This article contains affiliate links to advertisers. The analysis is our own. Please gamble responsibly, 18+
We enter the final month of the year with the first full league matchday of December. The top of the table remains extremely tight, so Barcelona’s trip to Seville to face Betis could prove decisive, as could Atlético’s visit to Athletic Club, or Celta’s journey to the Bernabéu to take on Real Madrid. Villarreal, who host Getafe, could also take advantage of any slip-ups among the leading pack.
The top of the table is not the only place that has intriguing games this weekend, as entertaining sides face off, including Elche-Girona, Valencia-Sevilla and Espanyol-Rayo Vallecano. Here are our top predictions for Matchday 15 of La Liga EA Sports.
Real Oviedo v Mallorca: Friday, 8pm GMT
Two teams near the bottom of the table go head-to-head in search of much-needed points. Both sides have target men up front who are aerial specialists in Salomón Rondón and Vedat Muriqi, as well as centre-backs who are strong in the air.
As a result, it’s common to see plenty of corners in their matches, which is where our focus lies. Seven of Oviedo’s last nine league games have seen more than eight corners, a stat that also appears in 12 of Mallorca’s last 13 matches. Because of this, we think it’s worth backing over eight corners.
The odds are even more attractive if you go for over nine corners (5/6), but we prefer to play it a bit safer, as the stats suggest the odds for over eight corners are still appealing.
Tip: Over eight corners - 8/15 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are nine or more corners in total.
Villarreal v Getafe: Saturday, 1pm GMT
The Yellow Submarine host Bordalás’ Getafe as favourites, but the odds remain interesting for potential punters. Villarreal are one of the strongest home sides in La Liga, with six wins and a draw at La Cerámica.
Getafe have held their own on the road, with three wins and four defeats away from home, but it’s worth noting that two of those victories came back in August in their first two away games, and they’ve lost four of their last five on the road.
Bordalás’s men have also lost two of their last three league matches, so they seem a little vulnerable, while Marcelino’s side have won their last five league games, keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Tip: Villarreal to win - 3/5 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Villarreal win the match.
Betis v Barcelona: Saturday, 5:30pm GMT
Betis and Barcelona face off in one of the most eye-catching games of the weekend, especially from an attacking perspective. Both teams are among the top five scorers in the league, and are two of the few sides to have already surpassed 20 goals this season.
They also both average at least a goal conceded per game, so goals are expected, with both teams likely to find the net. In fact, Barcelona’s matches average the most goals in the league, with around four per game, and all but one of their fixtures have seen over 2.5 goals, while Betis’ games average 2.6.
Twelve of the last 16 meetings between these two have featured three or more goals and both teams scoring, a trend that holds for the last eight league encounters in Seville.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score - 8/13 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score and the total number of goals is at least three.
Athletic Club v Atlético de Madrid: Saturday, 8pm GMT
Another of the weekend’s standout fixtures. A clash at the San Mamés between two Champions League sides that promises to be tense and closely fought. Before Real Madrid’s visit on Wednesday, five of Athletic’s seven home games had finished with under 2.5 goals.
As for Atlético, before their trip to Barcelona (whose matches average the most goals), only one of their previous six away games had seen three or more goals. Seven of the last nine meetings between these two have also finished with under 2.5 goals, as have six of Atlético’s last seven visits to San Mamés.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals - 4/6 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are fewer than three goals in total.
Elche v Girona: Sunday, 1pm GMT
In Alicante, two sides that play attractive football and know how to use the ball will meet. The caveat is that both are conceding, on average, more than a goal per game this season. Three of Elche’s last four league matches have seen both teams score, as have three of their last four at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.
As for Girona, who are on the up but still can’t quite escape the relegation zone, six of their last seven league games have seen both teams find the net.
This is a trend that holds for all their away matches except the first, when they were thrashed 5-0 at Villarreal in August. Míchel’s side have yet to keep a clean sheet on the road, which is a big reason why they are tied with Levante as the league’s most porous defence (26 goals conceded).
Tip: Both teams to score - 7/10 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score at least once.
Real Madrid v Celta: Sunday, 8pm GMT
Real Madrid host Celta in a match that promises plenty of excitement, with the home side needing all three points to keep their title hopes alive.
Celta continue to climb the table despite losing at home to Espanyol, but they need wins to close the gap to the European spots, which stood at eight points before this round. Both teams have plenty of firepower, and their meetings tend to produce goals.
Madrid are clear favourites, having won all six home games so far, with four of those featuring over 2.5 goals. That outcome—Madrid win and over 2.5 goals—has occurred in the last four meetings, and in eight of the last ten. Four of the last five at the Bernabéu have also ended with a Madrid win and at least three goals in total.
Tip: Madrid to win and over 2.5 goals - 8/13 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Real Madrid win and there are three or more goals in total.
Osasuna v Levante: Monday, 8pm GMT
The final match of the round is arguably the most unpredictable, despite Osasuna being the favourites, especially with Levante having changed managers.
That’s why we’re focusing on the individual performance of one of the league’s surprise packages, Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong. The Cameroonian has six goals and three assists in 14 games, including those he played for Villarreal at the start of the season.
He’s had at least one shot on target in 11 of those 14 matches, including nine of his 11 league appearances for Levante. So we expect the striker to test Sergio Herrera (one of the most worked and most effective goalkeepers in the league) at least once.
Tip: Etta Eyong over 0.5 shots on target - 4/7 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Karl Etta Eyong has at least one shot on target, regardless of whether he scores.
Discover the best betting bonuses
If you want to make the most of LaLiga matches for your bets, Flashscore makes it easy. On our betting bonuses page you’ll find some of the best promotions and bonus codes available.
Odds were correct at the time of publication and may change.