FC Porto v Dep La CorunaDeportivo La Coruna go into tonight's Champions League semi-final, first-leg match in Porto knowing they will probably not be able to rely on another late, great comeback against the pragmatic Portuguese side.Estádio do Dragão, 7.45On TV: Net 2, Sky Sports 1
Deportivo only made it through the quarter-finals against AC Milan thanks to a 4-0 victory at the Riazor Stadium after they lost the first leg in Italy 4-1.
Porto may lack the brilliance of Milan but they are one of the most efficient sides in Europe and Deportivo coach, Javier Irureta, is anxious to see a more resolute first-leg performance from his side as they seek a place in the final against Monaco or Chelsea.
"I want to win in Portugal and we will need to play more like we did against Milan if we want to do that," Irureta said after a tame 1-1 draw at home to Valladolid on Saturday effectively spelled the end of their league title bid.
"If we play like we did against Valladolid we will come back from Porto having conceded a sackful of goals.
"I wasn't satisfied with the effort of some of the players in that game. We didn't have the necessary edge or concentration."
Although Irureta was unhappy with his side's display against Valladolid, he will at least have been satisfied to get through the game without any injuries, meaning he will be able to field a full strength side against last season's UEFA Cup winners.
Porto's Jose Mourinho has become one of the most sought after coaches in Europe after following up that UEFA Cup win with a run to the Champions League semi-finals this term.
The coach has an injury worry over striker Edgaras Jankauskas but he will be grateful for the return of defender Ricardo Costa, who will return after a month's absence with an arm injury.
Mourinho believes that Deportivo's extraordinary win over Milan will ease the pressure on his side for the home leg of the semi-final as it demonstrated that the tie would not be won or lost until the last second of the return.
"We'll be able to play at home without feeling the need to win by two or three goals," Mourinho said. "A victory by 1-0 would be an excellent result."
While Deportivo are now out of the league title running in Spain, Porto are firmly on course for a successful defence of their title, with just three more points needed from their remaining three games.
Porto's outstanding season has been based on a watertight defence, as well as the occasional brilliance of playmaker Deco Souza, but Mourinho is wary of the threat from Deportivo.
"In midfield and attack Deportivo are very strong," he warned, adding that he would be happy to avoid defeat tonight. "A defeat would be bad but a draw would be a normal result. It would leave everything open."
"A win, even by one goal, would be an excellent result," he added. "I don't think there will be a big win for either side in either of the games."
"Deportivo conceded a lot of goals against Milan but that sort of thing can happen to any side on a given day."
For Irureta the key to stopping Porto, who won the European Cup in 1987, will be to keep them quiet at the start of each half.
"Porto have an aggressive, offensive style," he said. "They are really difficult to play against early in the game and at the start of the second half.
"They are ambitious and they put you under a lot of pressure. I'm sure they will want to get a result good enough to give them guarantees in the return."
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
FC PORTO: Baia; Ferreira, Costa, Carvalho, Valente, Costinha, Mendes, Ribeiro, Souza, Alberto, McCarthy
DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA: Molina; Pablo, Naybet, Andrade, Romero; Victor, Sergio, Silva, Luque; Valeron, Pandiani.
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
