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After the midweek European action, the next round of fixtures from La Liga EA Sports is upon us, with plenty at stake and several battles raging on. The title race is heating up, as is the fight for the Europa League and Conference League spots, not to mention the scrap to avoid relegation, with eight teams separated by just three points and Levante looking to join the pack from second-bottom. And let’s not forget a Basque derby that could be explosive.
Espanyol v Alavés: Friday, 20:00 GMT
Espanyol go into this match as clear favourites and will be desperate to get back to winning ways after four games without a victory (D1, L3). The Periquitos are in a rough patch and have failed to score in their last two home games, but they’re up against the league’s worst away side (W1, D1, L8), who have managed just four goals on the road all season. While a bet on total goals might seem tempting since both teams’ defences have looked shaky of late, corners seems a better market here: only two of Espanyol’s last nine matches have seen more than 11 corners, and both were against Champions League opposition (Athletic and Barça), while just one of Alavés’ last six away games has produced 12 or more corners.
Tip: Under 11 corners – 4/9 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are 10 or fewer corners in total in the match.
Osasuna v Villarreal: Saturday, 15:15 GMT
One of Saturday’s most promising fixtures sees Osasuna take on Villarreal, who have just been knocked out of European competition. The Navarrese are among the league’s best home sides (W6, D2, L2), while Villarreal are one of the strongest away (W5, D1, L3). Osasuna have scored in every home game this season, and six of their last eight at home have seen both teams find the net. Villarreal have only failed to score in two of their nine away league matches (against Atlético and Betis), and four of their last five away games in all competitions have seen both teams score. The last five meetings between these two have also seen goals at both ends.
Tip: Both teams to score – 7/10 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if each team scores at least once.
Levante v Atlético: Saturday, 17:30 GMT
Atlético de Madrid will need to quickly put their European disappointment behind them as they look to claim three points against a Levante side fighting to claw their way out of trouble. We’re expecting a tough, tense encounter, with few goals since only three of Atlético’s ten away games have produced over 2.5 goals, and nine of Levante’s last ten matches have seen between one and three goals, as have nine of Atlético’s last ten.
Tip: 1-3 goals in the match – 8/15 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if the match ends with more than zero but fewer than four total goals.
Elche v Barcelona: Saturday, 20:00 GMT
This Mediterranean clash promises to be one of the weekend’s most intriguing, with Barça needing a win to stay top and Elche desperate for points to move away from the drop zone. Despite Barça being clear favourites, this is a tricky one to call, as the odds for a Barça win are low and Elche are one of the league’s best home sides (W5, D5, L1), with their only recent defeat coming against Villarreal. Barça have scored in every league game this season, and in seven of the last eight rounds they’ve netted between one and three goals. They also scored three in the reverse fixture, so it seems a solid bet to back them to be in that range again.
Tip: Barça to score 1-3 goals – 4/9 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Barça score at least once but fewer than four times in the match.
Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano: Sunday, 13:00 GMT
After their European setback, another tense afternoon is expected at the Santiago Bernabéu, and Rayo, who have drawn four of their last five meetings with Madrid (the other a Madrid win), could prove awkward opponents. That said, Rayo are also struggling, having lost their last three competitive matches. This game has similarities to Madrid’s recent home match against Levante after their cup exit, albeit with different opposition. That match was one of Madrid’s last six league games to feature zero or one goal before half-time, a trend also seen in eight of Rayo’s last nine matches in all competitions.
Tip: Under 1.5 goals in the first half – 4/6 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there is one goal or fewer in the first half.
Betis v Valencia: Sunday, 15:15 GMT
Valencia come into this one looking to continue their revival and move further clear of the relegation zone after back-to-back wins for the first time this season, part of their three-game unbeaten run that includes their first away win of the campaign (0-1 v Getafe). However, Valencia have conceded the second-most away goals in the league (22), while Betis are one of the strongest home sides, averaging two goals per home league game. So, regardless of the result, we can expect goals from both teams, as has been the case in the last four meetings between them.
Tip: Both teams to score – 3/4 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score at least once.
Athletic Club v Real Sociedad: Sunday, 20:00 GMT
The big Basque derby is undoubtedly the standout fixture of the matchday. Athletic Club are having a tough season and come into this one off the back of a major European disappointment. Both sides have looked sharp in attack but less convincing at the back. Each of Athletic’s last six competitive matches have seen three or more goals, as have six of Real Sociedad’s last eight in all competitions. The reverse fixture, which ended 3-2 to the Donostiarras, gives us a clue as to what we might expect.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals – 6/5 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are three or more goals in total.
Mallorca v Sevilla: Monday, 20:00 GMT
The matchday wraps up with a clash between two sides near the bottom. Both average more than a goal per game, but they’re also among the league’s leakiest defences (both have conceded 33). We can expect goals at both ends, and it’s worth noting that Mallorca, despite being in the relegation zone, have the league’s second top scorer (Muriqi), though both teams are prone to inconsistency. That’s why the total goals interval market looks interesting: 12 of Mallorca’s last 14 league games have seen between two and five goals, and the same is true for Sevilla.
Tip: 2-5 total goals – 4/9 @ bet365.
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are more than one but fewer than six goals in the match.
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Odds correct at the time of writing, subject to change.