Two-time Copa del Rey winners Deportivo La Coruna are back in Spain’s second tier after a tough few decades that included multiple relegations.
Managed by Antonio Hidalgo, who joined in the summer of 2025, the Blue and Whites sit fifth in LaLiga 2, four points off the top, and are very much in the promotion mix. They have won just once in their last six league games, but nine wins, seven draws, and five losses keep them in the hunt. Deportivo come into this Copa del Rey round-of-16 clash after wins over Samano, Sabadell, and Mallorca.
Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, arrive in Galicia after a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España semi-final, a setback that rules out one piece of silverware this season.
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Diego Simeone’s men booked their spot in the round-of-16 with a 3-2 win over Atletico Baleares just before Christmas. In LaLiga, Atlético sit fourth with 38 points from 19 games, 11 behind leaders Barcelona, who recently extended their advantage thanks to Raphinha’s heroics in a win over Atlético Madrid. With the league title out of reach, the Red-Whites will focus on the Copa del Rey to try and claim their 11th trophy.
Atlético Madrid are aiming high in the Copa del Rey, looking to secure their 11th trophy in the competition. The club emphasized their ambition on their official X handle, posting:
Copa del Rey to try and claim their 11th trophy.
ahead of their match on January 13.
Team News
For Deportivo La Coruna, Diego Villares could miss out after picking up an injury in the last game, while Sergio Escudero has been sidelined since October. For Atlético Madrid, Clement Lenglet and Nicolas Gonzalez are still recovering, and Pablo Barrios is also unavailable. Simeone may rotate his squad, giving minutes to some fringe players.
Possible Lineups
Deportivo La Coruna: Puerto; Altimira, Comas, Noubi, Quagliata; Cruz, Patino, Soriano, Mella; Stoichkov, Hernandez
Atlético Madrid: Musso; Martin, Molina, Le Normand, Pubill, Galan; Gallagher, Cardoso, Almada; Griezmann, Raspadori
Prediction
Most football reports see Atlético Madrid comfortably progressing. ESPN predicts a 4-0 win, BBC Sport also tips a dominant win for Simeone’s side, and Sky Sports expects them to control the game fully, highlighting players like Griezmann, who recently shone when scoring in a 2-1 win over Valencia. Deportivo may fight hard at home, but the visitors have too much quality and experience to be stopped.
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Where to watch
To watch Deportivo La Coruña vs Atlético Madrid live, fans can tune in via official streaming providers in their region. In the United States, coverage is available on NBC Sports, ESPN, Paramount+, and DAZN. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch on Sky Sports, DAZN, and Disney+, while across Europe, DAZN, Sky Sports, and other local broadcasters will carry the match.
