Opening goal holds key for buoyant Deportivo

DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA coach Javier Irureta expects a physical but open game when his side face UEFA Cup winners Porto in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight.

“Two things are going to condition the game,” said Irureta. “The first thing is that both sides need to score and the second is that they will both want to take the initiative and gain control of the ball.

“I expect a fiercely disputed game at the start as we both compete to get possession and the team that wins that battle should go on to win the game.”