A rematch four days after the cup tie, with almost the same players and the same patterns. Newcastle's crosses and volume run straight into Everton's box, and Everton's regains and long balls run straight into Newcastle's habit of losing the ball in their own half. In A Coruña, a Deportivo side that keeps creating chances meets an Osasuna team whose away defending has been loose under both of its coaches this season.
Newcastle v Everton. In the cup Newcastle had 28 shots and still lost 3-1. Their last three goals all came from balls in from wide, and Everton conceded from a corner and a cross at Arsenal. Newcastle have scored in nine of their last ten.
The other side of that tie is just as clear. Everton's opener came from a Newcastle loss of the ball in a 'low-risk zone', Jaissle's own words, and he called it a repeating pattern. Newcastle have conceded in all four home league games. Barry, Everton's only senior striker, has scored in each of the last three meetings. Osula's ankle and Grealish's absence don't remove either route. Whoever scores first, the other has a clear way back, so I'm siding with goals at both ends.
Deportivo v Osasuna. Without Aubameyang and Casadó, Hidalgo's side still made between 1.1 and 2.1 expected goals against Real Sociedad, Levante and Atletico, while conceding only about one a game. Their problem is finishing, which is why three of five home games were draws. Osasuna under Arrasate press hard early and look for Budimir in the air or a penalty. In his only away league game so far, though, they had two shots on target at Sevilla and the press faded.
Osasuna are on their third straight away trip with changes announced, and Deportivo are fresh after a rotated cup game. If Deportivo get through the first twenty minutes, their wingers should find the space behind Osasuna's advancing full-backs. I'm with Deportivo, on a line that covers the draw.
