FC Andorra Secures Back-to-Back Wins with 1-0 Victory Over Deportivo de La Coruña

**FC Andorra secures back-to-back wins with 1-0 victory over Deportivo de La Coruña**

FC Andorra ended 2025 on a high, defeating second-placed Deportivo de La Coruña 1-0 at Nou Estadi de la FAF in Encamp to claim their second consecutive league victory. Lautaro de León scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute, firing home after a fluid team move involving Carrique, Minsu and Álvaro Martín. The result lifted the Tricolors to 11th place with 24 points, four points clear of the relegation zone.

The match drew 2,620 spectators despite cold conditions. Andorra repeated the lineup from their prior win at Valladolid, where Minsu's stoppage-time strike had ended a 10-match winless run and pulled them out of the bottom three. Facing a Deportivo side boasting stars like Zakaria Eddahchouri (top scorer with eight goals) and Yeremay (seven goals, five assists), coach Carles Manso stressed attention to detail beforehand. "They don't need much to hurt you," Manso said, praising the visitors' ball control and transition threat despite their recent home losses to Castelló and Real Sociedad B.

Deportivo dominated early possession and created chances, with Yaakobishvili saving sharply from Eddahchouri and Luismi Cruz hitting the bar before the Dutchman missed an open goal. Andorra grew into the game, having a Lautaro header ruled out for a foul and forcing saves from Parreño. Substitutions, including Minsu for Manu Nieto at halftime, shifted momentum in the second half. Andorra pinned Deportivo back, though Loureiro nearly equalized late with a header.

Injuries sidelined Jesús Owono (AFCON duty), Imanol García and Martín Merquelanz for Andorra, while Deportivo missed Escudero, Ximo Navarro and Bachmann. Referee Eder Mallo issued yellows to Uzkudun, Akman and Gael Alonso for the hosts, and José Ángel, Gragera, Stoichkov and Soriano for the guests.

Club director general Jaume Nogués confirmed Manso's continuity through season's end, calling the staff "people from the house" and praising the squad's motivation. "We're capable of beating them," he said pre-match. Manso echoed the positivity: "The Valladolid game showed us the path."

Earlier, Andorra hosted a Mixed Ability tournament at Encamp's sports complex, blending their Genuine team with players from local FAF clubs like Madriu and UE Santa Coloma. Director Nogués and shareholder Higini Cierco joined, with coach Montse Sánchez emphasizing inclusion: "They have to believe in themselves—they're capable."

Meanwhile, MoraBanc Andorra basketball prepares for a Liga ACB clash at Zaragoza on Sunday (6pm), aiming to build on their home win over Granada. Coach Joan Plaza hailed newcomer Kostas Kostadinov: "He's more important than I thought," highlighting his athleticism and rebounding. Zaragoza, 15th with a game in hand, features MVP Santiago Yusta and towering Khalifa Diop.