Dépor head into the international break with the job done | OneFootball

Antonio Hidalgo’s side respond after the break with Giménez leading the way

Deportivo de A Coruña headed into the international break with renewed confidence after drawing 1-1 at Abanca Riazor against a Champions League-level Real Betis. The Andalusian side controlled the first half, but the team from A Coruña corrected their imbalances after the break to take over the second half and create clear chances to win, including a superb save by the visiting goalkeeper from a shot by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, the bitter note of the match was provided by Marc Casadó, who had to go off injured in the 34th minute after a coming together with Marc Roca, crying out on the pitch: "It’s broken". The worst fears were confirmed hours later when the official medical report was released: the blue-and-white midfielder underwent surgery for a fracture to his right collarbone and will be sidelined for approximately three months.

The match was marked by a heated refereeing controversy on the verge of half-time when Cucho Hernández kicked Ximo Navarro in the head with his studs. Although the referee in the VOR room, José Antonio López Toca, recommended an on-screen review to César Soto Grado for "serious foul play", the main referee stuck to awarding only a foul, arguing: "For me, he touches the ball and that player puts his head there". The decision inflamed tempers and sparked differing opinions in the press conference. While Manuel Pellegrini argued that "under no circumstances is it a red card because Cucho gets the ball and then there is a clash of heads", Antonio Hidalgo responded bluntly, insisting that "it’s a crystal-clear red".

After the final whistle, the dressing room highlighted the team’s commitment and the warmth of the fans. Speaking in the mixed zone, José María Giménez called for ambition and collective strength: "A lot of people want to see Dépor fall, but if we build that bond with the fans, we’re very damn hard to beat. We had the feeling we could have won, and we have to dream big". For his part, Italian defender Giacomo Quagliata —now established at left-back— highlighted the lift provided by the crowd, saying that "when the stadium pushes us like that, we play with one extra man", also revealing that Hidalgo’s corrections and motivation at half-time were decisive in helping the team step up in the second half and grind out a prestigious point.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.