Depor must clear high hurdle

By Andy Hall

Little over a decade ago, RC Deportivo La Coruña were not even a top-flight club. Now they are not only resident in the upper reaches of the Primera División, but also enjoying a fourth consecutive year in the UEFA Champions League. Brazilian midfield player Mauro Silva has been central to that rise, and this month committed himself to another season at the club - which will be his 13th in all.

Juve rematch
However, Deportivo are yet to progress beyond the last eight of the competition, and even to reach that stage this season they must beat 2002/03 finalists Juventus FC. Mauro Silva played both of Deportivo's second group stage games against Juventus last term - a home draw and away defeat - as the Galician side were eliminated and the Italian champions advanced in an exact reverse of what happened between them in the 2001/02 Champions League. Unsurprisingly, he knows his team face a formidable hurdle.

Praise for opponents
"I think they are one of the strongest, most experienced teams in the competition," Mauro Silva told uefa.com. "Furthermore, they are a very physical side who always make the most of their style of play - even when they are not at their best, Juve are capable of beating anyone."

Dangerous without Davids
Even the loss of Edgar Davids to FC Barcelona will not weaken Juventus, according to the 36-year-old. "Davids gave them strength in the centre of the field and an edge in attack but they are a very strong team and I am sure they will be just as dangerous without him," he said.

Formidable forwards
Juventus's attack is especially hard to stop, Mauro Silva admitted. "There is no recipe for stopping players of the calibre of [Alessandro] Del Piero and [Marco] Di Vaio. The only thing we can do is to be extra attentive over the whole 90 minutes and not give them any room at any point in the game. It is important to make them feel uncomfortable and to make sure they are always well marked, wherever they might be on the pitch."

Italian renaissance
Certainly, Serie A clubs are having a resurgence in UEFA competition, as last season proved, and Mauro Silva thinks he knows why. "Italian teams are usually very well organised, defensively well prepared, and if they score first then they can cause you problems. They close the game down and that can be damaging. You have to keep your head and if you get the chance to score first then you have an advantage over them."

Last four chance
If Deportivo take that advantage, maybe this is the year they can reach the last four. "I have always believed Deportivo can make the semi-finals of the Champions League and play a great role in the competition," Mauro Silva said. "Any team like Deportivo, who have won the Spanish league and been in the Champions League for four years, can reach the semis."

Tough competition
On a note of caution, he added: "But just as Depor can be up there, so can Manchester [United FC], [AC] Milan, Real Madrid [CF], FC Bayern (München]. We are talking about a competition that is very closely contested where practically all the teams that have come this far are capable of doing well, even the so-called smaller teams. Any of them can progress. Depor have the ability to play an important role and do well in this year's competition."