Spanish La Liga: Gameweek 12 Preview

Atletico Madrid are now just one point behind log leaders, Real Sociedad, after the latter dropped points against Villarreal last Sunday. Atletico have two games in hand and will be confident of being on top of the table by Christmas. Barcelona, on the other hand, finally returned to winning ways, while Real Madrid lost to Alaves in one of the biggest upsets of the weekend.

Image copyright – Steve Haag Sports

Friday 4 December

Levante 37/20

Draw 2/1

Getafe 16/10
We kick-off Saturday’s fixtures with a low-key affair at Estadio
Ciudad de Valencia. Both sides come into this game in search of maximum points
as they are both desperate for a win. Levante are winless in their last eight
matches with five consecutive draws in the process, while Getafe are without a
victory in five ties, drawing three and losing two. This game is written draw all over it, so I suggest backing a share of
the spoils at 2/1.

Sevilla 33/20

Draw 51/20

Real Madrid 15/10
It doesn’t get easy for the defending league champions as
they have to travel to face in-form UEFA Europa League champions. Sevilla have
won each of their last five encounters across all competitions, at the time of
writing, which includes three La Liga matches and two UEFA Champions League
games. Last weekend, I couldn’t tip Real Madrid against Alaves and I stated that
they can’t be trusted against anyone, and indeed, Los Blancos went on to lose
the tie. 

This means Zinedine Zidane’s men have won just once of the last four
matches. However, Madrid were able to do the double of Sevilla last season and
they’ve won each of the last three times against the hosts. I personally think Sevilla will turn things
around here and beat Real Madrid for the first time in four matches.

Atletico Madrid 4/10

Valladolid 15/2It still puzzles me as to how Atletico Madrid are not yet
favourites to win the league this season after such an emphatic start. Diego Simeone’s
men are one point behind the log leaders with two games in hand. At home,
Atletico Madrid have been unstoppable winning four of their five matches,
scoring 13 goals, conceding just once. Back
Atletico Madrid to make it seven wins in a row.

Cadiz 11/2

Draw 7/2

Barcelona 9/20
Barcelona returned to winning ways in fine style when
thrashing Osasuna 4-0 at the Camp Nou and the biggest positive was that all the
forwards; Martin Braithwaite, Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and Lionel
Messi were on target. The visitors are now seventh on the table and can’t
afford to drop anymore points as the likes of Atletico Madrid continue to
stretch the gap at the top. Back
Barcelona to claim maximum points here.

Sunday 6 December

Granada 12/10

Draw 21/10

Huesca 5/2
Granada are having a terrible dip, failing to win in each of
their last four matches against favourable opposition like Valladolid and Celta
Vigo. The hosts have now dropped down to eighth on the table, and will be
disappointed considering their bright start to the campaign. Huesca are the only
side yet to win a La Liga match after recording seven draws and four defeats
after the first 11 matches, and are now rooted at the foot of the table. It’s hard to trust Granada at the moment,
but surely they can win against fairly favourable opposition.

Osasuna 19/10

Draw 9/4

Real Betis 29/20
Osasuna are in terrible form coming into this match, losing
three of their last four games and conceding nine in the progress. Real Betis
are in no better state as they’ve conceded 11 in the last three games, losing
5-2 and 4-0 against Barcelona and Bilbao respectively, while they also suffered
a 2-0 defeat at home to Eibar. Both sides haven’t kept a clean sheet in a while,
so I’ll be banking on that as I can’t trust either team. Back Both Teams to Score at 8/10.

Villarreal 1/4

Draw 47/10

Elche 10/1
Villarreal remain unbeaten in each of their last 13 matches
across all competitions. They’ve faced some decent opposition along the way,
including the likes of Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. The hosts are third on
the table, four points behind the log leaders, Sociedad, and three ahead of
Real Madrid. This tie is now a must-win clash for the Yellow Submarine. Back Villarreal to win on a (-1) Handicap
at 13/20.

Deportivo Alaves 4/1

Draw 51/20 Sociedad 15/20
Alaves caused the biggest upset last weekend when they beat
champions Real Madrid in their own backyard. To be honest, I wasn’t surprised
and I kind of expected it because Madrid have been nothing but a disappointment
this season. Alaves are now unbeaten in five matches and they’ve faced the likes
of Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid. 

Real Sociedad dropped points for the
first time in six matches when they drew with Villarreal last weekend. With
Atletico Madrid now just one point behind them, this means they have to win
this match at all costs if they are to remain as the league leaders. I can’t separate these two sides, so back
Both Teams to Score at 21/20.

Monday 7 December

Eibar 16/10

Draw 43/20

Valencia 18/10
Having won just six matches between them this season, Eibar
and Valencia find themselves at the bottom half of the table, 13th and 15th
respectively. Valencia have been scoring and conceding goals, and that’s one
thing they’ve been consistent about, scoring 17 and conceding the same amount
in 11 matches. In each of the last five matches when these sides met, under 2.5
goals were scored. As the form suggests,
back Under 2.5 here at 6/10.

TREBLE @ 6/1

Athletic Bilbao win 5/4

Atletico Madrid win 4/10

Granada 12/10 

Written by Banele Pikwa