Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Villarreal remain unbeaten heading into gameweek 5 of La Liga. The season has only just begun and us punters can finally look at a five-game run to see where these sides really stand after this weekend. Make no mistake though, there are still bankers in our midst!
Friday 9 September
12/10 Girona | Draw 23/10 | Valladolid 24/10 (21:00)
We kick the gameweek off with a tie between Girona and Valladolid. Both teams have found life in the topflight pretty much the same, winning one, drawing one, and facing two defeats.
Now, they know that this fixture is a must win and could catapult either into a string of results capable of remining afloat in the division. And while Valladolid should have the momentum after picking up three points in their last fixture, I can only see a draw being the result.
Saturday 10 September
14/10 Rayo Vallecano | Draw 43/20 | Valencia 43/20 (14:00)
On the back of a thumping win over Getafe, Valencia will head into their game against Rayo Vallecano with victory in their sights. Gennaro Gattuso’s side were magnificent from start to finish, with the 5-1 victory, while Rayo fell to their second straight defeat as Ruben Garcia’s goal in stoppage time proved the difference in a 2-1 Osasuna result at the El Sadar Stadium. The away win is available at 43/20 – that’s simply too good to pass up.
2/1 Espanyol | Draw 22/10 | Sevilla 29/20 (16:15)
Sevilla will be desperate to get their first win of the LaLiga season when they travel to the RCDE Stadium to take on Espanyol. Julen Lopetegui’s side have been a shadow of the side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season and have taken just one point from a possible 12 – their worst start to a season in four decades.
Espanyol have also had a bad start to the season but Martin Braithwaite gave the Catalans their first three points of the season in a 1-0 victory away to Athletic Bilbao. I’m going with Both Teams to Score at 9/10.
PREVIEW: Freiburg top the standings and now they face a stern test in Gladbach
10/1 Cadiz | Draw 52/10 | Barcelona 1/4 (18:30)
With three straight wins, Barcelona will aim to keep their momentum going when they visit the league’s bottom side Cadiz. The Andalusian club have lost all four of their games and shipped 10 goals leading up to this weekend’s contest. With the odds too short on Barca, take Robert Lewandowski as an Anytime Goalscorer – the Polish striker has netted five goals already this term.
13/20 Atletico Madrid | Draw 29/10 | Celta Vigo 46/10 (21:00)
We close the day out with a fixture between Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo. These sides have identical records from their first four league games – won two, drawn one and lost one. That is seven points from a possible 12.
Diego Simeone’s men need to find consistency but they’ll fancy taking all three points against Celta having beaten them home and away last season. Back the home win.
Sunday 11 September
1/4 Real Madrid | Draw 54/10 | Mallorca 10/1 (14:00)
Real Madrid come into this game as short-odds favourites and have won all four of their league games this season, scoring a total of 11 goals while conceding four.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side completed the double over Mallorca last season, 6-1 at home and 3-0 away, and the Spanish and European champions will be expecting another comfortable win. Back Real on the -2 Handicap at 16/10.
3/1 Elche | Draw 24/10 | Athletic Bilbao 19/20 (16:15)
Athletic Bilbao will be looking to get back on track after suffering their first defeat of the season. The San Mames side were beaten 1-0 at home to Espanyol last weekend but had claimed back-to-back victories over Valencia and Cadiz prior to that loss.
They take on an Elche side who remain winless after four games, and Ernesto Valverde’s side will fancy taking all three points. The away win is tipped.
3/1 Getafe | Draw 9/4 | Real Sociedad 1/1 (18:30)
Real Sociedad will be out to return to winning ways when they take on Getafe on Sunday. Ddespite going down by an early goal against Atletico Madrid, Umar Sadiq equalized in the 55th minute on his debut. Having played Man United in the Europa League, a slight squad rotation could affect their performance, so the away team Draw/Win Double Chance is the play.
33/20 Real Betis | Draw 24/10 | Villarreal 33/20 (21:00)
After starting their campaign with three straight wins, Real Betis faced the inevitable loss to Real Madrid. Sergio Canales responded quick after going down in just the 9th minute with his first goal off the season, but Madrid proved to strong.
Now, they face another unbeaten side in Unai Emery’s Villarreal. The master tactician has yet to concede a goal in five La Liga fixtures, and after drawing 0-0 to Getafe, bounced back with an impressive 4-0 win over Elche. This is a tough, tough fixture to call, and I believe The Yellow Submarines should edge an away win.
Monday 12 September
33/20 Almeria | Draw 22/10 | Osasuna 18/10 (21:00)
We close out the gameweek with a tie between Almeria and Osasuna. All three of the newly promoted teams sit on four points, including Almeria. But the recent 1-0 loss to Real Valladolid will dampen the mood.
Osasuna have bounced back with a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano to make it three home wins and an away loss to open the season. The away team has a chance to prove themselves on the road, but to play it safe back Osasuna on the Draw/Win Double Chance 4/10.
Last week’s TREBLE won @ 5/1
Osasuna Win 11/10
Villarreal Win 4/10
Valencia Win 12/10
TREBLE @ 9/1
Valencia Win 43/20
Atl. Madrid Win 13/20
Ath. Bilbao Win 19/20
