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After the postponed match between Levante and Villarreal, and the European commitments of Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Celta, who will play their return legs in the middle of next week, the league moves on to its next round with plenty at stake.
The title race between Barcelona and Real Madrid will see another chapter, while the battle for third-from-bottom is more exciting than ever; Mallorca currently occupy that spot, but there are seven teams above them within just two points, so everything could change in a matter of seconds over the course of the weekend.
Betis are looking to put pressure on Atlético and Villarreal in the race for a Champions League place. Celta are just one point behind Espanyol, who are clinging on to sixth, with both sides fighting for a Europa League spot, although Real Sociedad and Athletic are close behind and could also push them out of the Conference League position.
Here are the best predictions for this round of LaLiga fixtures.
Real Sociedad v Real Oviedo: Saturday, 13:00 GMT
Real Sociedad suffered a heavy defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu, but they are one of the in-form teams in recent months, having won seven of their last nine official matches (D1, L1).
They now face the bottom side in La Liga, Oviedo, who have only managed one league win since September, which was also their last away victory. Matarazzo’s men have won their last three home league games, and there’s an attractive price on a home win for the Basques, who are closing in on the European places.
Tip: Real Sociedad to win – 1/2 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Real Sociedad win the game
Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano: Saturday, 15:15 GMT
This is a fascinating match. Betis are strong favourites after three straight league wins as they push for a Champions League spot. Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, are going through a tough spell, although their big win over Atlético de Madrid ended a run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions.
We expect a fairly even contest, with the total goals likely to fall between two and four – something that’s happened in five of Betis’s last six league games and in nine of their last ten home league matches.
For Rayo, that’s also been the case in their last six away games in all competitions and in their last ten official matches. In addition, 19 of the last 22 meetings between these two sides have also seen between two and four goals.
Tip: Match to have between two and four total goals – 8/15 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if the match has two, three or four goals in total
Osasuna v Real Madrid: Saturday, 17:30 GMT
Pamplona will host one of the matches of the round, as league leaders Real Madrid visit an Osasuna side on the up, unbeaten in five league games under Alessio Lisci (W3, D2). Despite Madrid being clear favourites, it’s hard to predict what might happen, as Osasuna have been solid at home (W6, D3, L2).
We do think both teams are likely to score, as Osasuna average almost two goals per home league game (20 in 11 matches), and Real Madrid have scored 53 goals in 24 rounds, averaging two per away game (24 in 12). Five of the last seven meetings between these sides in Pamplona have also seen both teams find the net.
Tip: Both teams to score – 4/6 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score at least once
Atlético Madrid v Espanyol: Saturday, 20:00 GMT
The unpredictable Atlético Madrid host an Espanyol side going through a rough patch in one of the most attractive fixtures of the round, with both teams in European positions. Atlético have been very reliable at home, but lost their last league game at the Metropolitano.
Simeone made a lot of changes against Rayo, which could have had a big impact on the team’s performance. Espanyol, for their part, need to rediscover the form they showed in the first half of the season, but it’s risky to expect them to do so away to Atlético, especially as they haven’t lost any of the last five meetings between the sides (W1, D4).
We do note that 11 of Atlético’s last 12 official matches have seen more than eight total corners, with the only exception being their 5-0 Copa del Rey win at Betis, which had exactly eight.
Six of Espanyol’s last nine league games, and five of their last six away matches in all competitions, have also ended with nine or more corners. The last seven meetings between these two at Atlético’s ground have also produced more than eight corners.
Tip: Over eight total corners – 1/2 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are nine or more corners in total
Barcelona v Levante: Sunday, 15:15 GMT
Barça are looking to get back to winning ways after two consecutive defeats and losing top spot to Real Madrid. They face a struggling Levante side, who are seeing their hopes of survival slip away week by week.
Flick’s men have had a rare free week to recover players and train properly, and they remain, by some margin, the league’s top scorers. Levante, meanwhile, come into this after two straight defeats and, ahead of the weekend, have conceded the most goals in the division.
We expect Barcelona to score between two and four goals, something they’ve managed in six of their last eight official matches and in ten of their eleven home league games.
Levante have conceded two, three or four goals in five of their last six league matches, and in four of their last six away league games.
Tip: Barça to score between two and four goals – 4/7 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Barça score two, three or four goals in the match
Villarreal v Valencia: Sunday, 20:00 GMT
Villarreal face their second Valencian derby of the week, this time at La Cerámica, where they’ve been tough to beat this season (W9, D1, L2). Valencia have won two of their last three away league games, but those were against teams near the bottom (Levante and Getafe) and are their only two away league wins this campaign (W2, D3, L7).
Given this, we’re backing a win for the Yellow Submarine, who sit third in the table before this round, having also won 2-0 in the reverse fixture and taken five wins and a draw from the last six home meetings with Valencia.
Tip: Villarreal to win – 7/10 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Villarreal are victorious
Alavés v Girona: Monday, 20:00 GMT
This could be an entertaining match between two sides keeping a wary eye on the relegation zone, but who have both produced some impressive performances this season.
Both have had a campaign full of ups and downs, making it very difficult to predict the outcome. This is probably the hardest match of the round to call, so our advice is to just enjoy it on Monday night and not place a bet.
Tip: No bet
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Odds correct at the time of writing, subject to change.