Aubameyang rolls back years as revamped ‘Super Dépor’ return to La Liga in style | Billy Munday

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was already the best player on the pitch when he ran through to score Deportivo A Coruña’s winner on Saturday night. It was certainly not Ilias Akhomach, the Villarreal substitute whose pass on halfway had inadvertently played Aubameyang through, nor Sergi Cardona, the unassuming intended target of that pass. After 89 minutes and two assists, the 37-year-old Aubameyang raced the length of the half to slot past Luiz Júnior to make it 3-2.It had been a similar case the week before, when Aubameyang’s pace again left the Valencia defenders behind before he dinked the ball over the goalkeeper. The week before that, he calmly rounded Málaga’s Alfonso Herrero before opening the scoring. The week before that, the former Barcelona striker marked his return to La Liga against Elche with a superb touch and finish from Lorenzo Amatucci’s diagonal pass. Scoring in each of his first four games for Deportivo is a club record, eclipsing Bebeto’s fast start of three in a row from 1992.Like Aubameyang, Deportivo appear reborn. “Super Dépor” were Spain’s most popular team around the turn of the century, with Bebeto having helped them win the Copa del Rey in 1995. Djalminha, Roy Makaay and the rest inspired them to a first league title in 2000, followed by another Copa del Rey in 2002 and a run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2004. After the money dried up, they were relegated from the top flight in 2011, 2013 and again in 2018, only returning this summer after eight years away.The former Arsenal striker Lucas Pérez returned for a fourth stint to help Dépor climb out of the third tier two years ago. Aubameyang now has his sights on the club record of scoring in seven consecutive league matches, held by Pérez and Bebeto from different eras. It was another former Arsenal forward in Nicolas Pépé who broke the deadlock for Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Saturday, with their new head coach, Iñigo Pérez, still searching for his first victory since leaving Rayo Vallecano.At the start of the week, Pérez was preparing to face a very different Deportivo squad. By the weekend, it included the deadline-day arrivals of José María Giménez from Atlético Madrid and Marc Casadó from Barcelona. Deportivo’s equaliser at Villarreal came when Giménez stepped out from centre-back and slid the ball into the box for Aubameyang to chase. He clipped it into the middle with the outside of his boot, Luismi Cruz finishing first-time.The signings of Giménez and Casadó – both on loan, both two-time La Liga winners – are a coup for Deportivo, even after an ambitious window where they spent €26m (£22.3m) on new players – only Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético and Real Betis have spent more.Marc Casadó (right) – a loan arrival at Deportivo – tries to curtail Tajon Buchanan’s progress. Photograph: Mateo Villalba/Getty ImagesInvestment and debt-clearing at the club have gone hand in hand since the Galician bank Abanca became the majority shareholder in 2020, when Dépor were relegated to the third tier during the Covid pandemic. Abanca now owns 99.99% of the club, but the fans still have a voice. Supporters voted this summer to change the team’s name from Deportivo de “La Coruña” to the Galician version “A Coruña”.The investment in all areas of the club has paid off. When given a guided tour of the training ground alongside Giménez, Casadó was impressed with the facilities. “It’s better than Barça,” he said, deadpan, on camera. “Seriously.”Adama Traoré has arrived too, after a chat with his former Barcelona teammate Aubameyang, on a free. Antonio Hidalgo, who guided Deportivo back to La Liga in his first season in charge, deployed debutant Traoré as a wing-back off the bench on Saturday. When Gerard Moreno crossed for Tajon Buchanan at the back post, Traoré scrambled to get back into position but comically looped a header over his own goalkeeper to gift Villarreal the lead again on 76 minutes.The influx of new players has brought with it concerns about the crop that got Dépor promoted in the first place. But where many thought Aubameyang might replace the bustling striker Bil Nsongo, the pair – 16 years apart in age – are now forming a fearsome partnership. Deportivo scouted Nsongo when he was playing for Canon Youandé in his native Cameroon but decided not to extend his contract after his first year with the B team. He was insistent though, having made A Coruña his home, and won the club over. “He was very interested in staying here,” said Deportivo’s academy director, Ismael Arilla.Deportivo’s second equaliser came from another striker: Zakaria Eddahchouri, whose 18 months in A Coruña have been marked by his significant contribution to promotion and the time he fell over the top of the waterfront while taking a selfie last year. Firefighters had to rescue the Dutchman from the rocks below and he spent the night in hospital with minor injuries. After 12 goals in the second tier last season, his first in the top flight was drilled past Júnior at the near post after Aubameyang found him with a well-weighted pass.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in each of Deportivo’s first four games this season – a club record. Photograph: Maria Jose Segovia/DeFodi Images/ShutterstockThere is no underestimating the importance of Aubameyang since his €1.5m arrival from Marseille – in goals, ambition and willingness to mentor younger players. “He has a special talent but you should see him train, how involved he is, how it rubs off on his teammates,” said Hidalgo at full-time after the veteran’s late winner. But it’s also the little things: “His smile is infectious.” The front flip celebrations are a sight, too.The “brutal” victory, as Hidalgo put it, against opponents who begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, moves Deportivo into the top five and keeps them unbeaten, but the former Sabadell, Sevilla B and Huesca coach is not getting ahead of himself. “The table that tells you where you’re at is the one on the final day of the season – now it’s just for looking at.”Quick GuideLa Liga resultsShowLa Liga resultsReal Betis 1-0 Real Madrid, Athletic 3-0 Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano 3-2 Racing Santander, Villarreal 2-3 Deportivo La Coruña, Valencia 0-5 Barcelona, Alavés 5-2 Osasuna, Málaga 0-0 Levante, Espanyol 1-1 SevillaTalking points José Mourinho congratulated Real Betis for “playing for a draw and then winning the lottery” after his first defeat back as Real Madrid coach. Troy Parrott, given his professional debut by Mourinho at Tottenham, scored his first Betis goal in Friday’s 1-0 win at La Cartuja. Mourinho slumped in his chair as VAR spotted an offside in Carlos Espí’s acrobatic equaliser before Kylian Mbappé had a stoppage-time penalty saved by Álvaro Valles, leaving Barcelona to extend their lead over Madrid to three points with a 5-0 rout of Valencia on Sunday. Luck of the Irish? Sandwiched between Barça and Madrid are Alavés, who have won three of their first four games. The former Real Madrid striker Mariano Díaz, who spent over a year as a free agent before signing in 2025, scored his third goal in four games during a 5-2 victory against Osasuna on Sunday. He was upstaged by Lucas Boyé, whose hat-trick included an absolute belter from 35 yards out. “I didn’t even think about it,” the Argentinian striker said. Lucas Boyé (left) wheels away after scoring Alavés’ third goal – his second of a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Osasuna. Photograph: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images One Argentina striker who is having considerably less fun is Julián Álvarez. Atlético were 2-0 down at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday by the time he entered the field to whistles from the travelling supporters. Nico Williams and Robert Navarro scored two in three minutes after the restart and Oihan Sancet added a late third. Diego Simeone opted not to comment on Álvarez not doing his post-match warm-down with the other substitutes. Sid Lowe is away Pos Team P GD Pts 1 Barcelona 4 15 12 2 Alaves 4 7 10 3 Real Madrid 4 7 9 4 Real Betis 4 0 9 5 Deportivo La Coruna 4 3 8 6 Atletico Madrid 4 1 7 7 Sevilla 4 1 7 8 Osasuna 4 -1 7 9 Athletic Bilbao 4 1 6 10 Levante 4 0 5 11 Espanyol 4 1 4 12 Racing Santander 4 -1 4 13 Rayo Vallecano 4 -3 4 14 Real Sociedad 4 -3 4 15 Getafe 3 -3 3 16 Villarreal 4 -2 2 17 Celta Vigo 4 -3 2 18 Malaga 4 -6 2 19 Elche 3 -6 1 20 Valencia 4 -8 1