Previews

Malaga Vs. Deportivo La Coruna

At the start of last season the Andalucians were suggested as one of the candidates for relegation, but instead managed to stay in mid-table territory, having had a solid season. But this season is different and they are actually in 15th position. A repeat of last year‘s 8th place will by very hard task. Their main goal will be to stay in the Primera.

Deportivo aim to keep their solid form going against Malaga on Sunday. La Coruna started this season very well. They are in 6th position with 34 points after twenty matches With a bit of luck and a strong defence, Deportivo may cause trouble to every team in the Primera. Their attack is not the best, but they have a really good defence. The visitors will be looking for their eleventh win today.

Most probably it will be a draw. Another good choice is under 2,5 goals.

Athletic Bilbao Vs. Xerez

Athletic went into 8th position after they were defeated 1-0 by Espanyol in a very good game in the last round. Bilbao are a decent side, especially strong at their home ground San Mames. There is real talent in their squad and coach Caparro has managed to gel his side into a formidable unit. They will be confident and try to get all three points against the new-comers on Sunday evening.

Many people expect that Xerez will go down to the Secunda Division. They have nothing to lose and so they may well surprise. But they have had a difficult start to the season and have only eleven points after twenty matches. Moreover, the visitors have scored only ten goals and conceded 35 so far. They will face a tough test once again this evening. Xerez won’t be defending as they will be giving their best to get out from the bottom of the table.

Convincing home victory...home win and home win with hcp. Athletic to keep a clean sheet.

Mallorca Vs. Villarreal

Safety has always been the main aim for the Islanders in recent years because Mallorca rebuild their team almost every season. Despite the fact that a few important players such as play-maker Arango and Jurado have left the club, they are playing very well and are in 5th place with 34 points. They have won all nine matches at ONO Estadi with an impressive score of 24:3 and are the biggest surprise in the league.

Yellow Submarine’s although such a strong squad was truly disappointing at the start of La Liga, they have 26 points after twenty rounds. Villarreal are aiming to secure their eighth win after they beat Zaragoza 4-2 and lost 2:0 to Osasuna at home last weekend. Older players like Senna and Pires need to keep the younger players focused so that they learn to put poor results behind them. They definitely have the quality and experience in the squad.

I believe we will see more goals in this game...over 2,5 goals

Osasuna Vs. Tenerife

Osasuna go into this match with seven wins, five draws and eight defeats. They beat Villarreal 2-0 at El Madrigal in the 20th round and this win was a vital one for the hosts. A few years ago there were constant problems which led to them spending many rounds of the season in the relegation zone. They hope that this year will be different and they will spend most of the season in mid-table. Osasuna will depend on their strong defence today.

Tenerife return to the Primera division after several years in the second and are actually in 19th place and so in the relegation zone. In the summer only some players arrived on loans or with free transfer because the club had no funds for their budget. They have had problems in front of goal and scored only seventeen times in twenty games. Tenerife are more dangerous at Heliodoro Rodriguez. Their away form is poor and have picked up only two points away from home.

Home win for Osasuna. I think it is one of the best picks of this round. I will also try Osasuna to keep a clean sheet.

Almeria Vs. Sporting Gijon

Almeria lie in 16th place in the table on 19 points after recording four wins, seven draws and nine defeats. They aren't in form and have won only one game (over Xerez) out of their last ten. The hosts are one of the teams who have problems in front of goal. Their main aim will be to ensure their top flight status without relegation worries.

Sporting have had a solid start to La Liga. Gijon had one of the worst defences last season in the Primera Division, but this season is different and they have so far conceded only 22 goals. This is the main reason why they are in 12th place with 24 points. The visitors have some fast players and are good on the counter-attack. The key to the game is going to be in defence, because both teams will have chances.

No bet or small bet on a draw.

Real Zaragoza Vs. FC Sevilla

Zaragoza’s former La Liga players and stars are gone and the club is trying to build a good new team. Their main goal this season is to be standing in the top half of the table. But they are actually sitting in 18th place on seventeen points. Los Blanquillos must play this match with order, and concentration, trying to get into positions to cause danger. They will be ready to pounce on and make use of any mistakes made by their rivals who are ahead of them in the standings.

The visitors are actually in 4th position after twenty rounds. The Rojiblancos won their last two games at home: 1:0 over Almeria and 2:1 over Valencia last weekend. There is so much potential in this squad. Sevilla have great players especially in the offense. They want to win to stay at the top of the table. Sevilla are in form and knocked out FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey a month ago. They have to take advantage of the moment to push on.

Sevilla are in good shape, but I don't think that they will win by more than one goal...away win and under 2,5 goals.

Racing Santander Vs. Atletico Madrid

Santander are in 11th position having broken out of the bottom part of the table. They drew 0-0 in their last away match in Getafe. It is a different Racing recently because of the loss of some important players, from all positions, who left the squad in the summer. I think Santander will finish the league in mid- table, some places above the relegation zone.

Los Colchoneros have been defeated once again. They lost 2-0 to Malaga at Vicente Calderon last weekend. They need to be more consistent and have to go game after game without worrying about the oponent. The game against Racing could serve as the perfect tonic for Atletico to bounce back in style. If they win this match, they will get themselves into a more comfortable situation to mid-table. Atletico are going to be very passionate opponents today.

I don’t know what to expect from this match. Maybe I will try over 2,5 goals.

Valencia Vs. Valladolid

There is good news for Los Che, despite their bad financial situation, they have managed to retain their key players. Defence-man Albiol (Real Madrid) was the only important player to leave. Valencia are in 3rd place in La Liga and have suffered only three defeats - against Getafe, Real Madrid and Sevilla last round. They definitely have the quality in attack, they are organised in the centre, with hard working full-backs. There is still a positive mood among Unai Emery’s squad. The hosts believe they will be successful in this match. Winning on Saturday will be vital.

Valladolid will be hoping to break out of their dangerous place close to the relegation zone. They will try to come out with more aggression but it will be a very hard task to take some points from Mestalla. In the previous round the visitors drew 1-1 with Almeria at home. Last year, they managed to secure survival in the very last round. I think Valladolid will have problems again this year and will be floating in the bottom part of the table.

Home win. Valencia to keep a clean sheet.

FC Barcelona Vs. Getafe

Barcelona hammered Sevilla 4-0 in their last home match and then defeated Valladolid 3-0 and Sporting Gijon 1-0 away from home. They are still unbeaten in twenty Primera Division games and have conceded only ten goals. They look even stronger than in the previous year. Not only have they secured the wins, but their style of playing has been very impressive. Barca will come to this game with the same state of mind as usual, looking to attack, creating chances and trying to win.

Getafe are actually in 7th place on 31 points. In the 20th round they only drew 0-0 with Racing Santander at home. This game against Barca will be far from easy, but Getafe have good tactics against favorites and can also play the counter-attacks very well. The visitors will hope to be aggressive enough to create and profit from their chances today.

I don’t expect any surprise here…home win with hcp.

Real Madrid Vs. Espanyol

Real Madrid host Espanyol who are 24 points behind the Madridistas in the table. The home team go into this match with fifteen wins, two draw and three defeats. Merengues beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 in a very interesting game last weekend. Real played in this match as a team and produced many goal chances. The hosts will be determined to pick up another victory today. They want to exert maximum pressure on Espanyol. Their style of playing has made the team even tougher physically and mentally.

Espanyol have always been a dangerous team especially when they score first. But this season they have had problems in front of goal. Los Perequitos have netted only fourteen goals in twenty matches. Only newcomers Xerez have scored less with 10 goals. The visitors go into this game with six wins, five draws and nine defeats. They defeated Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in their last home game. Espanyol know that they will have a very difficult games but they must try to stay calm and play game by game.

Real are in good form. Home win with hcp. Over 2,5 goals