Dan Fitch is expecting wins from the title contenders Real Madrid and Sevilla, as he previews the weekend La Liga action.
Barca without Torres but could welcome back duo
Granada 4.94/1 v Barcelona 1.84/5; The Draw 3.8514/5
Saturday 8 January, 17:30
Live on LaLigaTV and Betfair Live Video
Barcelona could move up to third place in La Liga with a win at Granada on Saturday.
With fourth placed Atletico Madrid and third placed Betis not in action till Sunday, Barca have the chance to move up from fifth and put the pressure on their rivals for a spot in the top four. Though more used to being involved in the title race at this stage of the season, Barcelona can count themselves lucky to be so well placed for a Champions League qualification place, with no one outside the top two showing any capacity for consistency.
Barca’s need for the financial boost that Champions League qualification brings, is highlighted by the ridiculous situation regarding Ferran Torres. Signed from Manchester City for an initial £46.7m in December, the club are still unable to register him, as they need to get other players off the wage list. Fortunately, it looks like attackers Memphis Depay and Ansu Fati will be available again, at a time when Barca have a huge number of players either injured or with Covid.
Granada are unbeaten in six and should make this competitive (W3 D3). They have found the net in all nine of their home games this season and both teams to score is 1.824/5.
Goals will flow again at La Liga leaders
Real Madrid 1.392/5 v Valencia 10.09/1; The Draw 5.59/2
Saturday 8 January, 20:00
Live on LaLigaTV and Betfair Live Video
Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back after suffering a damaging defeat last weekend.
Getafe beat Madrid 1-0 a week ago, ending a 15-match unbeaten run across all competitions. The defeat allowed second placed Sevilla to close the gap on the La Liga leaders to five points.
With Sevilla also having a game in hand, the need for Real Madrid to get back to winning ways is obvious. Madrid are unbeaten in nine home league games this season (W6 D3), but in their most recent outing at the Bernabeu they drew 0-0, which was their third home goalless draw during this campaign.
Another goalless draw doesn’t seem likely against Valencia, who have scored and conceded in each of their last six games. Back a Real Madrid win and both teams to score at 2.962/1.
Sevilla continuing to improve
Sevilla 1.635/8 v Getafe 8.27/1; The Draw 3.711/4
Sunday 9 January, 15:15
Live on LaLigaTV and Betfair Live Video
Sevilla must now beat the team that defeated Real Madrid last weekend, as they battle for the title.
The race to win La Liga looks set to be between two teams, with Sevilla having the chance to move with two points of Real Madrid, if they were to win their game in hand. A major question is whether Sevilla have the stamina and quality to push Madrid all the way, but everything points to this being a team that are continuing to improve.
Julen Lopetegui was appointed as Sevilla manager in 2019 and delivered a Europa League win and a fourth placed finish with 70 points. Last season they finished fourth again, but this time with 77 points, just nine behind the title winners Atletico Madrid.
Sevilla are unbeaten in nine home games in La Liga this season (W7 D2), while Getafe have not won away from home (D4 L5). Getafe have failed to score in six of those nine games and you can back Sevilla to win to nil at 2.26/5.
Source: Betfair Spanish La Liga
