Inconsistency has been the best word to summarise the Spanish La Liga this season. Last weekend, only Barcelona emerged victorious in the top three with Atletico Madrid drawing at home and Real Madrid were the biggest disappointment in Europe, losing to Mallorca.
My favourite team, Granada, were at it again in gameweek nine, beating Osasuna and moving all the way up to third in the standings and if they win this week the newcomers will be top of the table since the El Clasico is postponed. The two big guns may miss out in action but there is still a lot of money to be made.
Friday 25 October
Villarreal 11/20
Draw 31/10
Alaves 52/10
The price of 11/20 is not something I’d take for a club like Villarreal especially playing against a team that has beaten them in each of their last three league meetings. Only three points separate the two teams with the hosts sitting on seventh with 14 points and Alaves are 14th with 11 points. This has been one of the most one-sided games in the league with the visitors winning five of their last six encounters.
However, the Yellow Submarine look much stronger this season and Javi Calleja’s men are unbeaten at home. This match does see a lot of goals though with over two goals scored in each of their last six meetings. As the form suggests, back Over 2.5 Goals at 17/20.
Saturday 26 October
Leganes 19/20
Draw 22/10
Mallorca 33/10
Mallorca surprised the whole world when they made it back-to-back wins beating top of the table side Real Madrid. This week, the newcomers visit the worst team in the league in an attempt to go for a hat-trick.
Leganes are winless this season losing seven of the nine matches played, scoring just four goals and conceding 14 in the process. The form is with the away side and the money is with them as well. Back Mallorca at a valuable 33/10.
Atletico Madrid 7/10
Draw 47/20
Athletic Bilbao 47/10
Atletico Madrid have been deprived of a win in their past three La Liga matches, two of which were at home. They’ve been gifted with another home fixture and surely now they will redeem themselves from the disappointing results. Diego Simeone’s men have won once in their last six league matches and that has seen them drift out of the top four.
A win for the visitors will see them leapfrog their opponents on the log standings and Bilbao will fancy their chances knowing Atleti played Champions League midweek. We can’t trust the home team on current form so back Under 2.5 Goals at 5/10.
Valladolid 29/20
Draw 21/10
Eibar 2/1
We close off the Saturday matches with a low-profile encounter as Valladolid welcome Eibar at Estadio Jose Zorrilla and the home side will start as the favourites to win. Both teams have been blowing hot and cold this season winning two games apiece from nine attempts.
Weirdly, Valladolid are winless at home, drawing all three of their matches and Eibar are also winless on the road drawing three and losing two. This fixture ended in a 0-0 stalemate last season so there is a lot of evidence pointing towards a share of the spoils here. Get on the draw at 21/10.
Sunday 27 October
Celta Vigo 37/20
Draw 23/10
Real Sociedad 29/20
Celta Vigo have been very poor this season. The Celtics are usually a team that’s just below the top four but they are a relegation fighting club this time around winning just two from nine matches. The hosts have already lost twice in their backyard and their defence keeps leaking goals. Since taking over as Real Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil has really improved the club and they are one of the serious contenders for that fourth spot.
The visitors are three points behind log leaders Barcelona, who will miss out in action this weekend. Alguacil’s men are well aware that a win here will put them in a very good position and they will fancy their chances against a struggling Celta Vigo side. Get on the away win.
Granada 27/20
Draw 23/10
Real Betis 2/1
Granada have been my favourite team this season and this is mainly because of the consistency they have shown throughout the campaign. The hosts have been nothing but impressive on their return season winning five and drawing twice so far.
The in-form side welcome a struggling Real Betis side that’s third from last, looking for their first win in four matches. Granada’s home form speaks volumes, winning three of their four matches. The hosts are well worth a punt at 27/20.
Levante 21/20
Draw 49/20
Espanyol 5/2
Levante who have been fairly decent this season welcome Espanyol at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia. The visitors have been nothing but embarrassingly poor this season and that is mainly because of their involvement in the Europa League, leaving them with only five points in the league.
The hosts will look to take full advantage of the fact that Espanyol had another Thursday night match before this league encounter. Levante are a banker at even money.
Sevilla 15/20
Draw 5/2
Getafe 39/10
Sevilla returned to winning ways when beating Levante last Sunday but the Sevillistas are still outside top five, meaning this is another must-win encounter. Getafe will be no pushovers and they have been one of the more impressive teams.
The visitors narrowly missed out of top four last season and they are slowly regaining their form, winning their last three matches on the bounce. The visitors took six points from Sevilla last season beating them 2-0 away and 3-0 at home. It’s hard to separate these two teams so back a draw here.
Osasuna 7/4
Draw 43/20
Valencia 33/20
Sunday night sees gameweek 10 in the Spanish La Liga close with mid-table rivals Osasuna and Valencia going toe-to-toe at the Estadio El Sadar and the betting suggests it will be a close match. Both teams failed to win their away fixtures last time out, with hosts losing to an in-form Granada side while Valencia held Atletico Madrid.
These sides have drawn on nine occasions between them this season and Valencia are a side that’s not afraid of forcing a stalemate. A draw is tipped at 43/20.
TREBLE TIPPED @ 7/1
Granada Win 27/20
Levante Win 1/1
Villarreal vs Alaves Under 2.5 Goals 17/20
Written by Banele Pikwa
