Real Valladolid vs Eibar
Estadio Municipal Jose Zorilla, Valladolid
Saturday, 03-10-2020 @2pm
Real Valladolid host Eibar this weekend, with both sides looking for their first win of 2020-21. Both sides currently sit in La Liga’s drop zone after failing to register a win in their first four games.
Both of these sides have been struggling since the commencement of the season in September. Valladolid have picked up only two points, claiming draws against Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo alongside losses to Real Betis and Real Madrid.
Eibar, meanwhile, have lost their last three games in a row following an opening-day draw with Celta, and have only scored two goals thus far in the campaign.
Last season’s results between the two were even, with Valladolid winning 2-0 at home, but Eibar taking a 3-1 victory at the Ipurua Municipal Stadium.
Valladolid will be without defender Kiko Olivas, who remains sidelined with a ruptured knee ligament. Joaquin Fernandez and Javi Moyano are also unlikely to return from their injuries, while goalkeeper Jordi Masip is out due to a positive Covid-19 test.
Eibar will be unable to call upon defenders Jose Angel and Anaitz Arbilla, who are both out with serious muscle injuries that will require further recovery.
Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal
Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid
Saturday, 03:10-2020 @5pm
Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in four league meetings with Villarreal, winning each of the last two on home turf.
Atletico have lost only three of their last 60 La Liga home games. Villarreal suffered defeat in nine of their 19 away league games last season and were beaten 4-0 at Barcelona in their first road match this term.
Atletico Madrid are a formidable force on their own patch and they can utilise home advantage to good effect with victory home to Villarreal.
Diego Simeone’s side lost only one of their 19 home league games last term and their opening assignment at the Wanda Metropolitano this season saw them run out emphatic 6-1 victors against Granada.
In fact, Atletico have lost only three of their last 60 La Liga home games and they have won each of their last two Madrid meetings with the Yellow Submarine.
The signing of Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, who bagged a brace on his debut against Granada, has added significant depth to their frontline. Atletico’s forward options also feature Diego Costa, Joao Felix, Angel Correa, Marcus Llorente, Thomas Lemar and Yannick Carrasco and that looks too hot to handle.
Villarreal suffered defeat in nine of their 19 away league games last season and were beaten 4-0 at Barcelona in their first road match this term.
Atletico should prevail but there is hope Villarreal can at least grab a consolation. The Yellow Submarine netted 24 times in 19 away games last season and failed to score in only one of those road trips.
Real Sociedad vs Getafe
Reale Arena, Dostia-San Sebastian
Saturday, 03-10-2020 @7:30pm
Getafe have lost only two of their last six La Liga matches. 11 of Getafe’s last 12 wins in the league have been to nil. Real Sociedad have one win in their last six league assignments.
Two sides vying for top-four spots in La Liga this season clash at the Anoeta on Saturday and the formbook favours visitors Getafe over Real Sociedad.
Getafe have beaten Osasuna and Real Betis either side of a draw with Alaves in their first three matches and are yet to concede in the league this term.
As for Real Sociedad, they are four games into the new season but have only claimed the scalp of newly promoted Elche so far and looked blunt in the final third when firing blanks in their last two home clashes with Real Madrid and Valencia.
The hosts look in a bit of a rut having won only three of their 15 La Liga matches since returning after lockdown.
Elche vs Huesca
Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Elche
Saturday, 03-10-2020 @7:30pm
Huesca were unbeaten in two league meetings with Elche last season and finished nine points above them in winning the Segunda division.
Only one of the last five meetings between the pair has featured three or more goals. One or both teams have failed to score in each of Elche’s three La Liga games this season
Two of La Liga’s new boys – Elche and Huesca – do battle at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero and already this is a match where the points are looking equally important to both teams.
Huesca won the Segunda Division title last season, finishing nine points ahead of Elche who were eventually promoted via the playoffs.
Huesca picked up four points from their two respective league meetings last season and they have drawn three of their opening four La Liga assignments, claiming points at Villarreal and Valencia and frustrating Atletico Madrid on home soil.
Elche were victorious at Eibar in midweek, winning 1-0, but they lost the shot count 11-3 and can count themselves pretty fortunate to have obliged.
Prior to that, Elche failed to score in defeats to Barcelona (1-0) and Real Sociedad (3-0) and already it is evident they lack an attacking threat.
Only one of the last five meetings between the pair have featured three or more goals.
Valencia vs Real Betis
Estadio Mestalla, Valencia
Saturday, 03-10-2020 @10pm
Valencia boss Javi Gracia has slammed the club for their lack of transfer activity so far this window and only three games in, it is clear they are in need of reinforcements.
Since defeating local rivals Levante 4-2 on the opening weekend of the season, Valencia have lost to Celta Vigo 2-1 and been held to a 1-1 draw by newly promoted Huesca, who actually won the shot count 17-5 on that occasion.
And after a tiring midweek trip to Real Sociedad, albeit one they won, Valencia could be worth opposing against Real Betis on Saturday.
Betis have started the season with wins to nil against Alaves and Valladolid and pushed Real Madrid close with only ten men for the last half hour in a 3-2 defeat.
They lost to Getafe last time out but dominated with 70 per cent possession on that occasion.
Valencia have kept only one clean sheet in their last five home league fixtures. Both teams scored in 25 of Real Betis’s 38 league fixtures last season. Valencia’s matches featured an average of 2.61 goals per game in 2019-20.
Sunday’s La Liga fixtures
-Osasuna vs Celta Vigo @1pm
-Deportivo Alaves vs Athletic Bilbao @3pm
-Levante vs Real Madrid @5pm
-Cadiz vs Granada @7:30pm
-Barcelona vs Sevilla @10pm
