Both teams are in great shape, having won four of their last six outings. Athletic - somewhat remarkably - is for the time being the best team in La Liga, with 14 out of 18 possible points, while Depor are also surprisingly high, in third place with 13 as the domestic heavyweights continue to flounder.European places are certainly within reach for both these teams, should they get the same great results in what is remaining of the season.
In their last outing, Depor won a hard away game against fifth place holders Racing. This puts them just one win from visiting Athletic in the table and on much safer ground. Depor has finally left the bottom third of the table!
The win in the ‘Sardinero’ was the end of three consecutives home wins for Racing, and it could be the end of their Champions League hopes as Atlético consolidated their fourth place with a convincing 6-3 home win against Almería.
Xisco scored Depor’s first goal in less than two minutes. The player is on a roll with five goals in just two matches, two of them against Racing. Furthermore, Depor continued to show great effectiveness in front of goal. Three out of four shots on target resulted in goal!
Athletic had not lost a game in five matches, and neither they did loose against visiting Espanyol. The visitors were highly motivated in order to keep the European places within reach, and to prevent the home team from closing in on them.
Instead, they lost their ninth game out of twelve and the European dream seems more and more out of reach for the Catalunyan team.
Both Epanyol and Athletic will have a hard time reaching the Uefa Cup places, but the difference between them is that Athletic is in great shape. If they can maintain it for the rest of the season nothing is impossible.
RECENT FORM
Deportivo
| Match | Result | Date | Championship |
| Racing-Deportivo | 1-3 | 06/04/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Deportivo-Murcia | 3-1 | 30/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Mallorca-Deportivo | 1-0 | 22/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Deportivo-R. Madrid | 1-0 | 15/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Valencia-Deportivo | 2-2 | 09/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Deportivo-Sevilla | 2-1 | 01/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
Athletic
| Match | Result | Date | Championship |
| Athletic-Espanyol | 1-0 | 06/04/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Recreativo-Athletic | 1-1 | 30/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Athletic-Getafe | 1-0 | 23/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Betis-Athletic | 1-2 | 15/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Athletic-Valladolid | 2-0 | 09/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
| Almería-Athletic | 1-1 | 02/03/2008 | LA LIGA |
TEAM NEWS
Deportivo
The Swede sensation Christian Wilhelmsson is back from injury and will most assuredly reclaim his place on the right flank. Centre-back Lopo will also return after last week’s suspension.
Probable Starting XI: Aouate - Filipe Luis, Coloccini, Pablo Amo, Lopo, Manuel Pablo - Lafita, De Guzmán, Sergio, Wilhelmsson - Xisco
Athletic
Del Horno will be out for at least two weeks due to injury. He will most probably be replaced by Koikili.
Probable Starting XI: Armando - Koikili, Amorebieta, Aitor Ocio, Iraola - Gabilondo, Susaeta, Yeste, Javí Martín - Garmendia and Llorente
PREDICTION
The home advantage will likely be decisive when these two teams in great shape battle it out. So far, almost half the games in La Liga have been home wins. This game should not be an exception, specially since neither team are in a great position to take on the European places.
