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The new round of La Liga EA Sports is here, and it features some big clashes for teams from the Valencian Community. Elche travel to an in-form Real Sociedad, andLevante also head to the Basque Country to face Athletic at San Mamés. A struggling Villarreal host an Espanyol side also going through a tough spell, and Valencia welcome Real Madrid, who remain in the hunt for top spot.
Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid host Betis in what is likely the standout match of the round, while Barça will try to stay top by beating Mallorca at the Camp Nou. Finally, Alavés v Getafe and Oviedo v Rayo Vallecano could prove crucial in the battle to avoid relegation.
Celta v Osasuna: Friday, 20:00 GMT
This intriguing clash at Balaídos kicks off the matchday and pits two sides separated by just two places, but seven points, in the table (Celta are seventh with 33 points, Osasuna ninth with 26). Osasuna have been one of the league’s worst travellers (W1, D2, L8), though they did win their last away game in Vallecas. Celta also struggled at home early in the season, but have improved significantly, winning their last four competitive home matches, including the last three in La Liga. The Galicians have won three of the last four meetings between the sides, including this fixture last season (1-0), so we expect Celta to make their home advantage count.
Tip: Celta to win – 19/20 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Celta are victorious
Barcelona v Mallorca: Saturday, 15:15 GMT
One of the Mediterranean derbies of the round takes place at Spotify Camp Nou, where leaders Barcelona will look to stay top against a Mallorca side eager to move clear of the relegation zone. The Blaugrana have scored in every league game this season and have found the net in the second half in each of their last 15 matches in all competitions. With that in mind, we’re backing Barça to score between 1 and 4 goals, including at least one after the break.
Tip: Barça to score between 1 and 4 goals and score in the second half – 1/2 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Barcelona score at least one, but fewer than five goals, and at least one of their goals comes in the second half
Sevilla v Girona: Saturday, 17:00 GMT
This is a clash between two of the most entertaining sides in the league, though both can be unpredictable, mixing strong performances with spells of inconsistency. Given how tough it is to call this one, we recommend steering clear of betting on this match. Still, it’s likely to be one of the most watchable games of the round.
Tip: No bet
Real Sociedad v Elche: Saturday, 20:00 GMT
Real Sociedad are enjoying their best spell since Pellegrino Matarazzo took charge. The New Jersey-born coach has revitalised the team, who are unbeaten in five matches since his arrival (W3, D2), including an impressive win over leaders Barça, and are now closing in on the European places, sitting eighth and just six points off sixth before this round.
Elche, meanwhile, come into this one winless in six competitive games (D2, L4) and are the league’s worst away side (D4, L6). Despite having played in the Copa del Rey midweek, Real Sociedad should have enough to see off Elche. The reverse fixture, when the Basques were struggling, ended 1-1, but San Sebastián’s side had won the previous six meetings between the teams.
Tip: Real Sociedad to win – 13/20 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Real Sociedad are victorious
Athletic Club v Levante: Sunday, 15:15 GMT
Another tricky fixture awaits at the San Mamés. Normally, odds of over 8/13 at bet365 for a home win would tempt us, but Valverde’s side are in poor form, and Levante seem to be on the up, going two games unbeaten (W1, D1), including a draw against Atlético de Madrid, and losing just once in their last six (W2, D3). The Granotas also tend to perform better away than at home.
Looking at corners, five of Athletic’s last six league games (and six of their last eight competitive matches) have seen fewer than 11 corners, as have ten of Levante’s last 11 matches in all competitions.
Tip: Under 11 corners – 4/7 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are ten or fewer corners in total during the match
Atlético Madrid v Betis: Sunday, 17:30 GMT
After their cup clash in Seville, these two sides head to Madrid to face off at the Metropolitano, which is rarely a happy hunting ground for Betis. Atlético Madrid, who have picked up the most home points in the league so far (W10, D1), have won three of the last four league meetings between the teams (L1), and 12 of the last 13 encounters at their own ground (D1). Despite some recent inconsistency, Simeone’s men should have the edge.
Tip: Atlético Madrid to win – 11/20 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Betis lose the match
Valencia v Real Madrid: Sunday, 20:00 GMT
One of the most heated fixtures in recent seasons is Madrid’s visit to Mestalla. This time, Valencia seem to be in a very positive run, boosted by key winter signings, while Madrid continue their push for the summit despite some unconvincing recent displays. The outcome is highly unpredictable, but the expected tension suggests a tough, hard-fought contest, likely with few goals. Since Corberán’s side were thrashed at the Bernabéu (4-0), 12 of Valencia’s last 14 competitive matches have featured between one and three total goals, a trend also seen in nine of Madrid’s last 11 league games since their last meeting. Five of the last seven league encounters between the sides at Mestalla have also fallen within that range.
Tip: 1-3 total goals – 4/6 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there is at least one goal, but the total number of goals is less than four
Villarreal v Espanyol: Monday, 20:00 GMT
Two sides going through a rough patch meet at La Cerámica. Villarreal are winless in three league games (D1, L2), though they battled well to earn a point away at Osasuna last time out. Espanyol, meanwhile, have lost three in a row and are winless in five (D1, L4). The Periquitos’ European hopes are fading, but this week they visit one of the league’s strongest home sides (W8, D1, L2), whose only home defeats have come against Barça and Madrid. That said, the Catalans are also among the best away teams in the competition (W4, D3, L3), which helps improve the odds for a Villarreal win. Manolo González’s men have failed to win their last two away games (D1, L1), both in the Valencian Community (against Levante and Valencia).
Backing both teams to score could be tempting, but Espanyol’s poor recent record against Villarreal – they haven’t beaten them in the league since 2020 (D1, L6), losing the last six meetings and failing to score in four of the last seven, including the two most recent – suggests it’s wiser to side with Marcelino’s men.
Tip: Villarreal to win – 7/10 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Villarreal are victorious
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Odds correct at the time of writing, subject to change.