CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña |
| League | La Liga |
| Manager | Antonio Hidalgo |
| Stadium | Abanca-Riazor |
| Nickname | Dépor / Los Blanquiazules |
| Founded | 1906 |
| First-Choice Pivot | Diego Villares |
| Creative Engine | Mario Soriano |
| Marquee Loan | Marc Casadó (from Barcelona) |
| Notable Absence | Marc Casadó (clavicle injury) |
The Defining Moment
Deportivo’s midfield for the 2026/27 La Liga return was defined by a single, transformative arrival on transfer deadline day. Marc Casadó, the La Masia graduate who had made 75 senior appearances for Barcelona, joined on a season-long loan with a non-obligatory purchase option of €30 million. The deal was completed in the final hours of the window, and Dépor beat other interested parties to secure a player who had grown frustrated with limited minutes at Camp Nou.
The defining moment, however, was not the signing itself. It was what happened next. Casadó made his debut as a substitute in the 3-2 victory at Villarreal, and the expectation was that he would quickly become the axis of Antonio Hidalgo’s midfield. Then came the injury. A clavicle problem, sustained on the pitch, removed him from the equation almost as soon as he had entered it. By early October, Hidalgo was rebuilding his midfield without the player who was supposed to define it.
This is the story of Dépor’s 2026/27 midfielders: a unit forced to adapt around the absence of its marquee addition, held together by a captain who has played every level of Spanish football, and supplemented by a young Dane whose finishing has offered an unexpected goal threat.
Tactical Context
Hidalgo’s midfield structure has shifted repeatedly through the opening months. The 4-4-2 diamond that he had refined in pre-season, with Amatucci, Casadó, Mario Soriano, and Luismi at its points, was abandoned when Casadó and the forwards fell injured. The replacement was a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-4-1, with the emphasis shifting from control through the centre to getting the ball into the feet of Yeremay Hernández and Jonathan Asp Jensen in the attacking third.
The numbers tell a story of a midfield that has been functional rather than dominant. Dépor have scored 13 goals in their opening nine league matches, a respectable return for a newly promoted side, but the midfield’s contribution has been uneven. Mario Soriano has provided two assists, the joint-highest in the squad, while Diego Villares has contributed a goal and Lorenzo Amatucci an assist.
The injury crisis that reshaped the midfield was not limited to Casadó. Amatucci and Riki Rodríguez both had their minutes managed through minor issues, forcing Hidalgo to use Villares and Soriano as the double pivot in friendly matches—two players who had last partnered in the Primera RFEF. The makeshift pairing functioned, but it highlighted the fragility of the department.
The emergence of Jonathan Asp Jensen has been the compensating positive. The 20-year-old Danish attacking midfielder, signed from Bayern Munich’s academy, has scored twice in nine appearances, offering the verticality and finishing instinct that Hidalgo’s revised system requires. His partnership with Yeremay, swapping positions between the left flank and the central attacking zone, has become the creative axis of the team.
The Midfielders
Diego Villares
Villares is Dépor’s captain and the anchor of the midfield. The 30-year-old has been at the club through its lowest moments in the Primera RFEF and its return to La Liga, and his durability and defensive contribution have made him indispensable in a season of constant change.
His profile is that of a destroyer rather than a creator. Villares leads the team in tackles and interceptions, and his reading of danger has been central to a defence that has conceded just eight goals in seven league matches. He is not a progressive passer in the mould of Casadó, but he does the unglamorous work that allows others to play.
The numbers reflect his importance. In six league appearances, he has contributed one goal—a header against Real Betis—and his defensive contributions place him in the top percentile of La Liga midfielders for interceptions. When Amatucci and Riki were unavailable, Villares stepped into the double pivot alongside Soriano and performed with the same discipline. He is not the most talented midfielder in the squad, but he may be the most important.
Mario Soriano
Soriano is Dépor’s creative hub and the player upon whom the attacking structure depends. The 24-year-old has adapted seamlessly to La Liga, contributing two goals and two assists in eleven appearances across all competitions. His technical quality and ability to operate between the lines have made him the primary link between midfield and attack.
His importance was underscored by Hidalgo’s early-season assessment that Soriano “has no one to associate with” in the midfield, a problem that Casadó’s arrival was supposed to solve. When Casadó was injured, Soriano was forced to shoulder a greater creative burden, sometimes dropping deeper than his natural game requires.
Soriano’s set-piece delivery and his willingness to run beyond the forwards have made him a goal threat as well as a creator. He is not a pure No. 10; he is a midfielder who arrives in the box and finishes chances, as his goal tally demonstrates.
Marc Casadó
Casadó’s season has been defined by absence. The Barcelona loanee arrived on deadline day with a reputation for composure, positional intelligence, and the kind of La Masia education that produces midfielders capable of dictating tempo. His debut at Villarreal offered a glimpse of that quality.
The clavicle injury that followed has restricted him to three appearances and 120 minutes of league football. At the time of writing, his return timeline remains uncertain, and the purchase option of €30 million that seemed a potential bargain in August now looks like a decision that will depend heavily on his fitness in the second half of the season.
When fit, Casadó offers something no other Dépor midfielder possesses: the ability to receive the ball under pressure, turn, and find a forward pass with consistency. His absence has forced Hidalgo to compromise on control, prioritising energy and verticality over possession.
Lorenzo Amatucci
Amatucci arrived from Fiorentina as a permanent signing and has been a regular in the midfield rotation, making nine appearances and contributing one assist. The 22-year-old Italian offers a different profile to Villares: more mobile, more comfortable in possession, and capable of playing as a lone pivot or in a double pairing.
His disciplinary record is a concern—four yellow cards and a red in the early weeks—but his energy and willingness to engage in duels have been valuable in a team that has often been forced to defend. At 22, he is still adapting to the pace of La Liga, but his development is a positive for the long term.
Riki Rodríguez
Riki is the experienced squad option, a 29-year-old who has made nine appearances but only three starts. His role is to provide cover and competition, and his professionalism has been valuable in a dressing room that has needed stability through the injury crisis.
His minutes have been limited by the form of others and the occasional physical issue, but he remains a reliable option when called upon. In a season defined by adaptation, Riki’s willingness to accept a supporting role has been an asset.
Jonathan Asp Jensen
Asp Jensen has been the revelation of Dépor’s midfield. The 20-year-old Danish attacking midfielder, signed from Bayern Munich’s academy, has scored twice in nine appearances and offered a verticality and finishing instinct that no other midfielder in the squad possesses.
His partnership with Yeremay has become the creative axis of the team. The two players swap positions between the left flank and the central attacking zone, making them difficult to mark and creating space for each other. Asp Jensen is more of a finisher than a creator—when he receives the ball, his first instinct is to shoot—and that directness has been valuable in a team that sometimes struggles to convert possession into chances.
At 20, he is still developing. His decision-making in the final third can be rushed, and his defensive contribution is limited. But his goals have been crucial, and his potential is significant.
Noé Carrillo
Carrillo is the young wildcard, a 19-year-old who was a full first-team player before his injury and Casadó’s arrival. His return to the squad in October offered Hidalgo a different option: physical capacity, the ability to break lines with dribbling, and a willingness to arrive in the box.
His minutes have been limited, but his profile is unique within the squad. In a midfield that has often lacked penetration, Carrillo’s directness offers something different.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Deportivo Midfielder La Liga Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Soriano | 11 (11) | 867 | 2 | 2 | Attacking Midfielder |
| Lorenzo Amatucci | 9 (9) | 747 | 0 | 1 | Defensive Midfielder |
| Riki Rodríguez | 9 (5) | 433 | 0 | 1 | Central Midfielder |
| Diego Villares | 7 (5) | 399 | 1 | 0 | Central Midfielder |
| Jonathan Asp Jensen | 9 (3) | 348 | 2 | 1 | Attacking Midfielder |
| Marc Casadó | 3 (1) | 120 | 0 | 0 | Defensive Midfielder |
| Noé Carrillo | 1 (0) | 62 | 0 | 1 | Central Midfielder |
TABLE B: Deportivo Midfield – Key Metrics (La Liga 2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals from Midfield | 5 | Soriano (2), Asp Jensen (2), Villares (1) |
| Assists from Midfield | 5 | Soriano (2), Amatucci (1), Riki (1), Asp Jensen (1) |
| Villares Interceptions | Top 15% | Among La Liga midfielders |
| Casadó Purchase Option | €30m | Non-obligatory |
TABLE C: Deportivo Midfielders – Squad Profile
| Player | Age | Contract Until | Market Value | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Soriano | 24 | 2029 | €2.3m | First-choice AM |
| Marc Casadó | 23 | 2027 (loan) | €21.2m | Marquee loan/injured |
| Lorenzo Amatucci | 22 | 2029 | €5.2m | First-choice DM |
| Jonathan Asp Jensen | 20 | 2030 | €5.3m | First-choice AM/rotation |
| Diego Villares | 30 | 2028 | €1.9m | Captain/rotation |
| Riki Rodríguez | 29 | 2028 | €1.6m | Squad depth |
| Noé Carrillo | 19 | 2028 | €0.3m | Development |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Dépor’s midfield is a unit defined by adaptation. The plan in August was built around Casadó as the controlling pivot, with Soriano ahead of him and Amatucci or Villares providing the legs alongside. The injury to Casadó, combined with the absences of Aubameyang and Eddahchouri in attack, forced Hidalgo to abandon the diamond and shift to a structure that prioritises getting the ball to Yeremay and Asp Jensen in the final third.
The numbers suggest the adaptation has been reasonably successful. Dépor have scored 13 goals in nine league matches, and the midfield has contributed five of them, with Asp Jensen’s two goals and Soriano’s two goals and two assists providing the creative output. Villares’ defensive contribution has anchored a back line that has been surprisingly solid for a promoted side.
The deeper concern is control. Without Casadó, Dépor have struggled to dictate tempo against stronger opponents. The midfield has been reactive rather than proactive, absorbing pressure and looking to counter rather than imposing itself on matches. Against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, the gap in quality was evident. Against Valencia and Villarreal, the counter-attacking approach worked.
Casadó’s return is the variable that could transform the department. If he can stay fit and recapture the form that made him a Barcelona squad member, Dépor gain a midfielder capable of controlling games in a way that no current option can. If he cannot, the club faces a decision on the €30 million purchase option that would have seemed straightforward in August but is now clouded by uncertainty.
The Verdict from the Camp
Antonio Hidalgo, on Marc Casadó’s adaptation:
“Poco a poco va a ir cogiendo esa forma. Tiene pinta de ser un jugador que coge rápido esa forma.” (“Little by little he will pick up that form. He looks like a player who picks it up quickly.”)
On the midfield rebuild after the injuries:
The absences of Casadó, Aubameyang, and Eddahchouri forced Hidalgo to abandon the 4-4-2 diamond and work on a new structure in friendlies against Penafiel and Porto. The Yeremay-Asp Jensen partnership gained prominence, with the two swapping positions between the left flank and the central attacking zone.
On Diego Villares’ role:
Villares has been described as a “destroyer” who “wins the ball, reads danger and breaks up opposition attacks,” with tackling and defensive positioning among his strongest attributes. Only two La Liga midfielders have scored more often, and he ranks in the top 15% for interceptions.
Where Next?
The specific question hanging over Dépor’s midfield is whether Casadó can return to fitness and justify the €30 million purchase option that the club negotiated in August. The loan arrangement was designed to give Dépor first refusal on a player who, at his best, belongs at a higher level. But a clavicle injury has restricted him to 120 minutes, and the second half of the season will determine whether the option is exercised or allowed to lapse.
That makes Casadó’s recovery the most important variable. If he returns and establishes himself alongside Soriano, Dépor possess a midfield capable of controlling games rather than merely reacting to them. If he does not, the club will rely on Villares’ durability, Amatucci’s development, and Asp Jensen’s finishing to compensate for the absence of a genuine controller.
The deeper concern is depth. The injury crisis exposed how thin the midfield is when two or three players are unavailable. Hidalgo was forced to use Villares and Soriano as a double pivot—two players who had last partnered in the third tier. That makeshift solution worked in friendlies, but it is not sustainable across a La Liga season.
For now, Dépor’s midfielders are performing above expectations. The goals are coming from Asp Jensen and Soriano, the defensive work is being done by Villares, and the team is competitive. Whether that is enough to survive depends on whether Casadó can return and provide the control that the department was built around.
