Real Madrid are away to Espanyol while Atletico Madrid welcome Barcelona in gameweek 8 of LaLiga! Banele Pikwa previews.
Friday 1 October
Athletic Bilbao 6/10 | Draw 26/10 | Alaves 46/10 (21:00)
Athletic Bilbao will face one of the worst teams in the division when they welcome Alaves to the San Mames on Friday night to kick off round eight. This is a perfect opportunity for Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men to return to winning ways as they host a team that has been horrendous this term. Alaves have lost five of their last six matches coming into this tie. Bilbao have only won once on their turf this season and they will want to build a strong home record as the campaign progresses. If the home side is serious about making the San Mames a fortress then they will have to win such matches.
Saturday 2 October
Osasuna 13/10 | Draw 9/4 | Rayo Vallecano 21/10 (14:00)
Saturday’s matches get underway at El Sadar Stadium where Osasuna will play host to Vallecano in what looks to be an entertaining match. On paper, this is a dull, low-profile match, but these sides have shown massive improvement this season. Osasuna are ninth on the log with 11 points to their name while Vallecano sit fifth with 13 points. The visitors have won four and drawn one from their seven matches played which goes to show that they are no pushovers. The hosts have scored 10 goals while the visitors have netted 13. Goals are a certainty in this match, so I suggest backing Both Teams to Score (Yes) here at 9/10.
Mallorca 12/10 | Draw 23/10 | Levante 9/4 (16:15)
In the previous encounter we spoke about sides that have shown improvement, whenever such topic comes up, we have to include Mallorca. They’ve been showing some fight this season which should make you back them with confidence when playing at home against teams like Levante who have been struggling for form. The visitors are yet to win a match this campaign, losing three and drawing four. This a not an easy game for either so I will back Mallorca on a Win/Draw Double Chance at 8/10.
Cadiz 23/10 | Draw 2/1 | Valencia 27/20 (18:30)
Valencia started the season like a house on fire and we are all expected big things from them. After the first four matches, they were unbeaten with three wins and one draw. However, Los Che have started to show their true colours collecting just one point in their last three matches. Cadiz were the surprise package last season, but they seem to be found out this time around. Poor form of one win and three draws leaves the home team 15th on the log. Neither side are convincing at the moment, so let’s back a draw here.
Atletico Madrid 1/1 | Draw 49/20 | Barcelona 26/10 (21:00)
There’s no better way to end the day than a clash of the titans, which sees defending champions Atletico Madrid welcome Barcelona to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Both sides have had their fair share of worries coming into this match. Atleti have been scoring very late goals in matches we expect them to cruise in and Barcelona’s head coach is under massive pressure, there are talks of him being replaced if the club continues to drop points. The two coaches have faced each other twice with Diego Simeone winning and a draw in the other. Back these sides to cancel each other out.
Sunday 3 October
Elche 51/20 | Draw 9/4 | Celta Vigo 11/10 (14:00)
After being blessed with a blockbuster fixture between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, LaLiga’s Sunday matches kicks off with a low-profile affair that sees Elche take on fellow strugglers Celta Vigo. These sides share 13 points between them with the visitors collecting seven points and the hosts sit in 16th place with six points. I don’t trust either side on current form, therefore I will be backing Under 2.5 Goals at 6/10.
Espanyol 39/10 | Draw 3/1 | Real Madrid 13/20 (16:15)
We expected big things from Espanyol this season and we thought spending last season in the Segunda Division would be a wake-up call for the Blanquiazules. After seven matches, the hosts have picked six points with one win and three draws which leaves them flirting with danger. Not much was expected from Real Madrid after the departure of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. Los Blancos struggled for consistency last season and that saw club legend Zinedine Zidane terminating his contract as head coach. Carlo Ancelotti returned to the hot seat and he has had a great start of five wins and two draws. What makes this Madrid side even more dangerous is the number of goals they are scoring- a massive 21 so far this season. Back Real Madrid to win here.
Villarreal 11/10 | Draw 5/2 | Real Betis 23/10 (18:30)
Two very well-coached sides collide at the Estadio de la Cerámica, the home of the Yellow Submarines. This is only their third home game of the season. They collected four points in the previous two and they will be looking to build on that. Real Betis have had great away form, they remain unbeaten on the road winning two and drawing one from their three matches. This is definitely the hardest away match of the season so far, but nobody would ever bet against Manuel Pellegrini’s side. Both teams to score is always a big play whenever these sides meet, and I will be backing both sides to find the net here at 7/10.
Getafe 51/20 | Draw 2/1 | Real Sociedad 12/10 (18:30)
The worst team in the league will face off with a side that always seems to start the season on the right foot. At this time of the season, Sociedad are always one of the teams to beat and crumble in the second round. The visitors are very dangerous at the beginning of the campaign and currently sit second on the table, two points behind log leaders Real Madrid. It doesn’t get any easier for Getafe, they’ve lost all their seven matches played and now they host one of the strongest starters. Back Real Sociedad to win comfortably and include in all bets.
Granada 36/10 | Draw 49/20 | Sevilla 8/10 (21:00)
A couple of seasons ago this was a nice match between two teams who were fighting for top four. Granada have had a huge dip and they are now back to being an ordinary mid-table team. In fact, they are now a relegation-threatened side. They are yet to win this season, with three draws and four defeats. Sevilla are not yet where they want to be but are making steady progress. With a game in hand, the Sevillistas are third on the log three points behind leaders Madrid. Back Sevilla to win here and include in all multiples.
TREBLE @ 11/2
Real Madrid Win 13/20
Sevilla Win 8/10
Real Sociedad Win 21/10
