flight derby in six years on Friday. What happened is still headline news in Galicia.

Celta, 19th in the table, had won just once away this season. Only Deportivo, 20th and bottom, had a worse away record. The two Galician sides, among the most successful in Spain a decade ago, were both promoted last year. Sadly, both look like they are going straight back down.

Deportivo, who are on their third coach of the season, won 3-1, for only their fourth win in 28 games.

They are still six points from safety, they are in debt and Celta fans mock that they are full of Portuguese players.

But those players won the game and their next two matches are against relegation rivals Real Mallorca and Real Zaragoza. There is a chink of light.

Celta are their own worst enemy. Their best player is locally born Iago Aspas, who has been at the club since he was a boy and talks like a fan rather than a professional player.

He is their top scorer, their talisman, a true Celtista, but he was sent off for butting Deportivo's Carlos Marchena. Already a goal down, Celta's task became almost impossible.

Many a Celta fan would like to butt a Deportivo player, but actually doing it brings both player and club into disrepute.

Celta need Aspas on the pitch in their relegation fight, not suspended off it for behaving like a thug who had lost his self control.

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