Deportivo de La Coruña faces Osasuna in Riazor with the unknown of the participation of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese forward, who the club had taken a lot during his injury, could return to the field, but coach Antonio Hidalgo is keeping his decision confidential, leaving fans and the press without clear clues about his availability.
The Galician team arrives at the event with a streak of six days without a victory, which increases the pressure on Hidalgo to decide its lineup. Deportivo have not won at home since September 5, when, with the help of Aubameyang, they came back from behind twice against Villarreal 3‑2. The striker's absence has been felt in recent games, and his possible return is perceived as a solution to reactivate the attack.
As for defense, Hidalgo seems inclined to keep Miguel Loureiro and Josema Giménez in the central line, while Bright Ede's injury has opened the door to the signing of Ximo Navarro, who is expected to start again. On the right wing, veteran Luismi Cruz could be replaced by youth player David Mella, although the final decision will depend on the physical fitness of the players.
Osasuna, for its part, comes to the duel with the intention of breaking an 18-year streak without wins at the Riazor stadium, which began in December 2007. The Navarrese team, under the direction of Jagoba Arrasate, has shown signs of improvement after the victory against Racing and Celta, although its last outing was a 2-0 defeat against Sevilla. The visit to Riazor represents an opportunity to change the dynamics of their away games and overcome one of the most difficult scenarios of the season.
With both teams looking for a crucial point, the match promises to be decisive for each team's position in the table. Deportivo need to break their drought at home and take advantage of the possible arrival of Aubameyang, while Osasuna seeks to rewrite their history at Riazor and restore the confidence of their fans. The final result will determine if the “Arrasate effect” achieves its objective and if the Gabonese striker once again becomes the driving force of Deportivo's attack.