It's time for the seventh matchday in La Liga and, with it, one of the most important European derbies on the pitch. Here are the best predictions and bets for matchday seven from your trusted portal, Flashscore.
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From the Catalan derby to clashes between historic rivals, every LaLiga match offers stats and trends that can make all the difference when you bet. In this article, we analyse teams' recent form and present predictions based on key statistics to help you make informed betting decisions.
Girona v Espanyol: Friday, 20:00 BST
Girona have yet to get started this season and continue to struggle for results, with two draws and four defeats in their first six La Liga games. Their main problem has been their defensive fragility, having conceded 13 goals in those six games, including painful defeats such as the 5-0 loss at Villarreal and the 4-0 home defeat to Levante. This fragility makes them a vulnerable opponent, especially at Montilivi, where they have lost seven of their last eight league games. In this context, and despite Espanyol’s unreliability away from home, the stats suggest that Espanyol have a real chance of scoring in this Catalan derby.
For Girona, the role of Paulo Gazzaniga has been key in preventing even bigger results. The Argentinian goalkeeper has been busy due to his team's defensive fragility, making several appearances with more than three saves. Given Espanyol's dynamic attack, with in-form players such as Puado and Pere Milla, it is likely that Gazzaniga will again have his work cut out again. Therefore, the odds of Double Chance (draw or Espanyol) and at least three saves from Gazzaniga combine the home side's poor run of form with the volume of goals they concede.
Tip: Draw or Espanyol and 3+ saves from Gazzaniga (11/4 at Bet365)
Bet Explanation: Girona must not win and Gazzaniga must make at least three saves.
Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid: Saturday, 15:15 BST
Atletico Madrid are on an inconsistent run, but at home, they remain a domineering opponent. At the Metropolitano, they have shown solidity, like in the 2-0 win over Villarreal, yet their draws against Elche and Alavés showed that they do not always manage to close out games. In any case, Simeone's team is used to performing at a high level in Madrid derbies at home, and has managed to score in the last three played at their stadium. With players like Baena and Julian Alavrez in attack, Atletico can create chances even against a solid Real Madrid defence.
Real Madrid, for their part, are going through a very positive spell; they have won every league and Champions League match since the end of August, and in all but one of them they have scored at least two goals. However, they also tend to concede in these types of clashes, as was the case in the first leg of the Champions League against Atlético and in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad. Recent derbies reinforce the belief that this will be an open game, with four of the last five ending with goals for both sides. Therefore, we predict that both teams will score.
Tip: Both teams will score (8/13 at Bet365)
Bet Explanation: Both Atletico and Real Madrid must score in the Madrid derby.
Villarreal v Athletic Club; Saturday, 21:00
Villarreal’s form has improved after an inconsistent start, and they come into this match on the back of two consecutive league wins over Osasuna (2-1) and Sevilla (1-2). On both occasions, they had more than 10 shots and called the opposition goalkeeper into action repeatedly, showing their attacking consistency. At home, they are usually even more intense, and except for the defeat to Atlético, Villarreal have averaged more than five shots on target per game at the Estadio de la Cerámica this term.
Athletic Club, on the other hand, are going through a difficult time, with three straight defeats without scoring in official competitions before the 1-1 draw against Girona. Their goalkeeper, Unai Simón, is usually one of LaLiga's most consistent keepers, as the depleted Rojiblanca defence concedes more than desired, and, against a confident Villarreal, this could be repeated. Moreover, in five of the last six head-to-head encounters in Villarreal, the home side have managed more than four shots on target, which reinforces the reliability of the bet.
Tip: Villarreal to have more than 4.5 shots on target (4/5 at Bet365)
Bet Explanation: To win the bet, Villarreal must have at least five shots on target in the match.
Rayo Vallecano v Sevilla: Sunday, 13:00 BST
Rayo Vallecano continue to struggle for consistency in La Liga, but they have scored in three of their last four home games, including a 1-1 draw against Barcelona. Their vertical style, with speed on the wings and plenty of attacking options, tends to generate chances even against solid defences. The caveat, though, is that they have struggled at the back and have kept just one clean sheet in their last six official matches. The fact that the franjirrojos almost always manage to score in Vallecas reinforces the chance of seeing them contribute to the scoreline.
Sevilla, for their part, come in off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Villarreal, but, before that, had two consecutive games scoring at least two goals. Away from home, they have found some attacking efficiency - with four goals in their last two league outings - although they are still fragile at the back, with only one clean sheet all season. Moreover, the last five head-to-head meetings at the Vallecas have ended in goals for both teams, a pattern that fits the current trend for both sides.
Tip: Both teams to score (19/20 at Bet365)
Bet Explanation: For the bet to be a winner, both Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla must score at least one goal in the match.
Barcelona v Real Sociedad: Sunday, 17:30 BST
Barcelona are deadly up top at the moment, scoring 11 goals in their last two home league games with a devastating attack that generates a very high volume of chances. They have a squad that boasts the finishing skills of Lewandowski, the in-form Ferran Torres and Raphinha, as well as the creativity of Pedri, bringing fear to opposing defences. Add in the fact that, at home, they are averaging more than 15 shots per game this season, Barca could achieve a shots on target record.
Real Sociedad, despite recent form, tend to be a team that attacks and does not sit back. In four of their five league games this season, they have allowed at least 10 shots, displaying their difficulty in containing quality attacks, whilst their own strikers are trigger-happy too. The combination of a Barça side in attacking form and a Real side forced to react makes plenty of shots on target very likely.
Tip: Over 9.5 shots on target (4/5 at Bet365)
Bet Explanation: For the bet to be a winner, the sum of shots on target for both teams must reach at least 10 during the match.
Real Betis v Osasuna: Sunday, 20:00 BST
Real Betis are another team with inconsistent form. They have won just two of their first five league games and are conceding more chances than Manuel Pellegrini would have liked. In three of those matches, their opponents had at least three shots on goal, reflecting a certain fragility at the back, especially when Betis fail to control the tempo of the game. Against an Osasuna side that tends to compete with intensity, Betis could once again face a barrage of shots.
Osasuna, for their part, are a very direct team that threatens the goal, even when they do not dominate possession. They have surpassed the 2.5 shots on target barrier in three of their last four official matches, making good use of counterattacks and set pieces. With strikers like Budimir and ahead of Aimar Oroz and Moncayola, Los Rojillos have enough up top to test the keeper several times and keep the game alive at the Villamarin.
Tip: Osasuna to have over 2.5 shots on target (8/13 at Bet365)
Bet Explanation: For the bet to be a winner, Osasuna must have at least 3 shots on goal during the match.
Valencia v Oviedo: Monday, 20:00 BST
Valencia go into their clash with Real Oviedo ready to impose their attacking play. Although they drew 2-2 against Espanyol last Tuesday, they managed to shoot only twice on goal, a fact that shows that even with few chances, they can score. Carlos Corberán'a side maintains a high attacking tempo and dominates in terms of total shots and shots on target against lesser opposition.
Real Oviedo, on the other hand, have had a difficult start to the season and rarely take more shots than their opponents. In their last few games, they only managed a few chances, while their opponents, especially mid-table teams like Valencia, tend to have more. This reinforces the thought that Valencia will outperform Oviedo in total shots and shots on target, so it represents a good opportunity to bet on their attacking superiority.
Tip: Valencia to have more shots and more shots on target (4/6 at Bet365)
Explanation: For the bet to be a winner, Valencia must take more total shots and have more shots on target than Real Oviedo during the match.
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Odds, correct at time of publication, are subject to change.