Leaders Real Madrid and top-four chasing Barcelona are both in La Liga action on Saturday among four top-flight games in Spain.
The matches are spread out across the day, culminating with Real’s home clash with Valencia at the Bernabeu, which gets underway at 8pm.
Real Five Points Clear
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have a five-point lead at the top over Sevilla but the Andalusian outfit have a game in hand and remain a threat in the title race, especially after Real slipped up last weekend when losing 1-0 at Getafe.
Los Blancos did progress to the last-16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday when eventually seeing off third-tier Alcoyano 3-1 with two second-half goals and, despite not currently being at their best, it’s understandable they are favourites at 20/57 to beat ninth-placed Valencia on Saturday.
Los Che left it very late to beat fifth-tier Cartagena in the cup in midweek when Denis Cheryshev’s 90th-minute goal secured a 2-1 away win to save their blushes, as they responded to a 2-1 home defeat to Espanyol in the league on New Year’s Eve. That loss ended a run of five straight victories so, overall, Valencia go to Madrid in decent form.
However, the six-time Spanish champions have not won at the Bernabeu in the league since March 2008 and another defeat looks like being on the cards, although the visitors, who have found the back of the net in each of their last eight games in all competitions, can play their part. A Real win with both teams to score, on offer at 8/5, appeals.
Granada Can Cause Barca Problems
Barca go to Granada for a 5:30pm kick-off with Xavi’s men up to fifth in the table, just a point behind Atletico Madrid in fourth. Like Real and Valencia, they endured a nervy away win in the cup on Wednesday, coming from behind to beat third-tier Linares Deportivo 2-1 and they now take on a Granada outfit who are 13th in La Liga but are unbeaten in their last six in the Spanish top flight.
Xavi, who has seen his side edge out Elche and Mallorca by just a single goal and be held by Sevilla in their last three league games, will be wary of a Granada team that beat Atletico and Mallorca at home in December.
Barca have a long list of absentees for Saturday’s clash with Martin Braithwaite, Sergi Roberto, Pedri, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong all unavailable, while Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet, Abde Ezzalzouli, Gavi, Alejandro Balde and Sergino Dest are all doubtful.
Granada held Barca to a 1-1 draw in the reverse match at the Nou Camp earlier this season to follow up their 2-1 win there last term. So, all things considered, Granada or Tie in the double chance market at 11/10 may well be the way to go.
Winless Levante Entertain Mallorca
Bottom-of-the-table Levante host Mallorca at 1pm where an away win is a very tempting 23/10.
Levante have not won a single game in La Liga this season and were hammered 5-0 by Villarreal last time out, whereas Mallorca were only edged out 1-0 by Barca in their most recent league game and they overcame Eibar 2-1 away in the cup on Wednesday.
The visitors are waiting on several players who have been forced to isolate due to positive Covid tests and Antonio Raillo and Matthew Hoppe are still absent through injury, while Dani Rodriguez is suspended. Despite all that, Mallorca will still be confident of securing just a third away La Liga victory of the campaign.
In-Form Celta at Sociedad
Finally, Real Sociedad entertain Celta Vigo at 3:15pm, which pits two teams in contrasting form together. Sociedad have not won in La Liga since November 7 and have lost four of their last six, while Celta have won two on the bounce, beating Espanyol and Real Betis. An away win in this is available at 16/5.
*All odds correct at time of writing
