La Liga News 24/7
A preview looking at team news, the most likely results and recommended picks if you're a fantasy football player.
Sevilla v Real Madrid
With Barcelona proving they’re the best team in the world by beating mystery teams in Japan this week, Real Madrid have an ideal opportunity to give the impression they're the best team in La Liga by reclaiming their 3 point cushion at the top before the winter break.
Egos in the Real dressing room will have been bruised and battered by last week’s humbling in El Clasico. Despite the feeling that the power balance may have been shifting at the top after years of Catalunian dominance, Barca’s 3-1 victory, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s ineffective display were an all too familiar return to the status quo. All Real can do in response is do what they have been doing all season before last week’s interruption: win.
Sevilla have been awkward opposition for Los Merengues over the past few years, having won four of their last six Liga meetings at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium. Saying that, Jose Mourinho bucked the trend when his side registered a 6-2 thrashing in this fixture as recently as May this year with Ronaldo scoring four. This season, Los Blancos have been devestating away from home with 21 goals from 8 games. However they come up against a Sevilla defence that has looked far more organised this year and put in a magnificent display to earn a clean sheet at Camp Nou earlier this term.
Real have no new injury worries, with just Ricardo Carvalho out long-term. Sevilla’s Argentine winger Diego Perrotti is struggling with a knock.
Prediction: 3-1 for Real. Look for a vengeful display from Ronaldo.
Third placed Valencia also had a wobble last week when they stopped playing after 89 minutes, conspiring to lose at Real Betis. This week, it’s a case of “old money” (maybe that should be, “no money”) versus “new money” as they take on the nouveau riche Malaga. Los Che need to get back to winning ways with Levante rediscovering their form and just a point behind in fourth place. Unai Emery welcomed back the classy Ever Banega during the midweek Cop del Rey visit to Cadiz and the Argentinian schemer could be back in the starting line-up this weekend.
Prediction: Valencia win 2-1 with the ones to watch being Roberto Soldado and Tino Costa.
Levante have a tricky visit to Granada, who have been full of surprises, but should prevail against the promoted side who have one of the meanest defences in the Liga. This is likely to be a low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Granada 0-1 Levante
Osasuna have had an excellent start to the season in stark contrast to Villarreal who they host this weekend. The Pamplonans have been free scoring and great entertainment value. They welcome back born-again midfield maestro Raul Garcia this week, and in tandem with attacking dynamo Alvaro Cejudo, Los Rojillos are more than capable of heaping on the misery for the Yellow Submarine.
Prediction: 2-0: Ones to watch: Nino, Ibrahima.
Espanyol and Sporting Gijon go head to head after both sides recorded impressive wins last week, but it's hard to get too excited about either side.
Prediction: 1-1. Ones to watch: Romaric (Espanyol), Nacho Novo (Gijon)
Atletic Bilbao take on the struggling Real Zaragoza at San Mames. This is an ideal opportunity for Bilbao to get back to winning ways after a stuttering spell in La Liga and Europe. Stoke City star Jermaine Pennant suffered some kind of anterograde amnesia while he was playing for Zaragoza: he was always late; forgot where he parked his car and seemed to lose all footballing ability during his stint on the continent. A similar collective sickness appears to have gripped the side now rooted to the foot of the table. Bilbao are without suspended captain Andani Iraola and Fernando Llorente is a doubt.
Prediction: 3-1 home win. Ones to watch: Ander Herrera, Toquero, Muniain and Susaesta.
Atletico Madrid come galloping into their home tie with Real Betis off the back of their triumphant Europa Cup performance in midweek. Gregory’s Manzano’s boys love playing at home and with Falcao, Ada Turan and Diego all starting to purr, expect another home win. 3-1 Atletico.
On paper, Mallorca versus Getafe may look like the sort of game that any neutral would rather poke their own eyes out than endure. It excites me though, if only because Mallorca are starting to look like they can win and this could be one of the most one-sided games of the weekend as Getafe are being pretty useless away from home. Victor knows how to score. Prediction. Mallorca 2-0.
Racing Santander versus Sociedad is up there in the tedium rankings. Sociedad keep squeezing out the points and Carlos Vela is starting to fulfill his potential as the poor man’s Lionel Messi. Racing Santander can’t excite me unless Kennedy Bakircioglu is playing, and he’s still a doubt. A deathly 1-1. Snooze fest.
Read more at Fantasy Football Super
Sevilla v Real Madrid
With Barcelona proving they’re the best team in the world by beating mystery teams in Japan this week, Real Madrid have an ideal opportunity to give the impression they're the best team in La Liga by reclaiming their 3 point cushion at the top before the winter break.
Egos in the Real dressing room will have been bruised and battered by last week’s humbling in El Clasico. Despite the feeling that the power balance may have been shifting at the top after years of Catalunian dominance, Barca’s 3-1 victory, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s ineffective display were an all too familiar return to the status quo. All Real can do in response is do what they have been doing all season before last week’s interruption: win.
Sevilla have been awkward opposition for Los Merengues over the past few years, having won four of their last six Liga meetings at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium. Saying that, Jose Mourinho bucked the trend when his side registered a 6-2 thrashing in this fixture as recently as May this year with Ronaldo scoring four. This season, Los Blancos have been devestating away from home with 21 goals from 8 games. However they come up against a Sevilla defence that has looked far more organised this year and put in a magnificent display to earn a clean sheet at Camp Nou earlier this term.
Real have no new injury worries, with just Ricardo Carvalho out long-term. Sevilla’s Argentine winger Diego Perrotti is struggling with a knock.
Prediction: 3-1 for Real. Look for a vengeful display from Ronaldo.
Third placed Valencia also had a wobble last week when they stopped playing after 89 minutes, conspiring to lose at Real Betis. This week, it’s a case of “old money” (maybe that should be, “no money”) versus “new money” as they take on the nouveau riche Malaga. Los Che need to get back to winning ways with Levante rediscovering their form and just a point behind in fourth place. Unai Emery welcomed back the classy Ever Banega during the midweek Cop del Rey visit to Cadiz and the Argentinian schemer could be back in the starting line-up this weekend.
Prediction: Valencia win 2-1 with the ones to watch being Roberto Soldado and Tino Costa.
Levante have a tricky visit to Granada, who have been full of surprises, but should prevail against the promoted side who have one of the meanest defences in the Liga. This is likely to be a low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Granada 0-1 Levante
Osasuna have had an excellent start to the season in stark contrast to Villarreal who they host this weekend. The Pamplonans have been free scoring and great entertainment value. They welcome back born-again midfield maestro Raul Garcia this week, and in tandem with attacking dynamo Alvaro Cejudo, Los Rojillos are more than capable of heaping on the misery for the Yellow Submarine.
Prediction: 2-0: Ones to watch: Nino, Ibrahima.
Espanyol and Sporting Gijon go head to head after both sides recorded impressive wins last week, but it's hard to get too excited about either side.
Prediction: 1-1. Ones to watch: Romaric (Espanyol), Nacho Novo (Gijon)
Atletic Bilbao take on the struggling Real Zaragoza at San Mames. This is an ideal opportunity for Bilbao to get back to winning ways after a stuttering spell in La Liga and Europe. Stoke City star Jermaine Pennant suffered some kind of anterograde amnesia while he was playing for Zaragoza: he was always late; forgot where he parked his car and seemed to lose all footballing ability during his stint on the continent. A similar collective sickness appears to have gripped the side now rooted to the foot of the table. Bilbao are without suspended captain Andani Iraola and Fernando Llorente is a doubt.
Prediction: 3-1 home win. Ones to watch: Ander Herrera, Toquero, Muniain and Susaesta.
Atletico Madrid come galloping into their home tie with Real Betis off the back of their triumphant Europa Cup performance in midweek. Gregory’s Manzano’s boys love playing at home and with Falcao, Ada Turan and Diego all starting to purr, expect another home win. 3-1 Atletico.
On paper, Mallorca versus Getafe may look like the sort of game that any neutral would rather poke their own eyes out than endure. It excites me though, if only because Mallorca are starting to look like they can win and this could be one of the most one-sided games of the weekend as Getafe are being pretty useless away from home. Victor knows how to score. Prediction. Mallorca 2-0.
Racing Santander versus Sociedad is up there in the tedium rankings. Sociedad keep squeezing out the points and Carlos Vela is starting to fulfill his potential as the poor man’s Lionel Messi. Racing Santander can’t excite me unless Kennedy Bakircioglu is playing, and he’s still a doubt. A deathly 1-1. Snooze fest.
Read more at Fantasy Football Super
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