It’s that time of the season where facing the lower opposition is more threatening than mid-table sides, and boy is there some money to be made in Spain’s finest, La Liga.
To open up the first weekend of March, second-placed Sevilla face relegation threatened Alaves on enemy territory with favourable odds, Real Madrid take on Real Sociedad who are desperate to make European football for next season after recently dropping out the Europa League, and finally, a top of the table clash with Atletico Madrid hoping to leapfrog Real Betis on the table.
Check out all that and more including a 14/1 quad that I’m riding high on.
Friday 4 March
Alaves 33/10
Draw 47/20
Sevilla 17/20
(22:00)
Kicking off Friday, Alaves continue their poor form struggling to get passed 10-man Getafe for more than two thirds of the fixture last time out. Alaves went up by a goal in the 45th-minute as well as the 56th-minute but failed to keep their lead on both occasions drawing the fixture 2-2. Sevilla on the other hand overcome their rivals in the derby last gameweek, defeating Real Betis 2-1 after two first half goals by Ivan Rakitic and Munir El-Haddadi. It was a heated affair with a combined 29 fouls and nine yellow cards, but Sevilla were more clinical in attack and resolute in defence bar a 94th-minute free-kick from Sergio Canales. Get strongly behind Sevilla at favourable straight bet odds.
Saturday 5 March
Osasuna 24/10
Draw 47/20
Villarreal 11/10
(15:00)
The first weekend of March sees Villarreal continue their great run of form when they make their way to the North of Spain to face Osasuna. This all on the back of Unai Emery’s men sinking Espanyol 5-1. Yeremi Pino stole the show in front of the home crowed last week scoring four goals of the five, earning his man of the match award. On the other end of the pitch, Osasuna are in search of their first goal in two fixtures as well as bouncing back from a two-match losing streak. Villarreal have found consistency, but every now and again they slip up, and away from home is when this usually happens with two losses in their last five. I’m backing the Under 2.5 Goals market at 8/10.
Espanyol 12/10
Draw 21/10
Getafe 26/10
(17:15)
Espanyol were absolutely dismantled last gameweek by Villarreal and will want to get that 5-1 defeat out of their heads as quickly as possible. They were able to get two big draws before this defeat, 1-1 with Sevilla and 2-2 with Barcelona just weeks before. With a win over Espanyol, Getafe will level on points with their opposition and the hunger to get back to winning ways is also rife in the away camp after picking up one win versus Levante in their last five, which is not much to brag about. With both teams drawing significantly in their last few, I see another stalemate here at 21/10.
Valencia 17/20
Draw 51/20
Granada 33/10
(19:30)
Granada were in desperate need of a victory before facing Cadiz on Monday night after suffering five consecutive defeats. In the fourth minute they almost faulted through a wayward back pass that was not capitalized on by the opposition, and in the 33rd-minute a similar incident occurred but this time Domingos Duarte brought down the attacker and received his marching orders. Down to 10 men, Granada still went on the attack but failed to convert drawing 0-0. Valencia will welcome a struggling side as they try gain momentum after picking up a 1-0 victory over Mallorca. Back the home team to walk away with another victory.
Real Madrid 6/10
Draw 3/1
Real Sociedad 42/10
(22:00)
A four-nil defeat to arch-rivals Athletic Bilbao, followed by the dismissal from Europa League football made it seven days to forget for Real Sociedad, but they were able to bounce back in front of their home crowed edging a one nil victory over Osasuna. Real Madrid on the other hand surprisingly struggled to put one in the net, until Vinicius Jr. and Karim Benzema linked up in the 83rd-minute to earn three crucial points to extend their lead on top of La Liga. The fight will be harder than last gameweek, but I am confident Real Madrid will get the double over Sociedad.
Sunday 6 March
Cadiz 47/20
Draw 2/1
Rayo Vallecano 13/10
(15:00)
Rayo Vallecano travel to Cadiz, with just one point from seven La Liga games, the worst form of all 20 sides battling it out in the topflight. If Cadiz want to avoid relegation and start claiming points, this is the opportunity to do so. After picking up back-to-back-to-back draws with Celta Vigo Getafe, and Granada you could argue it is a foundation to springboard off. Back Cadiz to get a valuable three points but add draw no bet as a safety net.
Elche 5/1
Draw 33/10
Barcelona 5/10
(17:15)
Barca are back! It’s not just the results, it’s the manner in which the team has accomplished these results. While I might be overly critical of Barca at times, they well and truly are underway in their project rebuild under Xavi Hernandez. A few players with experience, like that of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang now on five goals in his last three starts, coupled by a young phenom in Pedri, who has the eye for a key pass and simplistic dribbling skills which put him in game changing positions means backing the home team to beat Elche by Over 2.5 Goals is money in the bank at 5/4.
Celta Vigo 8/10
Draw 5/2
Mallorca 36/10
(19:30)
Celta Vigo went to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium to their second only defeat of the year when Atletico Madrid’s Renan Lodi netted two past goalkeeper Matias Dituro. The Sky-Blues can easily put that defeat behind them as they return home where their record is more favourable, unbeaten in three with 2-0 victories over Osasuna and Ray Vallecano, and a 1-1 draw with Levante which might raise a few questions. Mallorca however are poor on the road, winless in four games scoring just two goals and conceding 11. With no disrespect, Celta Vigo is short-priced for a win, so I wouldn’t advise adding it to any multiples, but you can get behind the home team.
Real Betis 19/10
Draw 23/10
Atletico Madrid 29/20
(22:00)
Real Betis could not get the victory away from home in the Seville derby, and now they head home to face Atletico Madrid who have found decent form in weeks of recent. Back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season means Diego Simeone is showing the qualities that we all know and love about his team. Atletico away from home have been shockingly bad, but the confidence coming into the tie should bode well in their favour including their history of just two losses in their last 20 La Liga fixtures with Betis. The draw no bet on Atletico Madrid is the play at 7/10.
Monday 7 March
Athletic Bilbao 5/10
Draw 31/10
Levante 52/10
(22:00)
If ever you need a banker, always bet against Levante, they’re the Norwich of La Liga, they’re the Baroka of Spain. Last time Bilbao played at home, they defeated Real Sociedad by four goals to nil but their travels to Barcelona was the exact same score, but not in their favour this time around. You know they will fancy themselves three points on home soil, especially against the bottom of the table. Athletic Bilbao Win To Nil (Yes) is among the value bets of the weekend at 27/20.
QUAD @ 14/1
Sevilla Win 17/20
Real Madrid Win 6/10
Cadiz – Draw No Bet 11/10
Atletico Madrid Win 29/20
Written by Joshua Gaillard