Gameweek 20 produced some interesting results with some jaw-dropping scorelines. Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table to 11 points after an emphatic 5-0 win away to Real Betis.
Atletico Madrid and Valencia, who sit in second and third spot respectively, both suffered setbacks in their pursuit to cement their top four places. Champions of Europe, Real Madrid, came from behind in their emphatic 7-1 victory, which saw Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nacho Fernandez all bag a brace. There’s more enticing matchups to look forward to this weekend, with plenty of goals expected once again.
Friday 26 January
8/10 Athletic Bilbao | Draw 5/2 | Eibar 36/10 (22:00)
Athletic Bilbao will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run when they host Eibar on Friday night. Apart from Barcelona, Bilbao are on the longest unbeaten streak in the league, going nine games without a loss. Eibar fought hard and dominated possession, but could only settle for a draw in their Monday night fixture against Malaga. The visitors have been poor on the road, scoring just seven goals in their nine matches. It also needs to be said that they’ve shipped in 20 goals in that run. My money is on Bilbao!
Saturday 27 January
21/20 Deportivo | 47/20 | Levante 26/10 (14:00)
Deportivo remained in the bottom three with their embarrassing 7-1 loss to Real Madrid. Depor took the lead in that game and were on the back foot ever since. They now host Levante who will see this as a six-pointer, with the visitors just two points ahead of them in 17th place. The travelling side suffered their third defeat in a row last weekend, going down 2-1 to Villarreal. As crucial of a tie this is, I’m not expecting goals to be flying in. Back Under 2.5 Goals at 15/20.
33/10 Valencia | 7/2 | Real Madrid 6/10 (17:15)
Valencia and Real Madrid square off at the Mestalla in what is considered to be the pick of this weekend’s action. The Bats’ top four hopes are on hinges as they fell to their fourth defeat of the campaign, losing 2-1 to relegation-threatened Las Palmas. Madrid ended their three-match winless run in the league when they put seven past Deportivo to restore a bit of confidence into the team. Earlier in the season, these sides played out to a 2-2 draw. For this one, I’m backing Both Teams to Score First Half at 37/20.
29/20 Malaga | 21/10 | Girona 2/1 (19:30)
Malaga will be hoping to move off the foot of the table when they host Girona this weekend. The hosts ended their four-match winless run with a hard-fought draw on Monday night against Eibar. Girona find themselves in the top half of the league and come off the back of an impressive 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid. Before that, they had beaten Las Palmas 6-0, so we know how good they can be on their day. I’m being brave here with Girona tipped to claim maximum points at 2/1!
12/10 Villarreal | 49/20 | Real Sociedad 21/10 (21:45)
At the start of the season, I tipped Villarreal to finish in the top four, and all of a sudden, that seems achievable. They’re on an unbeaten run of five league matches, winning four times, and with the teams above them showing very little consistency, the Yellow Submarine could push all the way. Real Sociedad have been disappointing this campaign and suffered their third defeat on the bounce. Their attack is only bettered by four teams in the division, despite sitting in 15th spot, which gives you an indication as to where their problems lie. Villarreal should come out on top here.
Sunday 28 January
27/20 Leganes | 19/10 | Espanyol 49/20 (13:00)
Leganes came from two goals down to earn a much-needed point in their 2-2 draw at Alaves last weekend. They’re 13th now, but are just three points behind the team in seventh place, which shows how tight things are in the middle of the pack. Espanyol will be hoping to bounce back from that 3-0 defeat to Sevilla last weekend. They now travel on the road once again, looking for just their second away win all season. I’m backing the Home/Draw Double Chance & Both Teams to Score (No) at 23/20.
2/11 Atletico Madrid | 6/1 | Las Palmas 14/1 (17:15)
Atletico Madrid’s title hopes were dented as they succumbed to a 1-1 draw at home to Girona. In that match, Diego Costa was taken off with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss this clash. The hosts are now 11 points adrift of Barcelona and will rely on Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro to produce the goods. Las Palmas ended their three-match losing run with an impressive 2-1 victory over Valencia. It only gets tougher as they travel to the Wanda Metropolitano. Take Atletico Madrid on the (-1) Handicap at 5/10.
11/20 Sevilla | Draw 31/10 | Getafe 47/10 (19:30)
Sevilla were back to their best as they hammered Espanyol 3-0 away from home last Saturday. That ended their three-game losing run and kept their top four hopes alive. Vincenzo Montella’s side are back at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where they’ve lost just once this campaign. Getafe were held yet again as they drew 2-2 at home to Athletic Bilbao. Away from home, Getafe have picked up just one victory. Get on the home win at 11/20.
1/11 Barcelona | Draw 19/2 | Alaves 21/1 (21:45)
Barcelona heard of the news that Atletico Madrid and Valencia had dropped points and acted out in the best possible way. They outclassed Real Betis, winning 5-0 away from home, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez netting their 19th and 15th goals respectively. Alaves remained clear of the bottom three with their 2-2 draw at home to Leganes. In that match, Alaves were two goals up, before having a player sent off. Barca should cruise to victory here – back them to Win By Three Or More Goals at 13/20.
Monday 29 January
15/20 Celta Vigo | Draw 29/10 | Real Betis 32/10 (22:00)
Celta Vigo climbed up to seventh in the standings with their incredible 2-1 win away to Real Sociedad. That’s now four games without defeat for Juan Unzue’s side, with Celta claiming three wins in that run. Real Betis dropped down to 10th on the log after that demoralising 5-0 defeat at home to Barcelona. Celta Vigo have been very inconsistent at home this season, with three wins, three draws and three losses in their nine games played. Still, in the form they’re in, I expect them to come out on top.
QUAD @ 11/2
- Atletico Madrid (-1) Handicap 5/10
- Sevilla Win 11/20
- Barcelona Win By 3 Or More 13/20
- Celta Vigo Win 15/20
