LA LIGA boff Callum Read (@callumread) is back to attack the Spanish top-flight with two selections from Saturday's card.
Barcelona v Las Palmas | Saturday 15:15
Las Palmas have been one of the most entertaining sides in La Liga this season. Quique Setien has his side playing expansive, progressive, attacking football and if he’s true to his philosophy at Camp Nou, we’re in for a very entertaining match.
The Copa del Rey was back in action during the week and while Las Palmas were eliminated from the competition, they did score three times away to Atletico Madrid, which shows the ability in their side going forward. They’ve found the net 27 times in the league.
The Canary Islanders have also scored at least one goal in 82% of their La Liga games. Most managers would happily take a point at Camp Nou but Setien is not most managers and will travel to Barcelona with the belief his side can take all three.
I’m happy to back Las Palmas to score in this fixture because for me, Barcelona’s defence hasn’t been up to scratch and could well give the Canaries the chances they need.
The champions have seen Both Teams To Score bank in 70% of their last 10 matches and 65% of there La Liga games this term. The 65% is also the same figure for Las Palmas over the course of the campaign.
On their travels this season, Las Palmas have conceded 16 goals in eight games, while Barcelona have scored 18 from eight home fixtures. Incredibly, they have the 11th best home form in the Spanish top-flight, having won just 50% of their games, conceding seven goals.
Barcelona should have the win in the bag this weekend but I’m happier to take on Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score at odds of 21/20 with 188Bet.
Deportivo La Coruna v Villarreal | Saturday 19:45 | Sky Sports 3
Deportivo La Coruna come into this fixture having lost just one of their last four La Liga games, with that defeat coming in the last minute against current leaders Real Madrid at the Bernebeu.
Gaizka Garitano’s side have lost just one of their last five home games and have beaten Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Sporting Gijon over the course of their last five at the Riazor.
Meanwhile, Villarreal are winless in their last four games in all competitions, losing 3-1 against Real Sociedad and drawing 1-1 on the other three occasions. To their credit, it took an incredible Lionel Messi free-kick to level the scoring last weekend to deny the Yellow Submarine all three points.
A few months ago I noted how Deportivo very rarely score goals and lacked a real frontman – how times have changed. They now have switched to a side that are free-flowing when moving forwards and in Florian Andone have a striker who has scored six times in his last seven La Liga games.
Elsewhere for Depor, Emre Colak has provided a creative outlet registering assists in each of his last two La Liga games while Joselu looks a much better player than Stoke fans will remember.
However, for all their attacking returns, they still look poor defensively, conceding nine goals in their last eight league games. Finally on Depor, they’ve conceded in 88% of their home league games this season.
Despite Villarreal having the least amount of goals in the league, I still think Both Teams To Score is the bet for this game. It’s landed in 50% of Villarreal’s away La Liga games and has won in each of their last five. It’s 21/20 with William Hill.
Best Bets
Barcelona v Las Palmas – Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score (21/20 188BET)
Deportivo La Coruna v Villarreal – Both Teams To Score (21/20 William Hill)
