La Liga Betting: Solid defence to keep Atletico on top

Sevilla v Athletic Bilbao
Saturday 17:15 (Live on Sky Sports 3)
Sevilla 2.10, Athletic 3.75, The Draw 3.65

Sevilla will overtake sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao if they beat the Basques in Andalusia on Saturday evening.

Unai Emery's hosts have a good shot at it too: they've won seven in a row at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, keeping four clean sheets and beating Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia along the way.

Athletic are in decent form, but are W1-D1-L3 on the road to other teams now in the top eight. Football Form Labs data shows that tallies nicely with Ernesto Valverde's W2-D2-L6 record away to top-half teams (excluding the Big Two) in previous seasons.

An interesting stat from those last 14 games: 12 finished with Under 2.5 Goals, which is not quite what the market expects this weekend. With Sevilla tightening their defence recently and Athletic failing to score in 6/7 similar matches last season, we're happy to take on an odds-against price.

Recommended Bet
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.08

Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruna
Saturday 19:30 (Live on Sky Sports 1)
Real 1.15, Deportivo 24.00, The Draw 10.50

Zinedine Zidane makes his debut as a coach at home to Deportivo La Coruna.

Deportivo are a robust W3-D5-L1 on the road this season (W3-D9-L2 since Victor Sancheztook over), including a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou not so long ago. But they haven't played anyone else now better than 10th in the table.

Real Madrid have been scoring freely at the Bernabeu and should win with something to spare, but the prices about that don't really appeal.

At the other end, Depor are capable of nicking a goal themselves. They've scored in 11/14 away games under Sanchez, while Real have conceded in all of their last five Liga home matches.

Recommended Bet
Back Both Teams to Score @ 2.12

Villarreal v Sporting Gijon
Sunday 11:00 (Live on Sky Sports 3)
Villarreal 1.50, Sporting 7.80, The Draw 4.40

Only Barcelona have a better home record than Villarreal's W7-D1-L1. The Yellow Submarinehave taken all three points from each of La Liga's last five rounds and look well set to make it six in a row on Sunday morning.

Sporting Gijon have lost five in a row away from home and 6/7 anywhere. They've failed to score in 4/5 away defeats, while Villarreal have recently shut out both Valencia and Real Madrid at El Madrigal.

Recommended Bet
Back Villarreal Win to Nil @ 2.50

Real Sociedad v Valencia
Sunday 15:00 (Live on Sky Sports 2)
Sociedad 2.32, Valencia 3.45, The Draw 3.45

This Sunday afternoon game brings together two coaches whose combined La Liga careers add up to just 11 games. So there's not a lot for us to go on here.

Eusebio Sacristan's tenure at Real Sociedad started with a 2-0 win over Sevilla. Since then, however, the Basques have conceded 13 times in six league outings.

Gary Neville is still winless as Valencia coach, but last weekend's 2-2 draw with Real Madrid bought him some credit.

Both teams have scored in 6/8 Valencia games and 4/5 Sociedad games, so we'll take the even money about goals at both ends this weekend.

Recommended Bet
Back Both Teams to Score @ 2.00

Eibar v Espanyol
Sunday 17:15 (Live on Sky Sports 2)
Eibar 2.06, Espanyol 4.10, The Draw 3.45

Eibar are W4-D3-L2 at Ipurua this season, losing only to the two Madrid giants. Jose Luis Mendilibar's Basques have been leading at half time in 6/9, including 3/4 that they went on to win at full time.

Espanyol have a new man in charge, but Constantin Galca is yet to confirm an upturn in their form. The Parakeets held Barcelona to a draw in last weekend's city derby, but lost their only away game 2-0 at Sevilla.

In total, they've lost five in a row away from home, and been behind at the break in all five. Since the start of term, they've lost 7/7 away to teams now ranked 13th and higher. Eibar are eighth and rate a small bet on the best possible double result.

Recommended Bet
0.5pts - Back Eibar / Eibar 3.60

Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid
Sunday 19:30 (Live on Sky Sports 2)
Celta 4.70, Atletico 1.92, The Draw 3.60

Atletico Madrid are two points clear at the top of La Liga, albeit Barcelona have a game in hand. To get there, they've won 7/8, keeping six clean sheets along the way.

On the road this season, Diego Simeone's men are W6-D1-L2. All six wins have been wins to nil; five of them have been 1-0 or 2-0.

Since late October, fifth-placed Celta Vigo have lost 3/3 home matches with teams now in the top 10. This weekend they are missing star attacker Nolito again. Without him, they were shut out in Malaga last weekend and should struggle to break down La Liga's tightest defence.

Recommended Bet
Back Atletico Madrid /Under 2.5 Goals @ 3.50