Granada vs Villarreal
Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, Grananda
Friday, 19-06-2020
Ref: Guillermo Cuadra
Granada boast the fifth best home form in La Liga and have done little wrong in two games since football’s resumption, winning 2-1 hosting Europa League hopefuls Getafe before pinching a point in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis.
Diego Martinez’s side find themselves ninth in La Liga having gone six games unbeaten and their only defeat in eight league games was a narrow 1-0 reverse at heavyweight Atletico Madrid.
Only Sevilla, Levante and Real Socidead from 14 visitors have been successful in Granada, with an early-season victory over table toppers Barcelona highlighting just what they are capable of.
However, Granada have drawn three of their last four league games and with just two points separating them and Villareal in the standings, this promises to be a close encounter.
Two of the last three meetings have finished all-square and we are predicting a repeat result in their latest showdown.
Villarreal aren’t always reliable but there’s a lot of quality in their squad and we predict them to continue their upward trajectory at Granada.
The Yellow Submarine have won back-to-back games 1-0 against Celta Vigo and Mallorca since La Liga’s resumption, snapping a three-game losing sequence.
Prior to those three defeats, Villarreal had lost only one of their previous nine games and with their European qualification hopes still alive – they are three points off fifth – they can’t afford any slip-ups.
That said, Granada is not an easy place to go and a point should be seen as a positive result.
Villarreal have an abundance of attacking talent in their ranks through the likes of Carlos Bacca, Santi Cazorla and Paco Alcacer and they are fancied to play their part in an entertaining encounter.
Both teams have scored in eight of Villarreal’s last ten away league games. Villarreal are unbeaten in seven league meetings with Granada. Just two points separate this pair in the La Liga standings and they have drawn two of their last three meetings.
Mallorca vs Leganes
Iberoster Estadi, Palma de Mallorca
Friday, 19-06-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Antonio Mateu
Third-bottom Mallorca host basement boys Leganes and we are predicting home advantage to help them in their bid to ease their relegation fears.
Mallorca have recorded six of their seven league wins on home soil, picking up 20 of their 25-point total at their beloved Son Moix Stadium.
Mallorca have lost both of their games without scoring since La Liga’s resumption but that can be forgiven against opponents as strong as Barcelona and Villarreal and this rates a much easier task.
They won the shot count 13-7 in defeat at Europa League-chasing Villarreal and a repeat of that should see them win this relegation battle.
The hosts have beaten Real Madrid, Villarreal and Valencia on home turf this season, while holding Athletic Bilbao to a goalless draw, and they look a much better proposition than visitors Leganes.
It was 1-0 to Leganes when these sides met earlier in the season but expect roles to be reversed here.
Bottom club Leganes are three points adrift of safety with nine games remaining and their road woes could mean their problems go from bad to worse at Mallorca.
Leganes have won only one of their 14 away league games this term, scoring just eight goals in the process, and it is that lack of a goalscoring threat that makes them vulnerable against their relegation rivals.
A 2-0 defeat at Barcelona on Tuesday was the fourth time in their last five away games in which they had failed to score and they could fire another blank in Mallorca.
Confidence is severely dented and we are predicting more away-day woes for Javier Aguirre’s visitors.
Mallorca have recorded six of their seven league wins on home soil. Leganes have won only one of their 14 away league games this term, scoring just eight goals in the process. Both teams have scored in only one of the previous seven meetings.
Sevilla vs Barcelona
Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville
Friday, 19-06-202 @11pm
Ref: Jose Gonzalez
Sevilla have lost only one of their last 17 games on home turf. La Liga leaders Barcelona have dropped points in eight of their 14 away league games this term. Barca have scored just 22 of their 69 league goals this term on the road.
Sevilla have lost only one of their last 17 games in all competitions on home turf and we are predicting them to serve it up to La Liga leaders Barcelona.
With just two defeats in 14 home league games and four points from meetings with Real Betis and Levante since La Liga’s return, Sevilla should be full of confidence and they have had one extra day to prepare than their highlfying visitors.
Julen Lopetegui’s side have lost just two league games at their beloved Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and those defeats came at the hands of Real Madrid and Villarreal, both of which finished 2-1.
However, Sevilla are unbeaten in six home league games this calendar year and they were impressive in dispatching Andalusian neighbours Real Betis 2-0 in their last home outing, limiting their bitter rivals to just one shot on target.
A visit from league leaders Barcelona requires more but they beat them 2-0 in a Copa del Rey home clash in January last year, so are capable of matching the elite on their day.
Barcelona have continued where they left off before the coronavirus-enforced layoff with wins to nil against Mallorca (4-0) and Levante (2-0) and with nine games remaining they are odds-on favourites in their pursuit of a third consecutive La Liga crown.
However, the fixtures are getting tougher and Quique Setien’s side don’t always bring their A-game on the road.
Barca have dropped points in eight of their 14 away league games this season, conceding two or more on seven occasions and winning just twice from five attempts this calendar year.
The Catalan crew have failed to score in defeats at Real Madrid, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao and we predict them to once again underperform away from home against one of La Liga’s elite opposition.
The other Spanish La Liga fixtures this weekend
Saturday, 20-06-2020
-Espanyol vs Levante @3pm
-Bilbao vs Betis @6pm
-Getafe vs Eibar @8:30pm
-Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid @11pm
Sunday, 21-06-2020
-Celta Vigo vs Deportivo Alaves @3pm
-Valencia vs Osasuna @8:30pm
-Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid @11pm
