AFTER picking 2/3 winners last weekend we got Mark O’Haire (@MarkOHaire) to share his best bets from La Liga again this weekend.
Malaga v Real Madrid | Saturday 19.00 | Sky Sports 5
Real Madrid have equalled a club record run of 15 consecutive wins in all competitions, following their midweek Champions League success at Basel. But Malaga could pose some interesting problems for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
The Andalusians were on a club record five straight top-flight wins before succumbing to Atletico Madrid in the capital last weekend. Los Boquerones gave the defending champions a rough ride and will be hoping their unbeaten home record (W4-D2) remains intact for the visit of the European champions.
However, Nordin Amrabat’s injury on international duty has come as a big blow for the hosts with the Moroccan starring for Malaga since his summer move. His absence will be keenly felt.
Real have smashed 57 goals in their 15-game winning spree and the best bet is to continue backing the trend of Over 1.5 first-half goals when Los Blancos take the field. It’s a selection that’s won in every Madrid match since the opening day, a run of 11 La Liga matches.
It's also worth pointing out that eight of the 12 goals Malaga have conceded this season have come in the first 45 minutes.
Cordoba v Villarreal | Sunday 18.00 | Sky Sports 5
Cordoba remain the only side in the top five European leagues yet to pick up a win this season and Los Califas will have been kicking themselves last Sunday.
Miroslav Đukić’s men held a two-goal lead at Elche before collapsing under the weight of the home side’s pressure, only to come away with a point. It was their seventh draw in 12 La Liga matches since an unlikely promotion from the second tier but there were encouraging signs.
It was the second occasion in three fixtures that the rock bottom side had scored at least twice in a match and they have managed to net in eight of their 12 league outings.
This weekend they welcome Villarreal to Nuevo Arcángel and the 21/20 (Betfair) on Both Teams To Score in Sunday’s showdown looks a decent play. The home side have seen goals at both ends in 4/6 (67%) home games as well as in 8/12 (67%) overall in 2014/15.
Villarreal survived an injury crisis to overcome Getafe 2-1 at home in their last encounter and that result meant seven of their past nine matches have seen Both Teams To Score punters collect. It’s a bet that would have also won in the Yellow Submarine’s last four away matches.
Valencia v Barcelona | Sunday 20.00 | Sky Sports 5
The game of the weekend takes place in Valencia with Los Che welcoming Barcelona to town.
Valencia have W5-D1 of their six fixtures at the Mestalla and scored three goals in each victory.
Barcelona were involved in Champions League football in midweek, brushing aside APOEL with a second successive Lionel Messi hat-trick and record-breaking performance, but it’s difficult to justify backing the Catalans at short prices.
Therefore, taking a goals-based bet might be the way forward. Last weekend we profited from a punt on Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score in Barca's meeting with Sevilla and with Bet365 offering 10/11 on a repeat, I'm getting involved again.
It's a bet that would have banked in half of Valencia's home fixtures and in three of Barcelona's latest four La Liga outings.
With two teams more adept at scoring goals as opposed to keeping them out, the Sunday night showdown should be littered with plenty of attacking highlights and hopefully goals.
Best Bets
Malaga v Real Madrid – Over 1.5 first-half goals (11/10 BetVictor)
Cordoba v Villarreal – Both Teams To Score 21/20 (Betfair)
Valencia v Barcelona – Over 2.5 and Both Teams To score (10/11 Bet365)
