Espanyol vs Levante
RCDE Stadium, Barcelona
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @3pm
Ref: Carlos del Cerro
Levante have won only three of their 15 away matches in La Liga. Both teams have scored in only three of Espanyol’s last seven assignments in the league. Each of Espanyol’s last four games have featured under 2.5 goals.
Espanyol have not looked like a side in the thick of a relegation battle since they have returned to action in La Liga and Abelardo’s men now have a good shot at staving off the drop.
The club from Barcelona moved off the bottom of the standings for the first time since December following their draw away to highflyers Getafe last time out.
They were under the cosh for most of that game but their defensive discipline earned them a goalless draw – a second successive clean sheet after their 2-0 win over Alaves last week, meaning they have taken four points from two matches since the restart.
They have been particularly difficult to break down at the RCDE Stadium recently and are unbeaten in their last six league assignments at home.
They have held Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid to draws as part of that run and have looked rejuvenated since January, having invested heavily in the winter window.
Espanyol added Raul de Tomas, Leandro Cabrera and Adri Embarba to their ranks for around €40 million in January and the additions appear to have given the squad the motivation they needed.
And punters should anticipate another positive result for the Catalan side against Levante, who are winless in their previous four encounters.
They took an impressive point off Sevilla last time out but that was on home soil, albeit at the 3,000 capacity Estadio Camilo Cano, and they have been typically poor on their travels.
No La Liga team have lost more away matches than Levante (11) this season, while their tally of 29 goals conceded in their 15 matches on the road is also among the highest in the division.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Betis
Estadio San Mames Barria, Bilbao
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @6pm
Ref: Valentine Pizzaro
Bilbao rescued a point away at Eibar in midweek thanks to a late goal from Villalibre which made the final scoreline 2-2 while Real Betis also played out a 2-2 draw in their last game at home to Granada but after taking the lead in the 88th-minute, the hosts were very disappointed to only secure a single point.
When these two sides locked horns in December for their reverse league fixture hosts Real Betis ran out 3-2 winners thanks to a hat trick from veteran midfielder Joaquin. However, Athletic Bilboa have won each of their last six home games against Betis and will be confident they can secure all three points on Saturday as well.
A whopping 86% of Athletic Bilbao’s home games this season have produced under 2.5 goals, as have 57% of Real Betis’s away trips in La Liga. Four of the duo’s last seven league meetings have also produced under 2.5 goals and Bilbao have kept clean sheets in three of those matches.
In terms of a final scoreline, we have predicted a narrow 1-0 win in favour of the hosts as Athletic Bilbao head into the match as the form favourites with two wins, two draws and two defeats from their last six outings and have that crucial home advantage. The hosts have won seven of their 14 home games this season while Betis have lost seven times on the road and have so far only claimed one win on their travels.
Getafe vs Eibar
Colesium Alfonso Perez, Getafe
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Javier Aberola
Saturday’s hosts were held to a goalless draw at home to Espanyol in midweek but remain on track for a Europa League spot, while Eibar drew 2-2 at home with Athletic Bilbao and sit just 3pts above the drop zone.
A solitary strike from Angel proved enough for Getafe to claim all 3pts when they made the trip to Eibar in December, where the game ended on a sour note for the home side as Orellana was sent-off deep into stoppage time. Getafe have now avoided defeat in each of their last six meetings with Eibar and have won three of the pairs’ last four encounters.
Getafe have kept clean sheets in four of their last five matches against Eibar. The hosts have also kept clean sheets in three of their last four league games as well as in 53% of their home matches this season, while Eibar have already failed to score in half of their away trips.
The hosts have only lost three times at home this season against the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla, while Eibar only have one win on the road and have lost eight of their 14 away games.
Getafe have kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches. Getafe have won seven of their 15 home games this season. Eibar have lost eight of their 14 away games this season. Eibar have failed to score in seven of their 14 away games this season.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid
Estadio Wanda Metrapolitano, Madrid
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @11pm
Ref: Pablo Gonzalez
Atletico have won six of their last seven matches against Real Valladolid. Atletico have kept clean sheets in five of their last six meetings with Real Valladolid.
Atletico have won eight of their 14 home games this season. Real Valladolid have lost seven of their 15 away games this season.
Atletico Madrid scored five goals without reply in midweek as they thrashed Osasuna in their own backyard, while Real Valladolid were held to a goalless draw at home by relegation battlers Celta Vigo. Saturday’s hosts sit 5th in the table 2pts behind Sevilla, while Real Valladolid are in 14th place with 33pts to their name.
Valladolid haven’t been able to beat Atletico in any of the pairs’ last nine encounters but did hold the Champions League chasers to a goalless draw in October’s reverse league fixture.
However, Atletico have won six of the duo’s last seven meetings and will be confident they can improve upon than record this weekend.
Atletico Madrid head into Saturday’s clash as the clear form favourites with three wins and three draws from their last six matches in all competitions and boast an excellent home record. The hosts have won eight of their 14 home games this season, only losing once, while Real Valladolid have already lost seven times on the road.
Atletico have kept clean sheets in 50% of their home games so far this season, only conceding nine goals in 14 matches at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, while Real Valladolid have failed to score in 47% of their away games this campaign.
The other Spanish La Liga fixtures this weekend
Sunday, 21-06-2020
-Celta Vigo vs Deportivo Alaves @3pm
-Valencia vs Osasuna @8:30pm
-Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid @11pm
Results Friday, 19-06-2020
-Granada 0-1 Villarreal
-Mallorca 1-1 Leganes
-Sevilla 0-0 Barcelona
