Atlético Madrid host Deportivo La Coruña at the Metropolitano on 24 October 2026, nine games into a La Liga season that already has Atlético looking like the most credible challenger to Barcelona. They sit second with 22 points, five behind Barcelona, while Deportivo are ninth with 11. Atlético have also dominated this fixture historically, including a 1-0 Copa del Rey win over Deportivo earlier in the 2025-26 season, with Deportivo failing to win any of their last 14 meetings against them.
Simeone and Antonio Hidalgo have no meaningful record against each other, which is hardly surprising given that Simeone has been at Atlético since December 2011 and Hidalgo only took the Deportivo job in July 2025 after replacing Óscar Gilsanz. On form, Atlético have collected seven wins from their last ten outings across all competitions, their most recent league result a 1-0 win away at Espanyol on 17 October, sandwiched around a 1-1 Champions League draw with Stuttgart and a 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the same competition. Deportivo have not won in five matches, with a 1-1 draw away at Levante on 16 October the only positive result in that run.
Atlético are without three players in central areas: Koke following a personal bereavement, Cuti Romero with a muscle injury and Johnny Cardoso sidelined by illness and a separate muscle concern, removing a midfield anchor, a centre back and a defensive midfielder in one go. Lee Kang-in is back from a quadriceps issue and could come into the attacking midfield role. Deportivo's main absence is Aubameyang, out through injury, leaving Yeremay Hernández to carry most of the goalscoring weight from wider positions.
Atlético typically operate in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-1-2. Losing Koke and Cardoso hurts their midfield stability but Julián Álvarez drops deep to link play and arrives late into the box and Álex Baena's goal threat from midfield gives Atlético a second body running into the area after Álvarez has done the link work. Lee Kang-in's return adds another creative option on the other side, someone direct enough to drag markers out of position and open space for runners. Deportivo set up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 while prioritising a mid or low block before looking to counter. Yeremay is their main threat on the break, getting in behind and carrying at defenders, while Mario Soriano adds energy in midfield. Without Aubameyang there is no proven penalty area presence, so Deportivo will lean on set pieces and wide deliveries more than usual. Atlético's defenders have to compensate without Romero's physicality, though when they win possession Álvarez and Baena can transition quickly and their high press should also limit how much time Yeremay gets on the ball in dangerous areas. Deportivo carry a set piece threat through aerial delivery and physical presence in the box but Atlético's defensive structure has historically kept those situations from turning dangerous.
Atlético Madrid 4-0 Deportivo La Coruña. Koke, Romero and Cardoso are all absent but Atlético's attacking resources are more than enough to cover it. Deportivo's five match winless run and the lack of a penalty area presence without Aubameyang both point in the same direction. Álvarez dropping into midfield to receive and Baena running in behind will pull Deportivo's two banks apart and Lee Kang-in gives Simeone another angle on the other side. Without Aubameyang, Deportivo have precious little counter attacking punch and will become increasingly exposed once Atlético settle into their rhythm. A 4-0 feels right.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
