La Liga Betting Odds And Tips
After the international break, Barcelona's multinational squad will reassemble to resume the defence of their La Liga title.
Barca and Sevilla are locked together at the top of the Spanish top flight with the Catalans ahead by virtue of a superior goal-difference. They host Deportivo La Coruna at the Nou Camp on Saturday, looking to maintain the pressure on their rivals, and Pinnacle Sports has priced this and every La Liga game.
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Barca Hoping to Take Advantage of Depor's Away Day Blues
Comfortable in mid-table, courtesy of reliable home form, La Coruna's season is all about their Copa del Ray semi-final against Sevilla, which should they pass could mean a final against Barcelona. The sides drew 1-1 at the Riazor earlier this season, but given that Depor have won just twice away from home all season, and Frank Rijkaard's team are unbeaten at home, the bare form suggests a Barca win. Deportivo are however, better than that away record suggests. Their two away wins both came in February, and they have lost just once in seven road trips, while keeping clean sheets in five of their last eight games (home & away).
Barcelona's exit from the Champion's League rocked the club, which was already unsteady from rumours of internal friction. Recent key La Liga results have also been disappointing, including defeats by Sevilla and Valencia, along with a crazy 3-3 draw in El Classico with Real Madrid. Rijkaard will be looking for a return to form in this home tie, but judging on recent meetings Depor are unlikely to lie-down though they are without top-scorer Javier Arizmendu, who is suspended. Pinnacle Sports price Barcelona 2.05 (-1.5) with Deportivo La Coruna 1.885 (+1.5) but in the last 15 meetings Deportivo have the advantage having won seven times against Barca's six. Though the Catalans have won the last two meetings with home advantage, the victories were both by a single goal, and you have to go back to 1999 for the last occasion Barcelona would have covered Pinnacle's handicap in this particular fixture.
Success or Adios for Capello
Real Madrid are currently five points behind Sevilla and Barcelona, and unless coach, Fabio Capello, can galvanise his side to overhaul that gap by the end of the season, he is unlikely to be in charge next season. There has been continued speculation surrounding the Italian's future, but that is nothing new for Real Madrid, where success is demanded not expected. This pressure may explain why Los Blancos have picked up more points on the road, and also have a better scoring record away from the expectations of the Bernabeu. Madrid have another opportunity to add to their away tally when they visit struggling Celta Vigo, who have the worst home record in La Liga.
Vigo have won just one game at home this season, and given their woeful form at the Balaidos, it is no surprise that the Celtinas are in a relegation battle, just one point above the relegation zone. Coach, Fernando Vazquez, will take some comfort from the 2-1 win in the reverse fixture, but Pinnacle Sports see Madrid as favourites, 2.05 (-0.5) with Celta Vigo 1.885 (+0.5).
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Sevilla Have Score to Settle with Osasuna
Sevilla's season is entering a critical stage, with the club chasing realistic chances in three competitions. Coach, Juande Ramos, could be forgiven for thinking that luck is smiling on his side, after a header from goalkeeper, Andres Palop, kept alive their defence of the UEFA Cup. With such success however, comes the problems of fixture congestion, added to which Ramos will hope that his multi-national squad return safely from recent overseas duty.
Apart from the motivation of attempting to win La Liga, Sevilla have revenge on their mind. These clubs finished last season on the same number of points, but Osasuna grabbed the vital fourth place (allowing Champions League qualification) because of their head-to-head record with Sevilla. Osasuna failed to reach the group phase, but are still in the UEFA Cup, where these clubs could yet meet. In any case the game at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, looks likely to be a low scoring affair. Though Sevilla have an unrivalled home record, on the road they are less secure, failing to score in four of their last five away league fixtures, while Osasuna have notched up just one goal in their last four at home. In reaction to these sides' poor goal-scoring form and the expected tension, Pinnacle Sports have set the goals total at two, with the Over pegged at 1.769, and Under 2.20.
