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PREVIEW: Can Xavi change Barca’s fortunes? – LaLiga GW 14

Barcelona welcomed their former captain Xavi back as head coach.

Image copyright - Steve Haag Sports

It’s been what felt like a long international break, and the league’s national team have gotten the job done, securing a spot in the Qatar 2022 World Cup. But! It’s back to regular scheduled programming in La Liga Santander where we can make some returns.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone
Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore

Check out this week’s matchday 14 preview including a 7/1 multiple.


Friday 19 November

Levante 2/1 | Draw 21/10 | Athletic Bilbao 29/20 (22:00)

This Friday, bottom of the table Levante, winless in 13 matches hesitantly welcome Athletic Bilbao who sits midtable in eighth. While their run of results has been decent, Athletic Bilbao stumbled at home before the international break against another team closer to the bottom of the table. Levante led the game against Alaves for a large portion, but once they went down it just felt as if they would let it slip. Athletic Bilbao are a better opposition and will surely kick off the weekend on a good note despite being away from home.

Saturday 20 November

Celta Vigo 43/20 | Draw 9/4 | Villarreal 13/10 (15:00)

Unai Emery has cemented his intentions at Villarreal, and it might just reignite the team’s form. A 1-0 home win last time out showed a glimpse of that desire to get back to winning ways after a midweek performance in the Champions League made way for that confidence. Celta Vigo showed buckets full of fighting spirit, after coming back from three goals down to Barcelona last time out. The never say die attitude and result will have Unai on his toes. Both teams are high on confidence and backing Both Teams To Score (Yes) will be the play in this encounter at 8/10.

Sevilla 9/20 | Draw 34/10 | Alaves 6/1 (17:15)

Just one loss in 13 fixtures, Sevilla have been putting in good performances and earning well-deserved results this campaign. They now welcome Alaves who have put together a decent run of fixtures after losing a few ties in the start of the season. Both teams are surely coming into this contest high on confidence and it will be a tight affair.

The deciding factor in this fixture would have to be both teams’ history, Alaves have never won at Sevilla’s home grounds as well as the Sevillistas not losing to Alaves in their last seven. While both teams are in great form, Sevilla sit third on 27 points and Alaves are 14th on 13 points. The home team will keep pushing and get all three in search of that number one spot.

Atletico Madrid 7/20 | Draw 37/10 | Osasuna 8/1 (19:30)

Despite being among the four teams in La Liga with just one loss, defending champions Atletico Madrid, sit fourth with a surprisingly struggling defence and evidently drawing the most matches of the top four. The away team have not scored in three consecutive games losing their last two. Osasuna seem to be losing some gas and sit seventh on the table. Atletico Madrid & Both Teams To Score (No) at 19/20.

Barcelona 7/20 | Draw 4/1  | Espanyol 13/2 (22:00)

Barcelona and Celta Vigo played a thrilling 3-3 draw in the eyes of football fans, but for Barca that result was a reminder of their ever-present troubles of late.

Now, Xavi Hernandez has taken the Catalan throne, and who better to wear the crown. While the job might not be easy, these players will show him the respect he deserves and will unquestionably play their hearts out for him. In the words of the new gaffa, “Barca can’t allow neither to lose or to draw. We have to win every game.” With that being said, back Barca with your mortgage.

Sunday 21 November

Getafe 19/20 | Draw 43/20 | Cadiz 7/2 (15:00)

Relegation threatened Getafe were fresh of their first win of the season, but still only have six points to their name before losing to Villarreal last time out. Cadiz found their opposition wanting and capitalized on an opportunity away from home in a narrow one goal win. While both teams have similar form, their head-to-head is rather back and forth with four wins apiece in their eight matches played, never sharing the spoils. Back the home team to get all three points this time round.

Granada 6/1 | Draw 38/10 | Real Madrid 4/10 (17:15)

The ball in football is round and anything can happen, but this is second-placed Real Madrid who are favourites for the title, taking on 17th placed Granada. After going winless in their opening seven fixtures, Granada managed two wins and two draws before succumbing to their fifth defeat of the season last time out. Real Madrid’s last and only loss was at the hands of Granada’s last opponents, Espanyol, but that was five matchdays ago. Madrid have gone on to defeat Barcelona, Elche, and Rayo Vallecano all by two goals to one with a goalless draw against Osasuna. Real Madrid & Over 2.5 Goals at even money.

Elche 26/10 | Draw 23/10 | Real Betis 21/20 (19:30)

Real Betis have hit a three-game slump in all competitions failing to score in each of those three fixtures. In their last loss to Sevilla, a Guido Rodriguez red card on the halfway mark left Betis with 10-men for an entire 45 minutes. Their fifth-place spot is under attack from two teams withing firing range, and this fixture will be crucial for Verdes to regain confidence as well as maintain their table standing. Elche are languishing in the 18th spot and have the tied most losses so far with seven defeats to their name. While it’s hard to see Betis win, it’s even harder to predict an Elche win, my suggestion? Select Draw No Bet on the Away team at 5/10.

Real Sociedad 9/10 | Draw 51/20 | Valencia 3/1 (22:00)

Real Sociedad finished 26 points off the number one spot last season and the run they’re on is unprecedented. The White and Blues have a golden opportunity at a title run with their only oppositions this campaign really being Real Madrid or vice versa.

Valencia will be stiff competition, but the home crowed will be a big factor for Sociedad. Valencia did well to secure two goals after the 90 minutes had already passed to secure a 3-3 draw with Atletico Madrid. Back Sociedad to keep up their great form.

Monday 22 November

Rayo Vallecano 15/20 | Draw 26/10 | Mallorca 37/10 (22:00)

A Monday night in Madrid sees Rayo Vallecano taking on Mallorca five points adrift and 7 places apart. Mallorca have made it a habit of not losing, but they’re not winning either with four draws on the bounce. Los Pirates have managed a goal or ore in each of their last four. While the away team are scoring but not winning, Rayo Vallecano have not been promising struggling to go on a decent winning streak. Their table standing shows there is promise, but it’s hard to back them with such inconsistency. Bet Both Teams To Score (Yes) at even money.

QUAD @ 7/1
Barcelona Win 7/20
Atletico Madrid Win & BTTS (Yes) 19/20
Real Madrid Win & Over 2.5 Goals 1/1
Real Betis – Draw No Bet 5/10

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