The LaLiga action continues this weekend with the relegation battle tighter than ever, and a top of the table clash to completely eliminate a title contender, coupled with a La Liga fixture set to be featured live on Tik Tok for the first time.
Friday will see the biggest clash for the European spot this season featured live for the first time on Tik Tok, as Real Sociedad host Real Betis. Saturday’s scrap at the bottom of the table is Elche craving some breathing room as they encounter a Mallorca side that picked up a win last time out. Finally, the weekend’s feature fixture, Real Madrid travel to Sevilla, in hopes of completely eliminating them in the running for the title.
Check out all that and more, including a multiple that is not hitting and hoping, but aiming and shooting.
Friday 15 April
11/10 Real Sociedad | Draw 47/20 | Real Betis 24/10 (21:00)
Real Sociedad came from behind to defeat Elche last matchweek and put themselves three points within reach of the Champions League spots. The home side have now won three of their last five with one draw against Sevilla, conceding just one goal in just as many games. The travelling team are also in fine form over all competitions getting two draws and three wins.
Betis’s second half performance against Cadiz was pure magic, coming from behind and netting two goals in under 10 minutes to stay clear of their most immediate competition for European football, Real Sociedad. A little sidenote, Tik Tok will feature this all important clash live on their platform, to hopefully try and capture the Gen Z audiences. For the punter, you can place both teams to score (Yes) bet at 8/10 as both sides seek crucial points.
Saturday 16 April
29/20 Elche | Draw 21/10 | Mallorca 2/1 (14:00)
Elche battle it out with Mallorca as both sides continue gaining momentum to avoid the drop this season. The home team is four points clear after losing four of their last five, while Mallorca were able to collect an unexpected three points against Atletico Madrid via the penalty spot, converted by Vedat Muriqi, earning them their first win since Valentines Day. Neither side seem capable of edging the other in my opinion, and a draw is the safest play here, considering the first meeting ended a 2-2 draw in Mallorca.
31/20 Alaves | Draw 2/1 | Vallecano 19/10 (16:15)
Alongside Levante, Alaves is practically relegated as well. Four losses out of their last five coupled with an unlikely point earned against Sevilla, they seem to just put up their hands up against the ‘big boys’.
Vallecano are not clear yet, although they could be considered the most comfortable in avoiding the drop. After their Monday night clash, recovery and preparation time will be on the shorter side for Vallecano. I am backing the travelling side on the draw no bet at 19/20.
11/10 Valencia | Draw 22/10 | Osasuna 51/20 (18:30)
A mid table clash between Valencia and Osasuna both means little to none for the La Liga season. We can however look for some value in this encounter.
Valencia are inconsistent on home soil from keeping clean sheets but failing to score, to finding the net, but showing defensive holes. The balance is imperfect, but their opposition have turned bad sour on the road, three straight defeats conceding eight in their last two makes life difficult when they take on the Bats. A Valencia win is on the horizon, but whether or not they can maintain a clean sheet is the question.
23/10 Getafe | Draw 43/20 | Villarreal 13/10 (21:00)
Unai Emery and his men put in a stellar performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League winning 1-0. A draw followed against Athletic Bilbao, and understandably so, after making 11 changes to the side that started against Bayern.
I’m not sure how Unai is thinking but dropping points in hopes of a European spot to hopefully seal the deal against Bayern points to the age old saying, ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’. Against Getafe though, the Yellow Submarine should get all three even if we see two different starting XIs. Get behind the away team.
Sunday 17 April
11/10 Granada | Draw 49/20 | Levante 47/20 (14:00)
We get to witness a real scrap at the bottom of the pack in the early kick off on Sunday. Granada, 16th on 29 points faces Levante 19th on 22. The gap might be big, but the fight in Levante seemingly is the same.
A win over Villarreal this month earned them their fourth win this year, and a close 2-3 loss to Barcelona shows they aren’t afraid of taking the game to anyone. Granada on the other hand suffered a 4-2 defeat to Sevilla after picking up what seemed to be a little form winning 2-3 away from home against Alaves and drawing 2-2 with Rayo Vallecano. The common theme is Both Teams Score (Yes) at 15/20.
9/20 Atl. Madrid | Draw 34/10 | Espanyol 6/1 (16:15)
After managing zero shots at goal against Man City in the Champions League, not much changed for Atletico Madrid when they faced Mallorca in the league. Diego Simeone’s men squandered nine shots, putting just one on target and converting none, paying the heavy price of a 1-0 loss.
Espanyol were able to convert one of their chances against Celta Vigo with Chinese forward Wu Lei getting on the end of a quick transition in the 89th minute. Atleti are still to face Man City again before facing Espanyol and the pressure is mounting! Back Espanyol on the Win Draw Double Chance to get an upset at 31/20.
17/20 Athletic Bilbao | Draw 49/20 | Celta Vigo 33/10 (18:30)
Athletic Bilbao capitalized on the opportunity of a fully overhauled Villarreal squad, unlucky not to take all three points in their travels. A 1-1 result earned a good point for Bilbao via Raul Garcia’s 43rd minute opener, originally ruled offside but overturned by VAR.
Celta Vigo do not have strong look as they enter this encounter, their first leg of the season ended in favour of Athletic Club and have lost three of their last five including a 0-0 draw with Real Betis. Back the home team confidently.
22/10 Sevilla | Draw 23/10 | Real Madrid 5/4 (21:00)
The highlight fixture of the weekend is without question Real Madrid’s trip to Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla, on Saturday night. Madrid’s 0-4 loss to Barcelona a few weeks ago seems just a blip as they have racked up three straight wins. Things seem to be on the rise again for Madrid, despite the booing of Gareth Bale making his first appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu since February 2020 in this past weekend’s 2-0 win over Getafe.
Sevilla are far from in form, picking up their first win in five fixtures in a 4-2 display against Granada last time out with Rafa Mir and Alejandro Gomez both scoring in the allotted stoppage time. Madrid are 12 points clear of Barcelona at the top, and it seems they will not slow down. Back Real Madrid to continue their dominance at outstanding odds.
Monday 18 April
2/11 Barcelona | Draw 58/10 | Cadiz 13/1 (21:00)
Barcelona continue to show dominance under Xavi Hernandez. Players like Pedri, who instigate the engine room has now added goals to his game, and every forward under the Barca legend is finding the net. Since March, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has scored five and Ferran Torres has scored six continuing to establish dominance for the Catalan giants.
Cadiz could never be ready for the task, but fighting relegation as we know, brings out a different hunger inside a squad. The away team should find the back of the net but place all your marbles on Barcelona to win. Both teams to score (Yes) and Barcelona win at 21/20.
Treble @ 13/1
Sociedad/Betis BTTS (Yes) 8/10
Valencia Win 11/10
Athletic Bilbao Win 17/20
Barcelona and BTTS (Yes) 21/20
