New Barcelona manager Xavi has enjoyed a good start to his reign at Camp Nou, but his team’s credentials will be tested this week as they prepare to travel to Villarreal on Saturday night.
Barca are seventh in the table, and they will need a win this weekend to prove they can compete with the best in La Liga.
Real Sociedad lost their grip on top spot last weekend, which meant Real Madrid moved to the top of the standings after their win over Granada.
Atletico Madrid will fancy their chances of gaining ground on their rivals this weekend as they prepare to face Cadiz on their travels.
Time for Barca to Stand Up
Even though Barcelona are ten points off the top of the table, they are starting to show signs of improvement.
The Spanish giants are unbeaten in five games in all competitions, while they have yet to concede a goal since Xavi took over.
Now there’s no need to get carried away, with Xavi only having been in the dugout for two matches, but there’s a feel-good factor about the club at the minute.
Villarreal have been inconsistent of late, losing 2-0 to Manchester United in the Champions League, while they have only won one of their previous six matches.
Unai Emery’s side have also lost their last four games to Barcelona, and an away win looks good value at 8/5.
Ancelotti’s Side Looking For Six on the Spin
Real Madrid’s current form will give Carlo Ancelotti every reason to smile, with five successive wins in all competitions lifting the mood in the capital.
Madrid have been improving for a while, and they are unbeaten in eight, with their last defeat coming at the start of October.
On home soil, Ancelotti’s troops have only lost one of their last ten games, but they will need to be at their best to get past Sevilla.
Julen Lopetegui’s men have only tasted defeat in two of their last ten, but they have not beaten Real Madrid since 2018.
Picking a winner looks a tall order this weekend, but under 2.5 goals appeals, even though the last meeting finished 2-2.
None of Sevilla’s nine away games have contained over 2.5 goals this season, while the bet would have landed in four of the previous five meetings between the pair.
Atletico to Add to Cadiz’s Woes
Cadiz are languishing just above the bottom three at the moment, with only one point separating them from 18th place.
They have only collected 12 points from 14 matches, and their 4-0 defeat to Getafe last time out will have worried some fans, with Getafe below them in the table.
Life does not get any easier this weekend, with champions Atletico Madrid coming to town. Diego Simeone’s side lost to AC Milan in the Champions League in midweek, but they have won their previous two league games without conceding.
Cadiz have not been able to fire at home, scoring just one goal in their previous five games at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla and an away win to nil looks the way to go at 11/10.
*All odds correct at time of writing
