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La Liga Betting: Lay Champions League-focused Barca against Deportivo

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Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch tells us why Barcelona have bigger fish to fry than a match against Deportivo in a league that they can't win...

The passing of time can certainly change your opinion on things. If you don't believe me, just log onto Facebook and have a quick look round for some of the girls that you used to spend your time daydreaming about at school. It's amazing how having three kids and waking up to the fact that a life of drudgery awaits, can take away a youthful sparkle.

And if you'd asked me a few months ago whether an end of season clash between Deportivo and Barcelona would be an important match, then I'd have wagered it would be. Deportivo were then languishing at the bottom of the table and looking like they were to be embroiled in a relegation battle. Barcelona were stalking Real Madrid at the top of the table and looking like they would mount a serious title challenge. A top versus bottom encounter that would be vital for both sides. What could go wrong?

Well, Deportivo suddenly decided to buck their ideas up and have gone on a fantastic run that has saw them rise to the safe haven of mid-table mediocrity. Meanwhile, Barcelona's La Liga form has grown ever more shambolic as their squad implodes amongst a mass of egos.

So instead of a crunch match, we are left with a game between a team that are ninth in the league against a side that now have blown their chances of winning the league. What's worse, the fixture is sandwiched in-between Barcelona's rather more pressing concern, namely the two legs of their Champions League semi final against Manchester United.

And this is what makes the fixture interesting from a betting perspective. Barcelona will surely rest as many of their first choice players as they can and those that do have to play are hardly likely to risk breaking a leg, in many 50-50 tackles.

Barcelona had the majority of the possession on Wednesday against United, but lacked the cutting edge to break the deadlock. Since the match, Barcelona's players have been making brave statements regarding how they are now the favourites to make the final. They've obviously not been looking at the Betfair markets, otherwise they'd have seen that it is United that are the [1.76] favourites to qualify.

United could have killed the game off if Ronaldo had scored from the penalty spot, instead of somehow hitting that back post. Barcelona have made a habit of crumbling when they go a goal down and going behind in the first minute would have been soul destroying for a team with such little morale.

Instead they still have a chance of getting a scoring draw at Old Trafford and progressing. There has been little progress though in La Liga, where they have now gone four games without a win. The latest disappointment (a 0-0 draw) was made even more acute, by the fact that it came at home to local rivals Espanyol.

The game provided a platform for Messi's return, before the United game and he was the only Barca player to shine. I doubt very much whether he will be risked against Deportivo, with Rijkaard likely to field fringe attackers who'll pose little threat... such as Thierry Henry.

Whilst Barcelona have been playing more like a team in relegation trouble, Deportivo's turn in form has seen them rise from the depths of La Liga, to a likely finish just outside the European places. Deportivo have won the last four games, with their young striker Xisco establishing himself with a hat trick against Murcia and a brace against Racing Santander. Xisco has caught the attention of West Ham and Sunderland, but unless he's especially greedy, he'd be better off sticking with Deportivo, as they look to build on their fine finish to this season.

Deportivo are a nice price at [2.8] with Barcelona [2.88] and the draw [3.3]. A lay of Barcelona might be the less risky option, but I'd back Deportivo and also have a small flutter on the 0-0 at [11.5]. Take advantage of a Barcelona side that are likely to show about as much enthusiasm as Eastenders' Minty did when marrying fat Heather.