Deportivo de La Coruña - Valencia CF: Riazor once again welcomes a familiar top-flight rival
RC Deportivo's return to the top flight immediately brought several matches reminiscent of the periods when the A Coruña club regularly played against Spain's best-known teams. The arrival of Valencia CF at Estadio ABANCA-RIAZOR in Matchday 3 of the 2026/2027 season is precisely such an encounter. The hosts have returned to the top division after a long absence, while the visitors arrive under pressure because they have failed to score in their first two league appearances.
The start of the season has left Deportivo unbeaten, but still without a victory. Antonio Hidalgo's team drew 1-1 at home against Elche CF and then finished their away match at Málaga CF with the same score. Valencia opened the league campaign with a 0-0 draw against Celta de Vigo, after which they lost 0-1 to Real Betis at Mestalla.
Ahead of the start of Matchday 3, Deportivo were 11th in the table with 2 points and a goal difference of 2-2. Valencia occupied 15th place with one point and a goal difference of 0-1. The season has only just begun and the table will change quickly, but Riazor is already offering a match in which both teams have a very concrete objective - to turn the solid parts of their performances from the first two rounds into a first victory.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters.
Deportivo so far have one man for the goals
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not wait long to show why his summer arrival was one of Deportivo's most high-profile reinforcements. In the first two rounds, he scored both of his team's goals.
Against Elche, he scored to give his team the lead in the first half, and a few days later he found the net again in the draw at Málaga. After that away match, Antonio Hidalgo particularly highlighted what Aubameyang brings in the final third of the pitch. His speed when moving behind the defence and his experience in front of goal are important for a team that is still adapting to the greater pace and intensity of top-flight football.
Deportivo started both league matches in a 4-2-3-1 formation. That shows Hidalgo's basic idea clearly enough. The two midfielders are expected to maintain balance, the three players behind the striker to provide width and a connection with Aubameyang, while the team wants to have enough players behind the ball when possession is lost.
Against Málaga, the period in which Deportivo pressed their opponents high and managed to move the game closer to the opposition penalty area was particularly important. Hidalgo admitted after the match, however, that freshness was lacking in the second half. That is a useful indication for the clash with Valencia: Deportivo may try to start aggressively, but they will have to manage the tempo carefully.
Yeremay's return changes the attacking options
Another piece of good news for the hosts is Yeremay's return. The attacker missed the start of the season because of a problem and received his first league minutes against Málaga when he came on late in the match. After the game, Hidalgo stressed that Yeremay is returning after approximately three months without playing and that he needs time to regain full physical condition.
That means he should not automatically be expected to handle a full workload, but the mere possibility of bringing him on gives Deportivo a different type of player for one-on-one situations. David Mella also came on against Málaga, so Hidalgo now has more options on the flanks than he did at the very start of preparations.
Shortly before the match against Valencia, the club also signed Adama Traoré. The new attacking player completed a large part of his first training session with the team on 27 August. Any immediate contribution against Valencia CF will depend on the coaching staff's decision and his readiness after arriving, but Deportivo now have significantly more pace available for the wide positions.
Among the currently confirmed fitness issues, Noé was still training separately on 27 August as he recovered from an ankle sprain.
- Deportivo - Elche CF 1-1
- Málaga CF - Deportivo 1-1
- Aubameyang scored both of Deportivo's league goals
- Deportivo started both matches in a 4-2-3-1 system
- Yeremay returned to competitive action against Málaga
Valencia are looking for their first goal of the season
Valencia CF's problem in the first two rounds is easy to identify by looking at the scorelines: after 180 league minutes, Carlos Corberán's team are still without a goal.
Against Celta de Vigo it finished 0-0. Against Real Betis, Valencia again kept the match open for a long time, but conceded in the 83rd minute and lost 0-1. Defensively, those are not worrying numbers - only one goal conceded in two matches - but their attacking efficiency needs to improve.
Corberán used a starting 5-4-1 formation in both league matches. Against Celta, Arnaut Danjuma was the most advanced player, while Hugo Duro started against Betis. This shows that the coach is already searching for the best combination at the top of the attack while trying to keep the rest of the system solid.
Javi Guerra played all 180 minutes in the first two rounds and represents one of the key figures in midfield. Alongside him, Pepelu, Guido Rodríguez and Filip Ugrinic played important roles in the starting line-ups, while José Luis Gayà, Jesús Vázquez and other wide options can provide width.
Against Betis in the second half, Valencia used Luis Rioja, Ugrinic, Umar Sadiq, David Otorbi and Aliou Dieng from the bench. Corberán therefore has the possibility of significantly changing the profile of his team during the match. It will be particularly interesting to see whether he keeps five players in the last line at Riazor or whether the need for a first goal and victory opens the door to a more aggressive formation.
Where the match could be decided
This is an interesting tactical pairing precisely because neither team has yet shown complete attacking stability.
Deportivo have scored in both matches, but both goals came from the same player. Valencia have not scored yet, but have conceded only once. The hosts therefore need to find a way to prevent Aubameyang from becoming isolated between Valencia's three centre-backs if Corberán again sets up a five-man defence.
One possibility is for Deportivo's wingers to move inside to open space for the full-backs. Another is more aggressive pressing after losing the ball, particularly because under pressure Valencia must find a way to connect Javi Guerra and the other midfielders with the striker.
For the visitors, it will be important to avoid a situation in which Deportivo can immediately look for Aubameyang in space after winning the ball. The pace of the home striker and the potential runs of Mella, Yeremay or Adama Traoré mean that a high defensive line carries risk.
On the other hand, if Valencia manage to force Deportivo into long periods of defending in their own third, the experience of the visiting midfield could become more important. Corberán's team have not found a goal in their first two matches, but the 0-0 against Celta and narrow defeat to Betis show that they generally keep games close on the scoreboard.
Head-to-head meetings bring good news for Valencia
A long time has passed since the last league meeting between these two clubs. The last encounter before the current season was played in May 2018, when Valencia won 2-1 at home.
Even more interestingly, Deportivo have not beaten Valencia in any of their last five league meetings. Valencia won three times, while two matches ended in draws.
- Valencia CF - RC Deportivo 2-1, May 2018.
- RC Deportivo - Valencia CF 1-2, January 2018.
- Valencia CF - RC Deportivo 3-0, April 2017.
- RC Deportivo - Valencia CF 1-1, October 2016.
- RC Deportivo - Valencia CF 1-1, January 2016.
That run has limited predictive value because the squads are completely different and several seasons have passed between the last meeting and this return. For supporters, however, it provides an additional historical context: on their return to the top flight, Deportivo are trying to end a winless run against an opponent that caused them considerable problems in the final years before relegation.
Riazor once again has a top-flight rhythm
Estadio ABANCA-RIAZOR is located beside the Atlantic coast of A Coruña, at Calle Manuel Murguía s/n. According to the city's tourism organisation, the stands have a capacity of 32,490 spectators.
The stadium's location is one of its most striking elements. It is situated directly next to the city's Riazor district and close to the coast, meaning that attending the match can easily be combined with walking through this part of the city. At the same time, such an urban location means that traffic and parking can become problematic as kick-off approaches.
Deportivo's first home match after returning to the top flight, against Elche CF, attracted 28,278 spectators. It was the first top-flight match at Riazor in eight years. The arrival of Valencia CF, one of the better-known opponents from Deportivo's earlier top-flight seasons, adds extra significance to their second home appearance.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly.
Getting to the stadium and traffic around Riazor
For visitors coming to A Coruña for the first time, the most important thing to know is that Riazor is not an isolated stadium beside a major road with huge external car parks. It is located within the urban area, so for matches attracting greater interest it is more practical to plan on walking or using public transport for at least the final part of the journey.
City bus lines 3, 3A and 7 pass through the Riazor area. However, for weekend matches it is necessary to check the current situation because routes may be adjusted due to traffic restrictions.
It is particularly important that a change to line 7 was introduced from 26 August because of works on Avenida do Peruleiro. According to the current notice from the city's transport operator, part of the route now runs via Manuel Murguía and Ronda de Outeiro before returning to its usual direction. This is precisely the area directly connected with the stadium.
For Deportivo matches, the city transport operator also uses special football traffic arrangements when large crowds are expected, so checking the route immediately before departure is more useful than relying on the usual timetable.
- Stadium: Estadio ABANCA-RIAZOR
- Address: Calle Manuel Murguía s/n, 15011 A Coruña
- Capacity: 32,490 spectators
- Lines 3, 3A and 7 connect the Riazor area with other parts of the city
- Line 7 currently has a modified route because of works that began on 26 August
For visitors arriving by car, parking is available in the Orzán-Riazor area, including an underground car park by the coastal zone with exits towards Riazor. However, the end of August means that the same area is also used by beach visitors, so on matchday it is not wise to plan to arrive at the last moment. A reasonable alternative is to leave the car slightly farther from the stadium and complete the final part of the journey on foot or by bus.
The opening time of the stadium entrances for this match was not found among the current announcements that were checked. Rather than relying on an estimate, visitors should check the latest information from RC Deportivo on matchday and set off early enough for security checks and to locate their section.
It is worth securing tickets in good time.
A Coruña before and after the match
Riazor is a convenient stadium for travelling supporters because it is located within the city rather than on a distant outskirts. The coastline, Riazor and Orzán beaches, and the central city streets are all located within the same broader area, so there is no need to organise a separate trip before the match simply to reach the stadium.
For visiting supporters, the most important thing is to allow for heavier traffic in the final hours before the match. A Coruña at the end of August also has the usual summer traffic towards the coast, while Deportivo home matches place additional pressure on Riazor and the surrounding streets.
The atmosphere will also depend greatly on the result of the opening minutes. After returning to the top flight, Deportivo are still feeding on the energy of that return, while Valencia arrive with only one point and without a league goal. An early goal for the hosts could lift the stands even further and force Valencia to abandon a more cautious plan. If the visitors withstand the initial pressure, the match could turn into a more tactically closed contest.
For Deportivo, this is an opportunity to record their first victory of the new top-flight season after two draws and confirm that Riazor can be an important source of points. For Valencia CF, the away trip brings a different kind of pressure: Carlos Corberán's team must find an attacking solution after two matches without scoring while preserving the defensive stability that has so far allowed them to concede only one goal.
Aubameyang is so far the clear focal point for the hosts. Javi Guerra is one of the constants in the visiting team. Yeremay's return and the arrival of Adama Traoré give Hidalgo new possibilities, while Corberán can choose between Hugo Duro, Danjuma and Sadiq to lead the attack.
That is precisely why this encounter does not feel like an ordinary early Matchday 3 fixture. Deportivo are trying to prove that their return to the top flight can be accompanied by results at their own stadium, while Valencia are searching for their first goal and first victory of the season. At Riazor, one of those two stories will take an important step forward.
Ticket sales for this match are ongoing.
Sources:
- LALIGA - current table before Matchday 3, results from the opening league matches, line-ups, formations and statistics for RC Deportivo and Valencia CF.
- Real Club Deportivo de A Coruña - information about Antonio Hidalgo, Yeremay's return, Noé's condition, the arrival of Adama Traoré and preparations for Valencia CF.
- Real Club Deportivo de A Coruña - reports from the matches against Elche CF and Málaga CF and information about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goals.
- Valencia CF - current schedule, information about Carlos Corberán and the team ahead of the first away match of the season.
- Visit Coruña - address of Estadio Municipal de Riazor and stand capacity.
- Compañía de Tranvías de La Coruña - bus lines passing by Riazor and the current change to the route of line 7 because of works.
- Aparcamiento Orzán-Riazor - information about parking and exits towards the stadium area.
- Transfermarkt - results of the most recent league meetings between RC Deportivo and Valencia CF.