Obamejangs paved Deportivo la Coruña back to La Liga with a draw
Deportivo la Coruña, on return to Spain's top flight after eight years, opened its season with a 1-1 draw against Elche, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring the first goal.
Debut match ends level
Deportivo la Coruña, back in La Liga after an eight-year absence, kicked off the new season with a home draw against Elche, 1-1.
Aubameyang, the team's marquee forward, opened the scoring in the 21st minute — the club's first top-flight goal in eight years — finishing a long pass from Lorenzo Amatucci with a clean strike into the far corner.
The first half was fairly even, with both sides creating chances but lacking end-product. Elche pushed forward repeatedly without troubling the score, while Deportivo also had one long-range effort saved by the away goalkeeper. Elche held more possession (63%-37%), but Deportivo hit the frame of the goal twice.
After the break, Elche took control of proceedings, and Deportivo goalkeeper Leo Román made two crucial saves in quick succession to preserve the lead. Despite his efforts, the hosts couldn't hold on: in the 76th minute, Marc Aguado headed home from a corner to level the score at 1-1.
Both teams played more cautiously in the closing stages, unwilling to open the season with a loss, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Deportivo will look for their first win of the season away against fellow league newcomers Málaga, while Elche face a tough test against defending champions Barcelona in just under a week.
