La Liga Betting: Back Celta Vigo to hit the goal trail against Real Madrid

"Celta have lost their last five league games against Madrid, but if they can play with the conviction they showed in the cup matches, they will contribute to an exciting tie"

Barcelona v Athletic Club
Saturday, 15:15
Live on Betfair Live Video

They continue to cry foul about refereeing decisions - not always unreasonably, it must be said - but Barcelona's players must know deep down that their deficit at the top of the league table owes just as much to their own underwhelming performances. That was certainly the case against Real Betis last weekend, when they were fortunate to escape with a point.

All of the attention in the wake of that match was on goal-line technology, or rather the inexplicable lack of it in Spain, after Barça were denied a clear goal with the score at 1-0. But the furore could not obscure the fact that Luis Enrique's side had been thoroughly outplayed by their hosts, who hit the woodwork twice and should have put the result beyond doubt long before Luís Suárez's late leveller.

The Blaugrana bounced back well in midweek, beating Atlético Madrid away from home in the Copa del Rey, which will have raised spirits a touch. But having let Real Madrid restore their four-point lead at the top of La Liga (with a game in hand), Enrique will be aware that they have little margin for error if they are ignite the title race in the weeks ahead.

A game against Athletic Club looks tricky on paper: the Basque side are ticking along nicely enough in seventh and ran Barça close in the cup in January. But this has actually been a good match-up for Barcelona, who have won the last 12 meetings between the sides at Camp Nou.

Athletic's league away form has not been compelling - they haven't won in six - so it's hard to see them getting something from this game. But with Barcelona as short as 1.26 to win, we again have to get creative to find some value. A good option is to back 'Second Half' in the Half With Most Goals market. This bet gave us a nice winner against Betis a week ago and would have yielded a profit in each of Barça's last eight league games.

Recommended Bet
Back 'Second Half' in Half With Most Goals at 1.95

Valencia v Eibar
Saturday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 5 and Betfair Live Video

Valencia's mini-revival came to an end with a 3-1 loss to Las Palmas in the Monday night game. It was a disappointing result but there were extenuating circumstances: they were very much in the game until Munir El-Haddadi was sent off early in the second half, and even then it took a stunning free-kick from Mauricio Lemos to put the islanders in command.

Voro's men have the chance to prove that their overall trajectory is upward when they face Eibar, who have managed just two away wins in La Liga. But one of those victories came last time out, against Sporting Gijón, and they also beat Osasuna away in the cup, so there's a suggestion they could be turning a corner.

Los Che will be without three key players: Munir is banned after his red card, while both Nani and captain Dani Parejo are suspended after picking up five bookings this term. Those absences are a significant blow to their chances and there's no chance we'll be backing Valencia to win at 1.95.

The draw could be worth a look at 3.80, but we prefer to back both teams to score at 1.76. This would have paid off in eight of nine Eibar away games, plus seven of eight Valencia home games.

Recommended Bet
Back both teams to score at 1.76

Celta Vigo v Real Madrid
Sunday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1 and Betfair Live Video

Crisis? What crisis? After a wobbly start to 2017, Real Madrid got back on track last weekend, putting Real Sociedad to the sword in convincing manner at the Bernabéu, stretching their lead at the business end of the table as Barcelona and Sevilla dropped points.

With no Copa del Rey duties to trouble themselves with, Los Merengues should be well rested for a trip to Galicia, where they meet the side who dumped them out of that competition over two legs last month. Those games will still be fresh in Madrid minds, so there's little doubt Zinedine Zidane's side will be after a little vengeance here.

Luka Modrić and Marcelo have returned to training after injury and could play a part here; the former's presence would be especially handy because Toni Kroos misses out through suspension. But they key question will be whether the Madrid defence can cope better with the Celta attack then they did in the cup, when Iago Aspas and his team-mates ran wild.

Celta have lost their last five league games against Madrid, but if they can play with anything like the conviction they showed in the cup matches, they will contribute to an exciting tie. With over 2.5 goals as short as 1.52, we'll take a chance on the home side scoring two or more at 13/5 on the Sportsbook.

Recommended Bet
Back Celta to score twice or more at 13/5