Struggling Deportivo can get a lift in cup clash

Copa del Rey fourth-round first leg
7.30pm Thursday

Deportivo slipped deeper into the relegation battle with a 2-1 loss at home to fellow strugglers Girona on Monday but they can lift the spirits of their long-suffering supporters by defeating Las Palmas in the first leg of their Copa del Rey fourth-round tie.

Top-flight survival is the top priority for 16th-placed Depor and 18th-placed Las Palmas, who stayed in the drop zone after a 4-0 loss at Villarreal on Sunday.

The teams face off in an important league meeting in Gran Canaria on Monday and both camps must decide how seriously to treat the first of the two cup matches. The second leg takes place on November 29.

Depor have produced their best efforts at home, posting September successes over Alaves (1-0) and Getafe (2-1), and they look more dangerous in attack since the acquisition of striker Lucas Perez on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

Lucas has scored on his last two starts and could make a massive difference if he gets back to the standard of his previous spell at the club.

He scored 17 of Depor's 45 league goals in the 2015-16 season, playing a huge role in keeping them up and earning himself a move to the Premier League.

Lucas could enjoy himself against Las Palmas, who have the worst defensive record in La Liga having shipped 22 goals in nine games.

Las Palmas also raided the Premier League in the summer, bringing in Loic Remy from Chelsea.

Remy has made just four substitute appearances but has scored three times, making him the club's top scorer this season.

Despite Remy's emergence as a supersub, Las Palmas have a lot of problems and their sequence of five defeats is likely to be extended.

Real Madrid take their first steps in the competition by travelling to third-tier side Fuenlabrada.

Zinedine Zidane is expected to make wholesale changes, keeping key men fresh for their trips to Girona and Tottenham, but Real are 1-8 to claim a first-leg lead.

Recommendation
Deportivo
1pt 11-10 Betfair, Betfred

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