Deportivo Alaves vs Osasuna
Estadio Mendizzoroza, Vitoria-Gastiez
Wednesday, 24-06-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Alejandro Hernandez
Both clear of the drop zone and too far off the European places, Alaves and Osasuna are in no-man’s land in La Liga and must be cautious of complacency in their remaining fixtures.
Neither side have looked sharp since the restart with Osasuna having claimed one point since the resumption and Alaves losing two of their three matches.
Their latest match saw them ripped apart 6-0 by a Celta Vigo side in survival mode, although two of their goals came from the spot and Alaves played just over an hour of the contest with ten men after Martin Aguirregabiria was sent off.
They won their last home game 2-0 against Real Sociedad, denying their opponents a single shot on target, and will be looking to make themselves tough to break down against Osasuna.
The Pamplona outfit do have the likes of Chimy Avila, Roberto Torres and Ruben Garcia to call on in the final third but their game has been built around a solid rearguard, regularly consisting of five defenders, and they are unlikely to leave as much space to exploit as top-heavy Real Sociedad.
They have only won eight contests this season but they have been involved in 11 stalemates this season, which has given their points tally enough of a boost that they look clear of relegation this term.
They have been particularly disciplined on their travels conceding only 21 goals in their 15 away matches, only two fewer goals than title-chasing Barcelona.
Alaves have won only one of their last five league fixtures. Osasuna’s away matches have featured an average of 2.4 goals per game this season. These sides have drawn a combined 19 league matches this term.
Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo
Reale Arena, San Sebastian
Wednesday, 24-06-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Eduardo Prieto
Real Sociedad are fading in the race for the top four in La Liga but the visit of inconsistent Celta Vigo presents them with a good opportunity for maximum points.
Failure to win any of their three matches since the season’s resumption has contributed to Real Sociedad’s inflated price for this clash but their recent scorelines do not tell the full story.
They dominated possession in both their draw with Osasuna and disappointing defeat to Alaves, in which they played the final ten minutes with ten men, and they saw more of the ball and won the shot count 11-9 in their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid last time out.
A trip to the Anoeta should still be an intimidating prospect given Real Sociedad have netted 29 goals in 15 league matches there this season, losing only four times.
They are among the most dynamic attacking units in the division with maestro Mikel Oyarzabal have netted in two of their last four matches and Willian Jose, Alexander Isak and Martin Odegaard all dangerous attacking outlets.
The Basque outfit are still in contention for a Champions League berth, tussling with Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Getafe and Villarreal and should give their chances a boost by beating a Celta Vigo side, who are merely trying to secure their place in Spain’s top flight next season.
Their 6-0 demolition of Alaves last time demonstrated they can be a danger in the final third but that was against a side who all but know their fate this season and they should not expect anywhere near that level of complacency from Real Sociedad.
Prior to that match, Vigo had drawn blanks in four successive matches against Granada, Getafe, Villarreal and Real Valladolid and they have been particularly ineffective on the road this season.
Celta Vigo have won only one of their last five league fixtures. Both teams have scored in three of Real Sociedad’s last four league matches. Real Sociedad have scored in all 15 of their home matches in La Liga this term.
Real Madrid vs Mallorca
Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid
Wednesday, 24-06-2020 @11pm
Ref: Mario Malero
Real Madrid clearly made the most of the time they had to rest during the season’s hiatus, having returned to action with a bang in La Liga.
They have won all three of their matches since the restart against Eibar, Valencia and Real Sociedad, with their latest victory putting them top of the standings, ahead of Barcelona as a result of their superior head-to-head record.
Eager to keep hold of top spot, Los Blancos should be fancied to make it four wins on the spin at home to relegation-threatened Mallorca.
Home performances have been key to Real Madrid’s success this season – they are unbeaten in their 15 home league matches, winning 11 and drawing four.
The move to their second team’s Alfredo di Stefano stadium while the Santiago Bernabeu undergoes renovations threatened to unsettle that record but they have won both matches there by an aggregate scoreline of 6-1.
Zinedine Zidane has a striker in excellent form to call on in Karim Benzema, who has netted 22 goals in all competitions this season, while Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard are slowly being worked back into the first-team fold.
But it is at the back where Real Madrid are at their strongest with 14 clean sheets in 30 matches in Spain’s top flight this term.
Sergio Ramos became the highest-scoring defender in La Liga history last time out and has been a constant at the back with Raphael Varane and Mallorca may struggle to cause problems for the centre-back pairing.
Real Madrid have won four of their last five league assignments. Mallorca have failed to score in eight of their 14 away matches in La Liga this term. Both teams have scored in only six of Mallorca’s 14 away games.
The upcoming La Liga games and results
Thursday, 25-06-2020
-Eibar vs Valencia @8:30pm
-Real Betis vs Espanyol @11pm
Tuesday, 23-06-2020
-Levante 0-1 Atletico Madrid
-Valladolid 1-1 Getafe
-Barcelona 1-0 Bilbao
