The Spanish La Liga returns this weekend. Almeria and Espanyol kick us off this Friday evening before a host of exciting fixtures take place across the weekend.
Friday 27 January
27/20 Almeria | Draw 21/10 | Espanyol 9/4 (20:00)
We kick the game week off with a tie between Almeria and Espanyol. Both sides have had similar starts to the current campaign with Espanyol (12th) two points above Almeria (14th) in the table having played a game more. With two wins on the bounce, Espanyol will fancy leaving the Power Horse Stadium with all three points. Back them on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 3/5.
Saturday 28 January
15/8 Cadiz | Draw 17/10 | Mallorca 19/10 (13:00)
Mallorca will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive away defeat when they visit draw specialists Cadiz on Saturday. Mallorca has simply been a much better team at home and now face a tough test at the Nuevo Mirandilla stadium where Cadiz are unbeaten in six matches. Of those six games, the Andalusian side have drawn five times, while four of their last six meetings with Mallorca have ended in draws. Back the stalemate at 17/10.
4/1 Girona | Draw 16/5 | Barcelona 8/13 (15:15)
Barcelona return to league action looking to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table when they take on Girona at the Municipal de Montilivi stadium on Saturday. Xaxi Hernandez’s side played their Catalan rivals in a pre-season friendly in July last year and eased to a 3-1 victory. Back the away win at 8/13.
1/2 Sevilla | Draw 3/1 | Elche 6/1 (15:30)
Sevilla will look to continue their surge up the LaLiga table when they welcome bottom side Elche to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on Saturday. Jorge Sampaoli’s side have won four of their last five games in all competitions, and their 1-0 win over Cadiz moved them four places up the ladder to 15th. Take the home win here.
85/40 Getafe | Draw 9/5 | Real Betis 8/5 (20:00)
Following a 1-0 loss away to Espanyol, Real Betis will seek to get back to winning ways at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez when they take on a Getafe side desperate to avoid a fifth straight defeat. Manuel Pellegrini’s men, however, are winless in their last four trips to Getafe, losing three times. Back the visitors on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 7/20.
Sunday 29 January
21/10 Valladolid | Draw 85/40 | Valencia 13/10 (13:00)
Failure to beat Valladolid on Sunday will set alarm bells ringing for Valencia, if they aren’t already. Pacheta’s side are languishing in the relegation zone and have suffered five defeats in a row. Meanwhile the Yellow Submarine are winless in three games, losing back-to-back games against Villarreal and Cadiz before being held at home by Almeria. I suggest you steer clear of this one, but if you must have a punt, the Half Time Draw looks a decent bet at even money.
13/5 Osasuna | Draw 2/1 | Atletico Madrid 11/10 (15:15)
Atletico Madrid will be looking to continue their winning ways when they travel to the El Sadar Stadium to take on Osasuna. The side from Pamplona have shown in recent weeks they are a difficult side to break down, but having won the last eight meetings, Diego Simeone’s men are tipped to take the victory at 11/10.
9/5 Celta Vigo | Draw 19/10 | Athletic Bilbao 11/10 (17:30)
Sunday’s penultimate game sees Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo go head to head at the Abanca Balaidos stadium. Both teams will be looking to bounce back strongly after disappointing results last week, but neither look capable of winning at the moment. I’m going for the draw at 19/10.
4/6 Real Madrid | Draw 11/4 | Real Sociedad 7/2 (20:00)
We close out the gameweek with a cracking contest between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Carlo Ancelotti’s men are the favourites, playing at their fortress Bernabeu where they remain unbeaten this term. But Sociedad are in red-hot form, riding a seven-game winning streak, trailing Los Blancos by just three points in the LaLiga standings. Both teams to score is the way to go at 5/6.
