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Deportivo seeks to extend Monaco's Spanish misery
ONLY a victory is sure to guarantee AS Monaco FC a place in the next stage of the UEFA Champions League, but as Didier Deschamps' side have a decent overall record against RC Deportivo La Coruaa, the former French international will be hopeful that his side can end their winless sequence in Spain and take three points against a side that has yet to score in this season's group stage.
Goals from Javier Saviola (pictured) and Mohamed Kallon provided AS Monaco FC with victory against RC Deportivo La Coruna earlier in this season's UEFA Champions League
Monaco defeated Deportivo 2-0 at Stade Louis II on the second matchday of this season's Champions League with Mohamed Kallon and Javier Saviola scoring in the opening 10 minutes. The manner of Monaco's opening two-goal salvo evoked memories of the two sides previous meeting in the Principality during the 2003/04 season when Monaco ran out 8-3 winners, the highest goals tally in any match in the European Champion Clubs Cup since the advent of the UEFA Champions League. But just two weeks beforehand, Deportivo had defeated Monaco at the Riazor stadium with Diego Tristan scoring the only goal of the game seven minutes from time, and Deschamps side will need to guard against complacency despite the Spanish side's struggles this term.
Having beaten Monaco on home soil last season, Deportivo extended their unbeaten record against French teams at the Riazor stadium to five matches in European competitions. Previously, the Spanish side overcame RC Lens 3-1 in the first group stage of the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League with Roy Makaay, Joan Capdevila and Cesar Martin on target. At the same stage of the competition 12 months previously, Deportivo shared a 1-1 draw with LOSC Lille Metropole, while they edged a seven-goal thriller with Paris Saint-Germain FC in the second group stage during the 2000/01 season. Deportivo also entertained Montpellier Herault SC at the second round stage of the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup, winning 3-1 at home before defeating the French side 2-0 in the return leg. Overall, the Spanish side have won four, drawn one and lost two of their matches at home against French opposition, the defeats coming against PSG and AJ Auxerre in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and 1997/98 UEFA Cup respectively.
Monaco, meanwhile, have struggled on their six visits to date to Spain, drawing once and losing on five occasions. Their most recent trip came last season at the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League when they were defeated 4-2 by Real Madrid only to bounce back at home, winning 3-1 to advance to the semi-final stage on away goals. At the Santiago BernabZu stadium, Sebastien Squillaci gave Monaco the lead after 43 minutes only for Ivan Helguera (51 minutes), Zinedine Zidane (70), Luis Figo (77) and Ronaldo (81) to hit back for the home side. However, Fernando Morientes, who was on loan to Monaco from Madrid, cut the deficit in the 83rd minute to give Deschamps' side a chance for the return leg which they would go on to take.
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