Mallorca vs Alaves
Iberoster Estadi, Palma de Mallorca
Saturday, 15-02-2020 @3pm
Following a 0-1 home defeat against Valladolid on Matchday 22, Mallorca were edged out in another crucial relegation six-pointer last weekend, as Raul De Tomas struck the only goal of the game for Espanyol to hand Periquitos their first victory of the season at RCDE Stadium.
The result saw Mallorca fall into the bottom three after Celta Vigo’s triumphant late comeback against Sevilla, and Los Bermellones are now bang up against it as they try to stave off an immediate return to the second tier.
Vicente Moreno’s side are now long odds-on favourites to fall through the trap door, and the significance of back to back defeats against teams around them in the table certainly hasn’t been lost on the bookmakers.
Mallorca go into this Saturday’s fixture having lost three La Liga matches on the bounce, but the most concerning factor for the Balearic Islanders is their slow form collapse at home. Moreno’s side have accrued all but one of their 18 points at Son Moix this term, but they have now lost three from their last four in Palma following their aforementioned reverse against Valladolid a fortnight ago.
Alaves looked like being sucked into the relegation picture after a serious slump in December, but Asier Garitano’s men have responded extremely well since the turn of the year to ease themselves away from trouble.
Goals from Lucas Perez and Oliver Burke sealed a 2-1 victory for Babazorros against Eibar at Mendizorroza last weekend, and Garitano’s side have lost only to an in-form Villarreal (1-2) thus far in 2020, after also beating Levante (0-1) and earning 1-1 draws against Real Betis and Sevilla.
Alaves’ overall record on the road this season reads poorly with seven defeats suffered from their 11 outings, but four points from their last two away games against Levante and Sevilla means they head to Palma this weekend in decent shape, and confident that they can get the better of Mallorca once more following their 2-0 win against Los Bermellones in September’s reverse fixture.
Alaves moved up to 14th and nine points clear of the relegation zone following last week’s 2-1 home win against Eibar. Babazorros head into this Saturday’s fixture having lost just one of their last five La Liga games (W2, D2 and L1).
Mallorca’s 1-0 away defeat against relegation rivals Espanyol on Matchday 23 saw Los Bermellones slip into the bottom three. Vicente Moreno’s side have now lost three La Liga matches on the spin, and are looking to avoid a fourth home defeat from five at Son Moix this weekend. Alaves were comfortable 2-0 winners when the sides met at Mendizorroza in September’s reverse fixture.
Barcelona vs Getafe
Estadio Camp Nou, Barcelona
Saturday, 15-02-2020 @6pm
Barcelona boast a near perfect home record in La Liga this term, with ten wins and one draw from 11 starts. Arch rivals and league leaders Real Madrid are the only side to have avoided defeat at Camp Nou, following the sides’ 0-0 El Clasico stalemate in December. Getafe are flying high in third after four La Liga wins on the bounce, including last weekend’s convincing 3-0 drubbing of Valencia at Coliseum Alfonso Perez. However, Pepe Bordalas’ men have lost all three games so far this season against the other teams currently in the top four, including a 0-2 home reverse against Barca in late September.
Barcelona’s Matchday 23 fixture against Real Betis promised much following a series of high scoring affairs between the sides in recent times, and fans weren’t left disappointed at Benito Villamarin.
As anticipated, Rubi’s entertaining Betis outfit had a real go at the champions from the off and deservedly went 2-1 up midway through the first half after goals from Sergio Canales and Nabil Fekir.
But Barca found a way back on the stoke of half time through Sergio Busquets who turned in from close range, before Clement Lenglet’s bullet header 18 minutes from time secured the points.
The result meant it was a successful return to Benito Villamarin for new Barca boss Quique Setien, and his side remain on the heels of leaders Real Madrid at the top of the table heading into this weekend’s clash against Getafe.
It’s a contest that Barca will respect considering Getafe’s excellent form and lofty league position, but the Catalan giants will be confident of success after ten wins and one draw from 11 home matches in La Liga this term.
Furthermore, Barca have never lost on home soil against Getafe, winning 12 and drawing four of their previous 16 meetings against the Madrilenians at Camp Nou.
Getafe’s past record at Camp Nou is clearly a major concern for them as they travel to Catalonia this Saturday, and certain results this season also suggest that Pepe Bordalas’ side are likely to come up short.
Overall, Getafe have been a revelation this term, and look to have improved following last season’s fifth place finish, despite the positive distraction of Europa League football. Bordalas’ men are third in the table, and head into Matchday 24 on a winning run of four after thrashing Valencia 3-0 at Coliseum Alfonso Perez last weekend.
Nonetheless, they still appear to be someway behind the front two in La Liga, and it’s noteworthy that the Madrilenians have suffered three defeats from three this season against the other teams who are currently in the top four – including a 0-2 reverse at home to Barca on Matchday 7.
Those losses and their lack of success at Camp Nou in the past could well mean that Getafe are stopped in their tracks this weekend.
Villarreal vs Levante
Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal
Saturday, 15-02-2020 @8:30pm
Villarreal have amassed 16 points from their last seven La Liga outings (W5, D1 and L1). Levante have lost five of their last six away La Liga matches, and nine from 12 in total on the road this term. Both teams have scored in Villarreal’s last five league matches, and in five of Levante’s last seven away fixtures.
After five wins from six La Liga games, Villarreal were hoping that they could continue their charge up the table against Valladolid last weekend, but they ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 draw in a closely fought contest at Jose Zorrilla.
It was a decent point all told for Javier Calleja’s side considering Valladolid have lost just twice at home this term, and they had to come from behind after Ruben Alcatraz fired Pucela in front 15 minutes in. Gerard Moreno escaped a VAR check to level ten minutes into the second period, and the result keeps Villarreal’s momentum going as they seek to qualify for European football this season.
El Submarino are a manageable four points behind the top four and just two points behind the Europa League spots – the latter being their most realistic target considering they have the likes of Getafe, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla in front of them.
Nonetheless, this Saturday’s fixture against Levante at La Ceramica presents Villarreal with great chance to get three more points on the board, and they will be disappointed should they fail to oblige, considering Levante have lost five of their last six away league games.
Levante haven’t beaten Villarreal at La Ceramica since October 2011, and you’d be hard pressed to fancy Granotas in their quest to put that right this weekend.
Paco Lopez’ side have put up some admirable displays on the road in recent weeks to go down by just a 2-1 scoreline against both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but their away defeats are racking up fast with nine suffered in total this term from 12 starts.
First half goals from Rochina and Roger Marti earned Levante a confidence boosting success at home to bottom three side Leganes on Matchday 23, but Granotas had previously lost four on the spin and are likely to find matters extremely tough here against an in form Villarreal side, despite beating their opponents 2-1 at Ciutat de Valencia in August’s reverse fixture.
Granada vs Valladolid
Estdio Nuevo Los Carmenes, Granada
Saturday, 15-02-2020 @11pm
Granada have won three of their last four home matches in La Liga. Nazaries have performed extremely well at Los Carmenes on the whole this season, amassing 22 points from their 11 starts (W7, D1 and L3). Valladolid’s 0-1 success at Mallorca on Matchday 22 was their first away win in seven. Pucela have won just three matches on the road this season, drawing four and losing five.
Granada’s 1-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano last week undoubtedly marked an improvement on their recent away displays, but Nazaries have now lost eight straight matches on the road in La Liga, failing to score in their last six.
Fortunately for last season’s Segunda runners-up, they have been excellent in their own back yard since returning to La Liga, and look certain to preserve their top flight status this term. Diego Martinez’ side have averaged two points per game at home (W7, D1 and L3) and head into this Saturday’s clash against Valladolid having won three of their last four at Los Carmenes.
Those recent victories have all been against sides currently placed in the bottom seven, and Granada have won all but one of their seven home matches against teams that are below them in the table.
So despite their travelling woes and a 1-0 midweek defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey, the stats point to another three points for Granada in Andalusia this weekend, against a Valladolid side who slipped a place to 15th despite holding in form Villarreal to a 1-1 draw on Matchday 23.
That result backed up a 0-1 away success for Valladolid against Mallorca a fortnight ago, but Pucela’s triumph at Son Moix was their first in seven on the road, and the only win they have managed in their last 11 league outings.
Still, Sergio’s charges have drawn six in that sequence to keep themselves eight points clear of the relegation zone, and they should have just enough in the locker to keep themselves safe this season.
11 draws from 23 matches overall emphasises just how difficult Pucela are to beat, and they rarely roll over for any side in La Liga, despite possessing far less star quality in their ranks than the majority of their opponents.
So this Saturday’s fixture will be no cakewalk for Granada, but that’s reflected in the betting, with the host’s attractively priced to bank their eighth home victory of the campaign.
Sunday, 16-02-2020
-Sevilla vs Espanyol @2pm
-Leganes vs Betis @4pm
-Eibar vs Sociedad @6pm
-Bilbao vs Osasuna @8:30pm
-Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo @11pm
Friday’s result
-Valencia 2-2 Atletico Madrid
