We preview round 32 of the 2016/17 Spanish La Liga campaign.
The Spanish La Liga is Real Madrid’s to lose after Barcelona suffered a shock defeat at Malaga, going down 2-0. Los Blancos lead the standings by three points, but their lead could stretch to six points if they were to win their game in hand.
Barca have a mountain to climb now, with Atletico Madrid also chasing up the table in third place. Sevilla are not far off Atletico in fourth place, but the gap between the top four and the rest of the pack is relatively big considering the competitiveness of La Liga. Let’s hope we can make some extra cash in the final seven weeks of Spanish football!
Friday 14 April
Athletic Bilbao 9/20 | Draw 34/10 | Las Palmas 52/10
We start the round off with a clash between Athletic Bilbao and Las Palmas. The hosts come into this game off the back of a 3-1 defeat at UEFA Europa League spot rivals, Villarreal. At home is where the Lions have been superb, winning 11 of their 16 matches at San Mames.
Las Palmas recorded an emphatic 4-1 win over Real Betis last weekend to keep themselves in touching distance of the top half of the table. However, the Yellows have won just one match away from home all season and could struggle in Bilbao. Get on the home win at 9/20!
Saturday 15 April
Deportivo 12/10 | Draw 22/10 | Malaga 23/10
After a bright start under Pepe Mel, Deportivo now find themselves winless in four La Liga matches. Also, Deportivo have managed to win just one of their last eight home matches.
Malaga performed the shock of the weekend as they humbled Barcelona to a 2-0 scoreline in a game that saw Neymar receive his marching orders. That win made it back-to-back victories for Malaga, who jumped up to 14th on the log. A tight affair is expected here so back the Under 2.5 Goals market at 13/20.
Sporting Gijon 11/2 | Draw 38/10 | Real Madrid 4/10
Sporting Gijon remained five points from safety as they were crushed 3-1 by Real Sociedad on Monday night. Things are not looking good for Gijon boss, Rubi, who will welcome the league-leaders to the El Molinon. Gijon have failed to win in three La Liga outings now.
This match comes between a two-legged UEFA Champions League tie against Bayern Munich, but still, Los Blancos should do enough. Zinedine Zidane’s men have won four consecutive away games in La Liga and are well worth a punt to make it five on the trot. Get on the away win!
Atletico Madrid 1/6 | Draw 6/1 | Osasuna 15/1
Atletico Madrid kept up the pressure at the top of the pile earning a 1-1 draw at log-leaders, Real Madrid. Atletico’s run of five straight wins ended, but they’ll be confident of returning to winning ways against bottom side, Osasuna.
The Reds lie at the foot of the table, but have won two consecutive matches. Osasuna seem to be finding some form, but they should fall short at the Vicente Calderon. Atletico won the reverse tie 3-0 and I’m backing the Over 2.5 Goals market to come into play again at 5/10.
Barcelona 2/9 | Draw 52/10 | Real Sociedad 10/1
Barcelona suffered the biggest shock of the weekend last time out as they were beaten 2-0 at Malaga. Neymar received a second yellow card in the match and will miss this game against Real Sociedad.
The Royals overtook Athletic Bilbao to move into sixth place in the league. Eusebio Sacristan’s side have had no problem finding the back of the net this season, and will hope for revenge against the team who knocked them out of this year’s Copa del Rey cup. Barca have UEFA Champions League action to worry about, which could see Luis Enrique mix his side up a bit. For this game, Both Teams to Score seems the best bet at 17/20.
Sunday 16 April
Leganes 11/10 | Draw 21/10 | Espanyol 26/10
Leganes will be hoping to end their wretched run of five games without a win when they host Espanyol on Sunday. Lega lie 17th on the table, and with the bottom sides starting to find form, they need to turn their good performances into good results.
Espanyol have been one of my personal favourite teams in La Liga this season. Quique Sanchez Flores’ side have lost just one of their last five matches, winning three. Espanyol are winless in five away matches, but all of those were against tough opposition. I’m backing the visitors to claim maximum points at 26/10!
Valencia 15/10 | Draw 24/10 | Sevilla 33/20
Valencia will be hoping to make it four La Liga wins in a row when they face Sevilla at the Mestalla Stadium. In those last three wins, the Bats have scored three goals in each match. Valencia are unbeaten in six home matches, winning five times.
Sevilla ended their poor run of five games without a win when they beat Deportivo 4-2 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Both teams thrive on attacking football, so we should expect plenty of goals in this one. Still, Valencia should do enough to claim a much-needed home win at 15/10.
Real Betis 33/20 | Draw 9/4 | Eibar 16/10
Real Betis host Eibar on Sunday with both sides in exact opposite form. The hosts come into this fixture off the back of three consecutive defeats, while Eibar have been more ruthless, winning three on the bounce in La Liga.
Eibar are pushing for the UEFA Europa League places and are unbeaten in five matches. Betis have been floating around the relegation places for much of the season and have become bottom half casualties. Back the away win at a great price of 16/10.
Granada 17/10 | Draw 47/20 | Celta Vigo 15/10
Relegation-candidates, Granada, will be hoping to pick up their first win in six matches when they host Celta Vigo. In those six encounters, Granada have lost five, picking up just one point in that run. It also needs to be said that Granada have lost three home matches on the trot.
Celta Vigo, who play Belgian side Genk in the Europa League before this match, will be hoping that their players will still be well-prepared for the task at hand. Celta have done fairly decent in all their matches played after the Europa League, so it’s a custom they have surely become used to. Instead of picking a winner in this tie, I’ll be backing the Both Teams to Score market at 13/20.
Monday 17 April
Alaves 37/20 | Draw 2/1 | Villarreal 16/10
Alaves host Villarreal in the final match of gameweek 32. Both teams boast brilliant defences, most notably for Alaves is Atletico Madrid loanee, Theo Hernandez, who has attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest giants including Real Madrid. The hosts, however, find themselves winless in three games.
Villarreal have won back-to-back encounters, and will have the thought of their shock 2-0 home loss to Alaves playing in the back of their mind. The Yellow Submarine have the joint-best record in La Liga, conceding just 24 goals. For that reason, back the Clean Sheet – Away Team market at 31/20.
QUAD @ 83/10
Athletic Bilbao Win 9/20
Real Madrid Win 4/10
Barca vs Real Sociedad BTTS 17/20
Valencia Win 15/10
Written by Jesse Nagel @Hollywoodbets
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