Rayo Vallecano v Sevilla

What was once billed as an interesting fixture in the race for Europe now looks more like a battle for survival for Rayo Vallecano. Neither side has been able to maintain their early season form in recent weeks, but the hosts in particular have struggled in La Liga this season.

Rayo Vallecano’s form of late has dropped off a cliff. Unbeaten in their first 10 home fixtures of the campaign, Andoni Iraola’s team have since fallen to three consecutive defeats at the Estadio de Vallecas. Without a win in 2022, they have picked up only four points in the last 10 games, the lowest figure of any side in LaLiga.

Sevilla’s lengthy injury list is the only factor which could put you off the visitors. Much will depend on who Julen Lopetegui can put out in midfield, given the suspension of Joan Jordán and doubts over Ivan Rakitić after he withdrew from the team to play West Ham on Thursday due to illness. Given that holding midfielder Fernando is out through injury, the absence of all three could be a concern.

Despite injuries throughout their squad, they’ve kept up their form. Victory in the south of Madrid would be their 14th game in a row without defeat, and they remain Real Madrid’s closest rivals at the top of the table. Victory at Vallecas will not only be essential to maintain that pressure, but it will be expected and at 2.3 offers real value.

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Real Betis v Athletic Club

Both Real Betis and Athletic Club are fighting to cling on as both teams compete for European football next season, with Betis having dropped out of the top four of late and the Basque side seeing their chances become slimmer with each passing week.

Athletic Club will be without two key players for this one as midfield general Dani García and defensive leader Iñigo Martínez are both absent with injuries. That poses a challenge for Marcelino, who has only lost once in 18 previous meetings with Betis, as he seeks to end a three-game losing streak on the road.

Real Betis have not won in five games in all competitions, and will be desperate to turn that around at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. They will be boosted by the return of Sergio Canales after suspension, meaning that the impressive trio of Canales, Nabil Fekir and Juanmi is likely to set up behind Borja Iglesias. Manuel Pellegrini could also opt to bring Rui Silva back in between the sticks, ahead of Chilean veteran Claudio Bravo.

There may be cause for concern though. Betis are only ninth in the table for their home form with five defeats from 14, but they will come into this tie with a strengthened line-up. Athletic’s absences to the core of their team mean that Betis are good value at 1.6 to win, draw no bet.

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Real Sociedad v Alavés

Real Sociedad fans are no strangers to seeing a lack of goals, but this week’s fixture could provide yet another game of few goals. No side has scored fewer goals at home than Real Sociedad this season, but no team has conceded fewer either. With only 16 goals scored and conceded in 13 games at the Reale Arena to date this campaign, it’s an average of just 1.23 goals per game. Their past four games have totalled an average of one goal per game, an even lower figure.

Rocking up into San Sebastián this weekend is Alavés. The visitors have failed to score in half of the games played since José Luis Mendilibar took over in the New Year, making his debut in the 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad in Vitoria. 

Other than centre-forward Joselu, no player has scored more than two goals for Alavés in LaLiga this season. At 6.5 to be first goalscorer, he could reflect good value. It’s hard to envisage a team with such struggles in front of goal breaking through the best home defence in the competition.

With a total of 13.96 xG more than the goals scored between the two teams to date this campaign, it will take plenty of chances if there are to be goals in this encounter. With Joselu the only forward to outscore his xG between either team, Alavés may fancy their chances of a surprise.

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Barcelona v Osasuna

Xavi’s Barcelona have averaged three goals per game in LaLiga action at Camp Nou since his arrival, and the next team to arrive and seek to stop such a lethal attack is Osasuna. 

The Catalans come into this one after failing to score despite an xG score of 1.44 against Galatasaray on Thursday night and underscored their xG heavily against Elche, with two goals for 4.09 xG. However, much of that failed xG has come from Ferran Torres, who is expected to either be rested or returned to his more natural wide position, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returning to the side. Alongside him, Xavi could opt for Ousmane Dembélé over Adama Traoré.

The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw with Chimy Ávila scoring an 86th minute equaliser towards the end of Ronald Koeman’s reign, but the Argentine forward will be unavailable for the visitors this time around due to suspension. Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate signed a new contract until 2024 this week and will be looking to take something away from Camp Nou for only the second time in his career.

Given Barcelona’s magnificent form of late, giving them the best goal difference in LaLiga over the past six games, they will be confident of defying the odds of 2 to win with a one-goal handicap, despite the odds rising following the goalless draw against Galatasaray.

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Mallorca v Real Madrid

Fresh from European glory, Real Madrid travel to the island of Mallorca to face up against a side battling relegation. They do so knowing that their last visit to the Visit Mallorca Estadi ended in a shock defeat as Zinedine Zidane made several changes and rotations. Carlo Ancelotti is not expected to make the same mistake.

The only changes expected to the side which stunned Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday will see the return of first-choice regulars Ferland Mendy and Casemiro, who were unavailable in midweek. Ancelotti will be able to count upon a full squad with no injuries or suspensions to any of his players.

Mallorca have lost their last four in a row and will be without coach Luis García Plaza as he serves a touchline suspension. They will likely continue with a more defensive 4-2-3-1 shape that they’ve used in recent weeks to combat Real Madrid’s midfield in an attempt to keep their first clean sheet in 2022.

With that in mind, Real Madrid will fancy their chances to score some goals. At 2.9 for anytime goalscorer, Marco Asensio could be good value to score against his former club, given that he’s scored three goals in his last five LaLiga fixtures, while LaLiga’s top scorer Karim Benzema is 3.6 to score first.

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