La Liga’s weekend action sees four games on both Saturday and Sunday with the Sevilla derby between Sevilla and Real Betis the standout match.
Real Six Clear
A quick check of the table before this week’s action shows Real Madrid with a six-point lead at the top but it’s the two Sevilla sides who are leading the chasing pack with Sevilla second, five points ahead of third-placed Betis.
Therefore, with derby bragging rights and the chance to muscle in on the title race up for grabs, this could be a pivotal weekend. A Sevilla win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday would probably end Betis’ faint hopes of overall glory but if the visitors win then at least second this season becomes a distinct possibility.
Betis in Decent Shape
Betis go into the game in good form. They have won their last two league games and four of their last five in La Liga overall so they will approach the derby with confidence.
Sevilla are unbeaten in their last 11 La Liga games but five of those have ended in draws, and the value may just be in backing this clash to end all square too, on offer at 11/5.
Getafe Host Fellow Strugglers Alaves
On Saturday, there’s a big game at the bottom when Getafe host Alaves. Getafe are six points and three places clear of the dropzone, while Alaves are struggling in the bottom three, second-bottom but at least level on points with Cadiz directly above them.
Unsurprisingly, neither side are in particularly good form ahead of the showdown, although Getafe have only lost one of their last five, winning two and drawing the other two, while Alaves have lost four of their last five in La Liga.
This could be attritional but Getafe are fancied to edge it at 20/21, especially considering their opponents are goal-shy at the moment, scoring just three across their last six games.
Real, meanwhile, will expect to extend their lead at the top, at least for 24 hours, when they go to 11th-placed Vallecano. An away win by a two-goal margin is available at a tempting 3/1.
Goals Expected Between Barca and Bilbao
Back to Sunday and Barcelona go to Athletic Bilbao in what is a fixture that should produce goals at both ends. Barca have been much improved of late, unbeaten in their last nine league games, winning five of them, while Athletic Club are in solid form too, winning four of their last six.
Barca have hit 10 goals in their last three league games and last failed to find the back of the net in La Liga in early December while Athletic have registered nine in their last four, including a 4-0 home success over Real Sociedad last time out.
Therefore, with those stats in mind backing over 3.5 total goals in this at 43/20 may well be the way to go.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
