Eibar vs Celta Vigo
Estadio Municipal de Ipurua, Eibar
Saturday, 12-09-2020 @5pm
Celta have drawn 13 of 26 league games since Oscar Garcia took over as manager last November. Celta have not won any of their last seven matches. Six of Eibar’s last nine games have featured less than three goals.
Celta Vigo narrowly avoided relegation last season despite winning just seven of 38 fixtures and we think they could settle for a low-scoring draw from their season-opener away to Eibar.
There is the likelihood of an improved campaign for Celta, who have made some astute signings.
The Galicians were La Liga’s fifth lowest scorers last term with 37 goals but have enhanced their attacking options with the additions of winger Alvaro from Granada and attacking midfielder Miguel Baeza from Real Madrid.
Eibar finished 14th – six points clear of the drop zone – and have added Polish attacking midfielder Damian Kadzior from Dinamo Zagreb, where he bagged ten league goals last term.
The Basque outfit have a settled squad but have room to improve in defence after shipping 56 goals – the fifth-highest in the division.
Granada vs Athletic Bilbao
Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, Granada
Saturday, 12-09-2020 @ 7:30pm
Granada beat Athletic Club 4-0 when the sides last met in July. Athletic won just four of their 19 away games last season. Athletic scored one or fewer goals in 12 of their 19 away fixtures last term.
Granada and Athletic Club start their 2020/21 La Liga campaign with the memories of their most recent meeting in July still relatively fresh in their minds.
Los Nazaríes recorded a thumping 4-0 win over Athletic that afternoon, in a result that helped Granada to eventually finish four places and five points clear of the Basque club in the final shake-up.
With some interesting arrivals in the form of Luis Milla from Tenerife, Maxime Gonolons from AS Roma, Alberto Soro from Real Madrid, and Brazilian winger Kenedy on loan from Chelsea – Granada should be energized by the new blood in their ranks, and winning start at home could follow.
Athletic Club won just four times in 19 attempts on the road in La Liga last season, and following a muted transfer window, an improvement in their away performances shouldn’t be anticipated.
Los Nazaríes meaty win over Atletico last time the teams faced off was completely out of sync with their attacking output at home across the rest of the campaign, and a more modest victory looks likelier this time around.
Cadiz vs Osasuna
Estadio Ramon de Carranza, Cadiz
Saturday, 12-09-2020 @10pm
Osasuna have lost one of their last eight games. Osasuna have won three of their last four away fixtures. Cadiz have lost three of their last four home matches.
Osasuna were building up a head of steam towards the end of last season and we think they can maintain the positive vibe with a victory over newly-promoted Cadiz in Andalusia.
If Cadiz wanted to follow an example of how to adjust to a higher level they could do a lot worse than look at Osasuna, who were Segunda Division champions in 2018-19 before finishing tenth in the top flight.
The next challenge for Osasuna is to climb even higher and they will lean heavily on star player Roberto Torres, who delivered seven goals and eight assists last term.
The Pamplona outfit have the benefit of a settled squad but it is all change for Cadiz, who have made 11 permanent signings, including veteran centre-forward Alvaro Negredo, who joins from UAE outfit Al-Nasr.
The other upcoming La Liga games
Sunday, 13-09-2020
-Deportivo Alaves vs Real Betis @3pm
-Real Valladolid vs Real Sociedad @5pm
-Villarreal vs Huesca @7:30pm
-Valencia vs Levante @10pm
