LIGA ADELANTE | DEPORTIVO 1 - REAL JAÉN 0

Depor seal return to top flight

Carlos Marchena's first-half strike saw off Real Jaén and assured Fernando Vázquez's men of promotion to the Liga BBVA with one match to spare.

“We’ll be back,” Fernando Vázquez had said following relegation against Real Sociedad a year ago. And he has been as good as his word: Deportivo La Coruñaare back. They are in Primera División, where they never should have left. It is a promotion sealed after plenty of suffering and suspense, not to mention a winless run of five matches that makes the longed-for return to the elite taste all the sweeter.

And the Galician outfit go up in style; no radios, no calculators, no need to rely on possible favours from promotion rivals (which in the event they got) and with the Riazor full to bursting. From the first minute, there was little doubt that this was Depor’s day, a day for blue and white ecstasy. Vázquez opted to go without his defensive 'pivote', while Jaén boss Manuel Herrerowent the same way with striker Jona. The messages were clear, and they left the hosts in sole possession of the ball.

They were unable to translate their domination into too many scoring chances, but after two warnings from Ibrahim Sissoko and Bryan Rabello, the stadium went wild. From a free-kick on the edge of the area, Ifrán’s venomous effort was beaten out by René Román only for Carlos Marchena to knock in the rebound with ease. The former Spain defender, whose relationship with Vázquez had made him the focus of the attention in the build-up during the week, raised the Riazor roof and carved out his own spot in the gallery of Blanquiazul heroes.

With the scoreline in their favour, Depor limited themselves to keeping control of the match. Jaén enjoyed two clear chances through Víctor Marco and Fran Machado, but could not even call goalkeeper Germán Lux into action.

Herrero's side were in a tight spot, and the Jaén coach turned to Jona after the break. With Depor’s direct rivals losing and theirs winning, the Andalusians went for the match against a relaxed home side and a Riazor crowd getting the Mexican waves going in preparation for a long, long night.

The stadium saw both faces of football. Party time and wild celebrations for Deportivo; anguish and desperation for Jaén on finding themselves in the drop zone. To add to their suffering, the visitors had a goal ruled out (albeit correctly) in time added on.

A return to the top flight is the reward for Depor, the squad, Vázquez and, in Tino Fernández, a president who has overseen promotion in his first season. Going up offers some breathing space for a club in a delicate financial situation; but that’s another story entirely.