Elche v Osasuna

Francisco’s miracle at Elche appears to have secured a spot in La Liga for next season with several games to spare, with an eight-point advantage and only five games to play. However, they aren’t resting on their laurels just yet, as a surprise 1-0 win over soon-to-be Copa del Rey winners Real Betis proved in the last matchday.

The hosts will head into the fixture, however, with doubts over the availability of leading striker Lucas Boyé, this week linked to Atlético Madrid and struggling with injury after missing the past three games. Despite that, Elche have picked up back-to-back wins to halt a run of one win in six.

However, Osasuna have LaLiga’s sixth-best away record, compensating for a less impressive home record, and will welcome the fact that this tie comes on the road at the Estadio Martínez Valero. What’s more, they have taken 18 points from a possible 24 against teams in the bottom half of LaLiga in 2022.

Ante Budimir is the team’s leading goalscorer, and is in excellent form with goals in his last six consecutive LaLiga games, making him an excellent option at 6.0 to be first goalscorer in the game. 

With the pressure off Elche and with Osasuna in the ascendancy despite their tough recent fixture list, Osasuna look good value to take something from this encounter.

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Granada v Celta Vigo

Aitor Karanka will have had a chance to get to know his team properly now, having only had 24 hours with his players to prepare them for his debut, a 0-0 draw against Atlético Madrid at the home of the defending champions.

Despite that positive result, Granada dropped into the relegation zone following matchday 33 and now need to climb out of it. Having gone four games without a win, this will be the first time that they face a team who do not have something to play for as we approach the end of the campaign.

Celta Vigo are notoriously unpredictable, but have won only once in the last six, with a form record that leaves them second from bottom, below Granada. Despite that, they are nine points clear of relegation and 12 points from European contention, meaning that their players are well and truly on the beach. 

With the stakes so high for Granada, the pressure will be on them to be at their very best. In recent weeks such high-pressure fixtures have created mixed results, from the win over Alavés to a thrashing by Levante. With a raucous home support, a new manager bounce and up against a team already on the beach, 1.95 is excellent value for a Granada win, draw no bet.

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Rayo Vallecano v Real Sociedad

A fixture with consequences at both ends of the table, we can certainly expect to see a tense and tight affair between Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad with neither side likely to risk or take gambles which could lead to them conceding. In part, that is down to the teams’ struggles to find the back of the net.

In the case of Rayo Vallecano, their last four games have all ended with under 2.5 goals, while they’ve only surpassed that figure once in the last 10, giving an average of 1.8 goals per game. Real Sociedad’s record is similar, with an average of 2.2 goals per 90, which means that under 2.5 goals looks a very solid choice at 1.56.

With only 12 goals conceded at Estadio de Vallecas this campaign, Rayo Vallecano’s defensive record on home turf is better than that of champions Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, and is second only in LaLiga to their opponents on Sunday, Real Sociedad. 

The visitors will also be without midfield maestro David Silva as he serves a suspension for dissent which saw him dismissed against Real Betis. That means that former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj is likely to start.

If you are looking for a first goalscorer bet despite the likelihood of a low goal tally, your best bet would be Sergi Guardiola. The Rayo Vallecano striker has scored three goals in his last five games and is set at 7.0 first goalscorer.

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Barcelona v Mallorca

Having lost three home games in a row in the same season for the first time in the club’s history, Barcelona know that another shock defeat to Mallorca is simply not an option. After a loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe, Barcelona stunningly crashed at Camp Nou against both Cádiz and Rayo Vallecano.

This weekend, they welcome another team fighting for their lives at the bottom of LaLiga. Mallorca’s form has picked up under Javier Aguirre, but they have still lost their last seven away matches in a row. Under Aguirre, they have been beaten by fellow relegation candidates Getafe and Elche, the latter of whom handed out a 3-0 thrashing.

This will also be an entirely different game for the Catalans. They will be welcoming back experienced veterans Dani Alves and Gerard Piqué in defence following injuries, and that should help to shore up their backline.

Keep an eye out for Riqui Puig in midfield. There is some doubt over whether he will start for Xavi, given that he is yet to do so under the current coach, but Barcelona average 2.4 goals per game when he has started in LaLiga in the past.

The home side will be out to win big and make a statement here, particularly on the weekend when Real Madrid seal the LaLiga title, and only a thrashing of Mallorca will live up to expectations. They’ve shown their ability to produce such a result already this season, and Mallorca will be vulnerable opponents to take advantage of.

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Getafe v Real Betis

Following Copa del Rey final victory after extra time and penalties against Valencia last weekend, Real Betis will be on a high, but much of their performance against Getafe could depend upon the hangover they’re suffering from their celebrations which stretched into early this week. When Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini was asked if the players would be given extra time off, his response was clear: “We’re focused on Getafe.” And with good reason too.

The Azulones recorded their first away win of the season thanks to a Borja Mayoral brace against Celta Vigo last weekend, and also know that another three points would be enough to ease the nerves of dropping into the relegation fight ahead of the final few matchdays.

Boasting the league’s joint-second highest goalscorer in Enes Ünal, alongside the dangerous and in-form Mayoral, Getafe can be confident that their potent attack will be able to find a breakthrough and score. Equally, only three teams have scored more goals than Real Betis this season.

Both teams could also be missing key men in defence. Getafe’s centre-back Jorge Cuenca will be serving a suspension, while Betis’ Marc Bartra is a doubt. That could mean that Getafe have to turn to midfielder Okay Yokuşlu as a makeshift option in their back three. In any case, odds of 1.95 for both teams to score look excellent value.

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