Huesca vs Cadiz
Estadio El Alcoraz, Huesca
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @5pm
Two newly promoted teams clash on the second weekend of the season in LaLiga and already this feels like a really big football match. Huesca and Cadiz are both widely expected to be involved in the relegation battle and a win for either here would be a huge boost to morale moving forward as both teams aim to prove they belong at this level.
Both sides have been active in the transfer market but while Cadiz have largely focused on getting players who were on loan at the club last term back, Huesca have added more new faces.
The latest is Dimitris Siovas who will bring top flight experience and some genuine defensive quality having impressed for Leganes over the last 3 seasons in LaLiga.
The Aragonese side picked up an excellent point at Villarreal in their opening game with another new signing Pablo Maffeo finishing off a fine team move.
It was a less positive opening weekend for Cadiz on their long-awaited return to the top flight. A 2-0 loss against Osasuna was not the start Álvaro Cervera was hoping for, although the scoreline did flatter the visitors a touch.
Marquee signing Alvaro Negredo led the line for the Andalusians in that game but you do have to wonder where the goals are going to come from this season for Cadiz with 35 year old Negredo not the force of old.
In terms of team selection, both coaches will be hoping to build some continuity following relatively active transfer windows. That should mean Siovas will have to wait to make his Huesca debut with no major changes expected from either side although Alberto Perea may return on the left flank for Cadiz, having served a suspension last weekend.
Real Betis vs Real Valladolid
Estadio Benito Villamarin, Sevilla
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @7:30pm
Top-heavy Real Betis added Man City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and Brighton defender Marvin Montoya to their ranks this summer to tighten up at the back but goals could flow when they take on Real Valladolid.
Betis started their season with a 1-0 win over Alaves but can expect to face a better attacking unit against Valladolid, who signed attacking midfielder Fabian Orellana and have scored in five of their last six league contests.
Only Barcelona (3.26) saw their matches average more goals per game than Betis (2.95) last season with the Andalusians also seeing both teams score in 25 of their 38 league fixtures and that could be the best bet for this contest.
Granada vs Deportivo Alaves
Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, Sevilla
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @7:30pm
Granada are unbeaten in six of their last seven matches in the Primera Liga. Both teams have scored in only one of Alaves’s last seven league games. Granada have won their last three Primera Liga matches.
Granada defied expectations in La Liga last campaign to finish seventh and picked up from where they left off with victory over Athletic Bilbao in their first match of the 2020-21 season.
Granada secured permanent deals for the likes of Maxime Gonalons, Luis Milla, Jorge Molina and Dimitri Foulquier, as well as the loan additions of Jesus Vallejo and Kenedy, and kicked off with a 2-0 win over their Basque counterparts.
Their next opponents Alaves finished 16th – only three points clear of the relegation zone – last campaign and lost their opening fixture of the new season at home to Real Betis.
We therefore predict a win for Granada, who won their meetings with Alaves 2-0 and 3-0 last term and were especially strong on home soil where ten of their 16 wins came last term.
Alaves lost by a 2-0 scoreline on four occasions in last season’s Spanish top flight.
Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid
Reale Arena, San Sebastian
Sunday, 20-09-2020 @10pm
Real Madrid put together a superb run of results post lockdown to win the La Liga title and even though they have had a quiet summer in the transfer market, they look well-equipped to cause problems for Real Sociedad.
The Basque hosts drew their opening match of the season 1-1 with Real Valladolid, following on from a disappointing end to the 2019-20 campaign in which they won only two of their final ten fixtures.
Sociedad are lighter in midfield for the loss of Martin Odegaard, who has returned to parent club Real Madrid, and could struggle to tame a Real side who went 11 games unbeaten at the end of last season.
The other upcoming La Liga games
Wednesday, 23-09-2020
-Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona @2pm
Results on Saturday, 19-09-2020
-Villarreal 2-1 Eibar
-Getafe 1-0 Osasuna
-Celta Vigo 2-1 Valencia
