Levante vs Atletico Madrid
Camilo Cano, Vaencia
Tuesday, 23-06-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Jose Munuera
Atletico Madrid have put themselves in pole position in the race for a top-four berth with two wins and a draw since La Liga’s resumption and should be fancied to come out on top against Levante at the Estadio Camilo Cano.
In their two away matches after the break in the season, Diego Simeone’s men put in a disciplined performance to earn a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao and blew apart Osasuna 5-0.
They have lost only three times on the road in the league this season – against Real Sociedad, Eibar and Real Madrid – and are unbeaten in their last eight league matches.
Although reluctant to pair Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa, Simeone still has a range of dangerous attacking combinations which also feature club-record signing Joao Felix and their last away win demonstrated they can be devastating in the final third.
The capital club prefer to shut out their opponents and grind out victories but Levante are sure to come at Atletico and have the attacking quality to break them down, suggesting this could be a high-scoring encounter.
Levante’s league matches have featured an average of 2.67 goals per game this term and both teams have scored in 19 of their 30 assignments.
The club from Valencia have been reliant on Spaniard Roger for goals, with the striker scoring 11 times in La Liga this season, but Borja Mayoral, Ruben Rochina and Sergio Leon have also helped them become a dangerous side in the final third.
Atletico Madrid have lost only two of their last 14 La Liga games. Both teams have scored in five of Levante’s last seven league fixtures. Three of Levante’s last six defeats have been settled by a 2-1 scoreline.
Real Valladolid vs Getafe
Estadio Municipal Jose Zorilla, Valladolid
Tuesday, 23-06-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Ceaser Soto
Getafe’s Champions League aspirations have taken a hit since La Liga’s resumption, with the Madrid-based outfit claiming only two points from three matches, and they could once again be frustrated away to Real Valladolid.
The visitors have failed to win any of their last four league assignments, drawing three of those matches.
They were held 0-0 by Celta Vigo before the break and then by Espanyol earlier this month, failing to breach their relegation-threatened opponents who played with ten men from the 16th minute onwards. They then drew 1-1 with Eibar last time out and time is running out for Pepe Bordalas’s men to push for a top-four berth.
While they have been reasonably tight at the back they have lacked the attacking prowess to kill off opponents and could come unstuck against a Valladolid side who are difficult to beat in their own backyard.
Real Valladolid have drawn eight of their 14 home assignments in La Liga this season and have lost only two of their previous eight league fixtures at the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla.
As part of that run they have held Real Sociedad and Valencia while Atletico Madrid also failed to win their away contest against Valladolid, who themselves are pulling clear of the drop.
The incentive to avoid defeat will still be there with the club languishing in the lower half of the table and with these two sides having drawn a combined 21 league matches in 2019/20.
Real Valladolid have lost only three of their 14 home contests in La Liga this season. Real Valladolid have drawn 12 matches in the league this season. Four of Getafe’s last five league matches have featured under 2.5 goals.
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao
Estadio Camp Nou, Barcelona
Tuesday, 23-06-2020 @11pm
Ref: Jesus Gil
Courtesy of a spectacular overhead kick from Aritz Aduriz, Athletic Bilbao defeated Barcelona on the opening day of the season but, with eight games remaining, the Catalan giants are on course to win La Liga.
That was one of only five defeats Barcelona have suffered this season and they have all come on the road.
Quique Setien’s side have won 14 of their 15 league fixtures at the Camp Nou this season, drawing the other match 0-0 with Real Madrid in December.
They have been razor sharp at both ends of the pitch at home this term, netting 47 times and conceding only 12 goals in their 15 home assignments.
Central to that has been their squad depth at the back with Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique rotating in the centre, and youngster Junior Firpo proving an able deputy at left-back.
They have looked settled in defence and that has translated to 11 clean sheets in La Liga in 2019/20, the latest of which came against top-four hopefuls Sevilla last time out.
Barcelona won the shot count 9-6 on that occasion and saw 68 per cent of the ball so may have felt they deserved more from the contest but it was another disciplined display which made it one defeat in nine matches in the league.
In Athletic Bilbao they are taking on a side who are also difficult to break down and have been involved in low-scoring affairs for much of this season.
The Basque side’s matches have featured an average of only 1.97 goals per game this term – a testament to their defensive work given they have devastating attacking players such as Iñaki Williams and Raul Garcia at their disposal.
Barcelona have not lost a home fixture in La Liga in 27 matches, last falling to defeat against Real Betis in November 2018. Four of Barcelona’s last five league matches have featured under 3.5 goals. Both teams have scored in only 14 of Athletic Bilbao’s 30 league games this season.
The other upcoming La Liga games
Wednesday, 24-06-2020
-Deportivo Alaves vs Osasuna @8:30pm
-Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo 8:30pm
-Real Madrid vs Mallorca @11pm
Thursday, 25-06-2020
-Eibar vs Valencia @8:30pm
-Real Betis vs Espanyol @11pm
