La Liga 2016-17: Deportivo 2 - 1 Barcelona: 5 Talking Points

2. Pepe Mel’s brilliance could see Deportivo to safety

4 games, 2 draws and 2 wins. Thus reads Pepe Mel’s record at Deportivo less than a week ago – and a club that were in freefall for the vast majority of the season up until now suddenly seem a reinvigorated side. If the lead they carried into half-time had a touch of the smash-and-grab about it, the second half saw a brilliant performance from Depor – their second goal coming at the end of a ten minute spell where the home side hammered Barcelona into the ground. It really was a class performance and showed just how much they’ve improved in such a short time under Mel

Mel’s unbeaten record is unlikely to last the duration of the season, and Deportivo La Coruna are not going to hit the heights of “Super Depor” of the eary 2000s but Mel said his players had begun smiling again before the match – after it, A Coruna was left beaming in the pouring rain