News
VIE 20.09.2019
C.A. Osasuna vs. Real Betis
C.A. Osasuna remained undefeated in their return to LaLiga Santander last week with a 1-1 draw away to R. Valladolid CF. Scoring goals remains a problem however, as the 2018/19 LaLiga SmartBank champions have managed just four through their opening four games. A resolute defence has ensured they remain in the top half through the competition’s early stages. They host a Real Betis side who have shaken off an early season Barcelona thrashing to claim a win and draw from their past two games. They earned a point from their last outing against Getafe CF despite losing William Carvalho to a red card in the 25th minute, and also Loren in the fourth minute of injury time. These two teams last played in the 2016/17 LaLiga Santander season, with Real Betis winning both times.
Villarreal CF vs. R. Valladolid CF
Villarreal CF turned in a ruthless performance away to C.D. Leganes last week, winning 3-0 away thanks to a double from LaLiga Santander leading scorer Gerard Moreno and a Jonathan Silva own goal. The win lifted them into the top half, with their 10 total goals second only to Barcelona through the opening four games. Their defence however has been the issue, conceding eight times - the worst in LaLiga Santander. They host R. Valladolid CF in game week five, a side that are winless since their season opener. R. Valladolid CF have scored just four times this season and were lucky to get a point from Osasuna after managing just one shot on target. There have been less than three goals scored per match in the last five meetings between these two sides.
Levante UD vs. SD Eibar
Levante UD put up an almighty fight against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last week, only to fall 3-2 despite trailing 3-0 after the opening 40 minutes. They faced a bombardment of attack from their famous opposition but were ruthless when they needed to be, scoring their two goals from just three shots on target. Two wins from their four games however ensures they remain in the top half, something that cannot be said for SD Eibar, who find themselves in 19th position on the LaLiga Santander table with three losses and one draw through their opening four games. Their 2-1 loss at home to RCD Espanyol last week was made all the worse considering RCD Espanyol were yet to register a single goal in LaLiga Santander prior to their clash. Last year’s meetings between the two were both drawn, but each team scored six times over the clashes including a stunning 4-4 draw. There have been five draws over their eight total LaLiga Santander meetings.
Atlético de Madrid vs. RC Celta
Former LaLiga Santander leaders Atletico de Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season away to Real Sociedad last week, a stunning upset given the impressive start Diego Simeone’s men had made to the campaign. Second half goals from wonderkid Martin Odegaard and new signing Nacho Monreal ensured Atletico de Madrid’s perfect start would end, and Sevilla would leapfrog them atop the table. They will look to bounce back at the Wanda Metropolitano against a RC Celta side who sit 16th after their first four games of the season. A 10-man RC Celta lost 2-0 at home to Granada CF last week, their second loss of the season, and have managed just three goals through their opening four games. Atletico de Madrid have won seven of the past eight meetings between these two teams.
Granada CF vs. FC Barcelona
Newly-promoted Granada FC’s impressive start to the season continued last week, defeating RC Celta away from home to make it consecutive wins for the Nasrids. They sit sixth, equal on points with FC Barcelona, who they host in game week five. FC Barcelona appear to have dusted off their early season rust, winning two and drawing one in their past three matches. Last week’s 5-2 win over Valencia again showing their offensive muscle, despite the absence of Lionel Messi, who returned from a calf injury midweek against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. He is expected to start against Granada CF, which could see the first time we see Messi start up front with Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez. FC Barcelona have won 11 of the 12 total meetings between these two teams, scoring four or more goals four times in the process, including their 4-1 victory the last time they played in 2017.
Getafe CF vs. RCD Mallorca
Getafe CF’s poor start to the season continued last week as they failed to defeat a Real Betis side that lost William Carvalho to a red card in the 25th minute and fell to 9 men in injury time after Loren too was sent off. Getafe CF have scored just three times in their first four games, a hugely worrying sign for a team that nearly achieved Champions League status last season. They host RCD Mallorca who are winless since their opening game of the season and too are mightily struggling offensively, scoring a meagrely two goals so far this season. This game has all the makings of a low scoring affair, but their most recent meeting in 2017 saw an entertaining 3-3 play out.
RCD Espanyol vs. Real Sociedad
RCD Espanyol climbed out the relegation zone with a win away to SD Eibar last week, a welcome three points for a club very much struggling to score goals. The two they managed against SD Eibar were their first of the season. They will hope to build on that performance, but welcome a Real Sociedad side fresh off the biggest upset of the season so far, a 2-0 win over Atletico de Madrid. Real Sociedad outplayed and outmuscled their powerful opponents last week and will be full of confidence heading to a team that will offer a significantly lower threat at their goal. The home side has won the past three meetings between these two, with Espanyol winning 2-0 at the RCDE Stadium in May of this year.
Valencia CF vs C.D. Leganés
Valencia CF were thrashed 5-2 by a Lionel Messi-less FC Barcelona last week, a result that saw them crashing down the table into 13th place. Their defence, which had conceded just two goals prior to last week’s loss, appeared helpless against Barcelona who were far from full strength. They will face a force at the other end of the spectrum in game week five however, as they host C.D. Leganes who sit dead last after four games, managing just one goal in the process. C.D. Leganes are coming off a 3-0 defeat at home to Villarreal, and will be wary of a Valencia CF team that defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League midweek. Leganes have never beaten Valencia in six meetings between the two.
Athletic Club vs D. Alavés
Athletic Club continued their undefeated start to the season last week, drawing 0-0 with RCD Mallorca in a match where they will feel they should have gotten more from. Athletic Club will however be satisfied with another clean sheet, and have conceded just once in their opening four matches. Their resolve is unlikely to be tested by their game week five opponents D. Alaves, who have scored just twice this season and are winless since their opening game of the LaLiga Santander season. Despite that form, D. Alaves still find themselves just a point outside of the top half, a sign of how even the competition is this season. Surprisingly Athletic Club have beaten D. Alaves just once in their nine total meetings. Both matches ended in draws last season.
Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid
League leaders Sevilla FC round out the weekend’s matches with a monumental showdown against Real Madrid. Sevilla FC have the joint best-defence in LaLiga Santander this season, conceding just once in a start to the season that has seen the club win three and draw once. They have conceded five fewer goals than Real Madrid, who nearly let a 3-0 lead slip at home to Levante UD last week. Sevilla will be looking to consolidate top spot with another impressive defensive showing against Zinedine Zidane’s men, who are yet to turn in a full 90-minute performance, but a win for Los Blancos would see them leapfrog their opponents. Sevilla have one of the better records of all Spanish clubs against Real Madrid, winning two of the past three meetings including a 3-0 win at home last season. This fixture has registered just two draws since 2005.
Follow all the results and the standings from the opening round of matches in LaLiga on livescore.com.
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