La Liga Betting Odds Preview And Tips
The four main protagonists in the race for Spain's Primera Division title all enjoy home advantage this coming weekend. If as expected those games go to form, La Liga will be one step closer to the Grandstand finish that has threatened all season.
See Latest Betting Odds (will open in new window)
Madrid Aiming to Capitalise on Espanyol's UEFA Distractions
Real Madrid maintained the pressure on Barcelona with a gutsy 3-2 win over Sevilla at the Bernabeu last Saturday, helped by a double from Ruud Van Nistelrooy, looking to finish as the leading goal-scorer in his fourth different European league. The win came at a cost with Robinho red-carded, and David Beckham receiving a yellow card, ensuring both are suspended for this key fixture. The win was Madrid's fourth straight home victory, maintaining belief that the club can end a three year barren spell of La Liga titles.
Madrid couldn't have asked to be playing Espanyol at a better time. The Perequitos will be understandably distracted by the all-Spanish UEFA Cup final at Hampden Park five days after this game. Without question the game against Sevilla will be the biggest in the club's history, so with nothing to play for in La Liga, it will be no surprise to see coach, Ernesto Valverde, resting the likes of Walter Pandiani or Luis Garcia. PinnacleSports.com anticipate a good night for Fabio Capello, pricing Real Madrid 1.833 (-1.5) with Espanyol 2.10 (+1.5).
Barca Finding Form at Right Time
With only six remaining fixtures in the Primera Liga Barcelona are in the driving seat to record a hat-trick of titles, sat at the top of the table. The Catalans lead is however, a slender one, with their arch-rivals, Real Madrid snapping at their heels just two points adrift. The Catalans come into this fixture five days after wrapping up their Coppa Del Rey semi-final against Getafe, but shouldn't be unduly inconvenienced by that fixture having effectively settled the tie with a 5-2 first leg win. The pick of the goals in that game was a solo effort by Lionel Messi which drew comparisons with Maradona's wonder-goal.
Messi along with strike-partner Samuel Eto'o is finding form at the right time. The Cameroon striker has hit five goals in the last seven league games, including the winner away to Real Sociedad last weekend which ended a poor run of form on the road for the Catalans, and saw Ronaldinho put in his best performance for some weeks. Real Betis are not yet safe from relegation, lying five points above the drop zone, but with Barca seemingly firing on all cylinders again, coach Luis Fernandez will probably earmark other remaining fixtures for the points to ensure safety. His side were beaten 5-1 at the Nou Camp last term and PinnacleSports.com envisage a similar scenario pricing Barcelona 1.826 (-1.5) and Real Betis 2.110 (+1.5).
Battle for Champions League Rights at Mestalla
The distractions of the Champions League may have ruined Valencia's chances of winning La Liga. Poor results around the two quarter-finals against Chelsea have left the Che six points behind the league leaders, despite recently recording back-to-back La Liga wins. The defeat at the Bernabeu was a critical loss, and the club may now have to satisfy itself with consolidating its claim for a Champions League berth for next term.
The biggest challenge to that ambition comes from the club that visit the Mestalla on Sunday - Real Zaragoza. The Blanquillos have four points to make up on the team one place above them in the league, so a victory in this fixture would take them within touching distance of next season's Champions League. The omens aren't great for Victor Fernandez' side who are without an away league win in their last six attempts. Valencia have lost just twice at home all season, and are unbeaten against Zaragoza in La Liga since September 2000, but PinnacleSports.com price them as only marginal favourites 1.800 (-0.5) with Zaragoza 2.150 (+0.5).
