A final weekend of La Liga action takes place before we head over to international football viewing. Barcelona are still without a manager and struggling for form, Real Madrid are one point off table toppers Real Sociedad, and we have a first ever clash in La Liga for the history books between Mallorca and Elche.
Let’s get straight into the betting and be sure to have a crack on our quad.
Friday 5 November
Athletic Bilbao 9/20 | Draw 32/10 | Cadiz 6/1 (22:00)
Athletic Bilbao play host to Cadiz who cannot get the ball rolling. Bilbao have maintained their impressive start with just one loss this season, but the draws are not going to gain much ground on the better performing teams. A win here will be a boost, but beating Cadiz is not a magical feat. Back Bilbao to send Cadiz packing.
Saturday 6 November
Espanyol 8/10 | Draw 49/20 | Granada 7/2 (15:00)
Granada will be looking to distance themselves from the bottom of the table even further when they travel to the RCDE Stadium on the outskirts of Barcelona. Both teams are on the same run of form winning two, drawing two and losing one in their last five league matches. The only difference, but key difference is that Espanyol lost their most recent while Granada put three past Levante in their backyard. Granada should collect maximum points here.
Celta Vigo 49/20 | Draw 5/2 | Barcelona 21/20 (17:15)
While times are tough at Barcelona, you cannot deny the team they are on a whole. Players are still putting their all in for the badge, and Memphis Depay is leading that charge. Another disappointing result for the Catalans with a 1-1 draw to Alaves, however, still highlights the issues at hand. Celta Vigo have one win in their last five, beating bottom of the barrel Getafe and should not be valued at the price they are against Barca. A Champions League fixture before travelling to the North-West of Spain will add to the troubles of Barca, and you could back the home team to take all the spoils.
Alaves 15/10 | Draw 2/1 | Levante 2/1 (19:30)
A bottom of the table fixture sees Levante on six points from 12 games and Alaves four points the happier. Form paints the picture, even though Alaves are not at their best, and history adds to the argument with 18 matches played between the two, Alaves winning 11, Levante winning just two and five stalemates. An Alaves straight win is one for the multiples.
Real Madrid 7/20 | Draw 4/1 | Rayo Vallecano 6/1 (22:00)
Favourites to take the league, purely based on pedigree and current standing, Real Madrid, host Rayo Vallecano who have been coming away with decent results this season. Vallecano’s recent 1-0 win over Barcelona was marred when they drew 0-0 last time out to Celta Vigo. They now travel to Madrid to take on another La Liga ‘big boy’ who is in a much better space than their rivals. While Vallecano might be putting up a fight, I cannot see any other result with Carlo Ancelotti looking to keep pressure on surprise log-leaders Real Sociedad. Put the home team on your slips.
Sunday 7 November
Villarreal 6/10 | Draw 11/4 | Getafe 5/1 (15:00)
Finally, one in the win column, Getafe will be injected with confidence into their demoralised squad as a brace on either side of the break from key man Enas Unal sealed maximum points. With Unai Emery favourite to enter the managing role at Newcastle United in the English Premier League, the results at Villarreal are telling of the focus Emery has put into his squad. Villarreal holds just two wins in the league this season and are not posting up the results expected of the Yellow Submarine. The away team has my vote in this matchup on double chance draw/win at 12/10.
Valencia 32/10| Draw 47/20 | Atletico Madrid 9/10 (17:15)
Atletico Madrid dropped off the pace in their last two league matches shockingly conceding four goals, drawing both 2-2. A win last time out over Real Betis, in rather confident and dominating fashion, Atleti have made sure they keep up with the top of the pack just three points from the summit. Valencia also finally found a victory last gameweek, for the first time in seven games. Both teams will be riding high on confidence after positive results, but the quality in personal definitely resides in the away camp more prominently. Atletico Madrid will keep the pressure on the top of the table with another quality victory on the cards.
Mallorca 19/20 | Draw 43/20 | Elche 33/10 (19:30)
Mallorca versus Elche, continues to grow their history, clashing for the ninth time this weekend. Having faced off in the Segunda Division and Primera Division it will be their first time meeting each other in the country’s elite division. Elche have never beaten Mallorca at the Son Moix and I do not expect it to happen this season. Three losses in five for Elche, combatted by three straight draws for Mallorca, scoring in each for the home team gives me an ounce of confidence. A double chance win/draw on the home team joins the multiple at 15/20.
Osasuna 2/1 | Draw 9/4 | Real Sociedad 14/10 (19:30)
At the beginning of the season, who would have had their money on Real Sociedad to be running a mock in La Liga? The White and Blues have made a statement, with just one loss in their opening fixture to Barcelona (who have been shocking) drawing to Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid will be the final testing grounds to argue if they can go all the way. After starting well, Osasuna are now winless in three scoring just one goal and might be ever so slowly dropping off the pace. See your money grow with Sociedad.
Real Betis 18/10 | Draw 22/10 | Sevilla 31/20 (22:00)
In my opinion, this is match of the weekend for La Liga. Sevilla travel to Betis on point short of the number one spot, and on the flipside, Real Betis are a win short of tying points with their opposition. All the marbles are on offer between these two and it couldn’t make for a better storyline going into the weekend. Both on three wins in their last five with a combined 17 goals scored between the two we’re in for a treat. Finding a winner is difficult but backing the over 3.5 totals market is my play at.
QUAD @ 8/1
Athletic Bilbao Win 9/20
Alaves Win 15/10
Real Madrid Win 7/20
Mallorca Win/Draw 15/20
