Debut for Hazard, but warnings still sound for Real Madrid
Real Madrid [1.26] v Levante [13.0]; The Draw [7.2]
Saturday 14 September, 12:00
Live on Premier Sports 1
You’d never know it from the odds, but Levante come into this match in a higher league position than Real Madrid.
After an opening day win against Celta Vigo, Madrid have drawn at home to Real Valladolid and then had to twice fight back to draw 2-2 at Villarreal, in their most recent outing. Gareth Bale scored both of the goals that day, but is unavailable for this match having been sent off in injury time.
Bale’s absence leaves a convenient empty spot for Eden Hazard to make his first appearance for the club. Hazard’s debut may well require Zinedine Zidane to change his formation, with the former Chelsea forward ill-equipped to slot into the 4-4-2 that was selected against Villarreal, in which Karim Benzema was paired with Luka Jovic up front.
Levante are currently fourth in La Liga, a place and a point ahead of Real. After losing their opener to Deportivo Alaves, Levante have defeated the two teams that have held Real to draws – Villarreal and Real Valladolid. With Real Madrid having conceded in all three of their games this season, both teams to score looks likely to land at [1.7] against in-form opposition.
Underestimated Atletico a big price to win again
Real Sociedad [3.95] v Atletico Madrid [2.22]; The Draw [3.25]
Saturday 14 September, 17:30
Live on Premier Sports 2
Though it may be premature to talk about title races, Atletico Madrid can be happy that they have so far taken full advantage of their rivals’ missteps.
While Real Madrid and Barcelona have dropped points, Atletico have won all three of their matches. At a time when Diego Simeone has faced huge disruption, during which longstanding key personnel left the squad and eight new players were brought in, this is no mean feat.
The stability that Simeone brings, gives Atletico a chance to compete with superior teams, that have inferior managers. There is a sense that this stability could be enough to take Atletico to their first title since 2013-14, with the managerial problems at Barca and Real Madrid creating an opportunity for Los Colchoneros.
Despite realistic title aspirations and a perfect start to the season, Atletico remain underestimated. It’s difficult to imagine Barcelona and Real being priced as big as [2.22] to win at Sociedad, even taking into account their current problems. With the hosts having been beaten against second placed Athletic Bilbao in their last outing, it’s worth backing the away victory.
Valencia commit self-sabotage
Barcelona [1.52] v Valencia [7.2]; The Draw [4.7]
Saturday 14 September, 20:00
Live on Premier Sports 2
Barcelona’s manager Ernesto Valverde comes into this match under some pressure and if he does lose his job, the club could do worse than to replace him with the coach that Valencia have just sacked.
Valencia parted ways with Marcelino this week. Marcelino had taken charge of the club in 2017 when they were at a low ebb and guided them to two consecutive fourth place finishes and their first trophy in eleven years last season, when Valencia beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.
Marcelino is thought to have fallen out with Valencia’s controversial owner Peter Lim. Albert Celades was swiftly brought in as a replacement, which suggests that plans to replace Marcelino were well-established, despite a start to the season that was identical to that of the champions Barcelona (P3 W1 D1 L1).
This looks like an opportunity for Barcelona to take advantage against an unhappy Valencia camp. Their last two games have been high-scoring affairs and over 3.5 goals is available at [2.44].
Source: Betfair Spanish La Liga
