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Three points will be at stake when Deportivo La Coruna and Elche draw swords in the first round of La Liga at Estadio Riazor on Monday.
The hosts return to the Spanish top flight after an eight-year absence and will aim to leverage their home advantage to secure a winning start.
Elche, meanwhile, have not won a La Liga opener in over five decades.
Read our Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche prediction, preview and betting tips below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche key stats
- Elche are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
- Fewer than three goals were scored in five of Deportivo La Coruna's last six fixtures.
- Four of Elche's last six outings produced goals at both ends.
Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche preview: An even contest
Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche — Tale of the Tape
| Deportivo La Coruna | vs | Elche |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | Position | N/A |
| N/A | Points | N/A |
| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
| N/A | Clean Sheets | N/A |
| N/A | Home / Away Rank | N/A |
*These figures were accurate at the time of publishing.
Deportivo La Coruna secured automatic promotion to the Spanish top flight by finishing second in La Liga 2 last season.
The Galician side have had an interesting run in recent years, as they were playing in the third tier of Spanish football just two years ago.
This is Deportivo's fourth consecutive La Liga opener at home.
Ahead of his second season in charge of the club, head coach Antonio Hidalgo has recruited Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Marseille, Jonathan Jensen from Bayern Munich, and Lorenzo Amatucci from Fiorentina, while former Manchester City and PSV midfielder Angelino has joined the hosts on a season-long loan from AS Roma.
Deportivo La Coruna have no confirmed injury absentees for the game, but there are doubts surrounding the availability of Noe Carrillo and Yeremay Hernandez.
On the other hand, Elche barely managed to retain their top-flight status at the end of last season. They earned four points from a possible six in their final two fixtures and finished just a point above relegated Mallorca.
Interestingly, the Valencia-based outfit have not won a La Liga Round 1 game since the 1973/74 campaign, although to be fair, they have only played 12 seasons in the top flight during that 53-year stretch.
Only two teams averaged fewer corners than Elche in La Liga last season.
Nonetheless, the visitors are high on morale ahead of this skirmish, having strung together a seven-match unbeaten run. They will mark their first league trip of the 2026-27 season without the injured duo Yago Santiago and Grady Diangana, both of whom have knee problems.
It is worth mentioning that Elche have won their last two trips to this stadium, although they've managed just two wins in the last six H2Hs (D2, L2).
Deportivo La Coruna vs Elche form guide & betting tips
| Deportivo La Coruna | vs | Elche |
|---|---|---|
N/A |
La Liga Form | N/A |
| N/A | Points | N/A |
| N/A | Form Table | N/A |
| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
W
D
D
W
L
|
Form (All Comps) |
W
D
D
D
W
|
Whispers Predicts: Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Elche
At 29/20 (2.45), Deportivo La Coruna are considered favourites by the bookmakers.
However, considering the spoils were shared in three of Elche's last four matches, as well as in three of Deportivo La Coruna's last six outings, we are confident that this encounter will end in a stalemate.
Furthermore, both teams found the net in four of Elche's last six fixtures, and this can be backed at 1/1 (2.00).
We also fancy draw & BTTS – Yes at 7/2 (4.50). This combination landed in two of Elche's last three games and in two of Deportivo's last four fixtures.
> Under 2.5 total goals at 4/6 (1.67) | Likelihood: Probable
> BTTS – Yes at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result: Draw at 11/5 (3.20) | Likelihood: Possible
> Draw & BTTS – Yes at 7/2 (4.50) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct Score: 1-1 at 9/2 (5.50) | Likelihood: Possible