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La Liga: Week Two Preview

We start week two in the same way as how last season ended: with Real Madrid on top and Barca second.

The first week of La Liga gave us an indication as to how the season could pan out. We start gameweek two in the exact same way as how last season ended: with Real Madrid on top and Barcelona second.

Atletico Madrid showed that they’re desperately in need of new additions, while the likes of Sevilla, Villarreal, and Athletic Bilbao also failed to win this past weekend. A total of five red cards were shown in week one. Let’s hope for more goals and less reckless tackles this weekend.

Friday 25 August

11/10 Real Sociedad | Draw 23/10 | Villarreal 51/20 (20:15)
Real Sociedad and Villarreal get gameweek two underway! We should be in for a cagey affair with both sides expected to compete for a place in a major European competition come end of the season. Sociedad kick-started their campaign off in superb fashion, snatching a late 3-2 victory away to Celta Vigo.

Villarreal’s first game of the new season didn’t go according to plan as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to newly-promoted Levante. However, the Yellow Submarine are undefeated against their opponents in the last 11 games and are tipped to get something out of this tie. Back Villarreal on the Double Chance at 13/20.

29/20 Real Betis | Draw 9/4 | Celta Vigo 19/10 (22:00)
Real Betis and Celta Vigo lock horns on Friday with both teams looking to get off the mark for the new season. Betis were defeated 2-0 away to Catalan giants, Barcelona, while Celta crumbled in the latter stages of the game, conceding two goals in the final 10 minutes.

It’s usually a cagey affair when these sides meet. Four of the last six clashes have seen red cards in the match, with head-to-head results wavering down the middle. I’m not usually one for the Double Chance market, but 4/10 on Betis offers decent enough value for those multiples.

Saturday 26 August

17/2 Alaves | Draw 47/10 | Barcelona 3/10 (18:15)
In a repeat of last season’s Copa del Rey final, Alaves and Barcelona square off in what should be a cracking encounter. The hosts were quite impressive at the Mendizorrotza Stadium last term, claiming seven wins and eight draws in their 19 matches. They’ll seek revenge after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Barca in the Copa del Rey final and losing this fixture 6-0 last season.

Barcelona, who many expected to crumble after losing Neymar and having Luis Suarez out through injury, found enough firepower to beat Real Betis 2-0 at the Nou Camp. Gerard Deulofeu, who is Neymar’s replacement for the time being, produced a solid display, creating both goals. I’m going with Both Teams to Score here at 19/20.

12/10 Girona | Draw 9/4 | Malaga 24/10 (20:15)
Girona produced the result of the weekend as they kept Atletico Madrid at bay, earning a 2-2 draw. The Catalonian-based side were actually unlucky not to pick up maximum points, as they let Atletico perform a miraculous comeback with 10 men.

Malaga failed to find the back of the net as they were beaten 1-0 at home to Eibar. The Anchovies were dismal away from their turf last season, winning just two of their 19 games. A low-scoring encounter is expected, but for more value, back the draw.

5/4 Levante | Draw 22/10 | Deportivo 23/10 (20:15)
Levante will look to make it back-to-back victories in La Liga when they host Deportivo this weekend. The hosts managed a 1-0 win over Villarreal on Monday courtesy of a late penalty by Jose Luis Morales. Deportivo were also handed a penalty this past weekend, but failed to find the back of the net, resulting in a 3-0 defeat at home to Real Madrid.

Defence is a key part of the game and Deportivo just didn’t look up for it against the champions. Meanwhile, Levante were brilliant in shutting out Villarreal. They may be newcomers in this league, but Levante seem to have hit the ground running. Back them once again at 5/4!

34/10 Las Palmas | Draw 26/10 | Atletico Madrid 8/10 (22:15)
Las Palmas host Atletico Madrid in the final matchup on Saturday. Here’s a statistic that will raise an eyebrow: in the four meetings that these sides have played each other in the league, Las Palmas have never found the back of the net against Atletico. In fact, Diego Simeone’s men walked off the pitch with a 5-0 victory in this fixture last season.

Both teams had a player shown red this past weekend with Alen Halilovic given his marching orders in the 33rd minute, while Antoine Griezmann received two yellows in their 2-2 draw away to Girona. Atletico are already two points off their title rivals in Real Madrid and Barcelona and I’m expecting another setback for them. Back Las Palmas on the Double Chance & Both Teams to Score at 22/10.

Sunday 27 August

11/10 Espanyol | Draw 43/20 | Leganes 11/4 (18:15)
Espanyol claimed a commendable 1-1 stalemate at Sevilla to kick-start their season off in the right direction. Leganes snatched a 1-0 victory after goalkeeper, Ivan Cuellar, saved Manuel Garcia’s penalty kick in the opening 17 minutes, with Gabriel netting the game’s only goal.

These sides have only met each other twice, with Espanyol winning 3-0 and 1-0 last season. Despite Leganes producing a decent display last weekend, Espanyol should be too good for them. Back the hosts at 11/10!

37/20 Eibar | Draw 22/10 | Athletic Bilbao 15/10 (18:15)
Eibar were back to their old ways as they shut out Malaga on Monday night, while keeping much of the ball in their 1-0 away win. Athletic Bilbao were not convincing at all. The Lions had an extra man for 24 minutes of the game, but unsurprisingly, only had two shots on target.

Bilbao dominated this fixture last season, but that was under the tutelage of Ernesto Valverde. Eibar won 10 of their 19 home matches last season and should continue their pretty decent form. Back the hosts at a valuable 37/20.

26/10 Getafe | Draw 5/2 | Sevilla 21/20 (20:15)
Sevilla will head to newly-promoted Getafe on Sunday night with both sides seeking their first win of the campaign. Getafe earned a valuable point in their goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao last weekend, while Sevilla were held 1-1 at home by Espanyol.

Jose Bordalas’ men were incredibly tough to beat on their ground in the Segunda Division last season, losing just once from 21 matches. Los Rojiblancos have also struggled at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, failing to win there in their last eight visits while losing six times. The best bet here is Under 2.5 Goals at 9/10.

2/9 Real Madrid | Draw 57/10 | Valencia 10/1 (22:15)
Reigning champions, Real Madrid, welcome Valencia to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. The Bats come into this tie off a 1-0 home win over 10-man Las Palmas, thanks to a strike from Simone Zaza, while Zinedine Zidane’s side cruised to a 3-0 win away to Deportivo, courtesy of goals from Gareth Bale, Casemiro and Toni Kroos.

Geoffrey Kondogbia has completed his loan move to Valencia in time to feature, while former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista is also in line to make his debut. The Both Teams to Score market has been triggered in the last nine meetings when these sides have faced each other. Take Real Madrid to Win & Both Teams to Score here at even money.

TREBLE @ 7/1
Alaves vs Barca BTTS 19/20
Espanyol Win 11/10
Real Madrid Win & BTTS 1/1


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