Real Madrid v Espanyol
Saturday, 15:15
Live on Betfair Live Video
Wednesday's Champions League match against Napoli always looked like a potential banana skin for Real Madrid, and Lorenzo Insigne's opener at the Bernabéu probably jangled a fair few nerves. But Los Merengues weathered the storm in impressive fashion, drawing level through Karim Benzema and pulling clear after the interval.
It's not quite job done for Madrid - Napoli are a real force at the San Paolo - but Zinedine Zidane will be relatively confident of securing progress in the second leg and can now refocus on matters domestic. Saturday's meeting with Espanyol is the first leg of a five-match sequence against sides currently occupying the middle ground of the La Liga table (from Villarreal in sixth to Valencia in 15th), which could easily help them pull clear at the summit once more.
Given that Real played on Wednesday night, there's a reasonable chance that Zidane will rotate a touch here. Sergio Ramos has been ruled out with a hip problem, so Pepe will likely fill in at the back, while the likes of Lucas Vázquez and Álvaro Morata may get some game time. The best news for Madrid is that Gareth Bale could be included in the squad after a three-month lay-off.
Espanyol slumped to a frustrating defeat to Real Sociedad last week, but their form overall has been strong. They won three on the trot before that match and the absence of the in-form Pablo Piatti, who got a bang on the head against Málaga, took its toll. But has been given the all-clear by club doctors and should be able to play here, pending Quique Sánchez Flores' final decision.
That would be a major boost and while Espanyol might struggle to halt their hosts, we like their chances of getting on the scoresheet with Ramos out. They've scored in their last nine games (including ties with Barcelona and Sevilla) and have good variety in attack, with Piatti, José Antonio Reyes, Gerard Moreno and Hernán Pérez all well capable of troubling top-level defences. Madrid have kept just one clean sheet in eight and may be weary after their midweek exertions, so both teams to score is the pick.
Recommended Bet
Back both teams to score at 2.06
Saturday, 15:15
Live on Betfair Live Video
Wednesday's Champions League match against Napoli always looked like a potential banana skin for Real Madrid, and Lorenzo Insigne's opener at the Bernabéu probably jangled a fair few nerves. But Los Merengues weathered the storm in impressive fashion, drawing level through Karim Benzema and pulling clear after the interval.
It's not quite job done for Madrid - Napoli are a real force at the San Paolo - but Zinedine Zidane will be relatively confident of securing progress in the second leg and can now refocus on matters domestic. Saturday's meeting with Espanyol is the first leg of a five-match sequence against sides currently occupying the middle ground of the La Liga table (from Villarreal in sixth to Valencia in 15th), which could easily help them pull clear at the summit once more.
Given that Real played on Wednesday night, there's a reasonable chance that Zidane will rotate a touch here. Sergio Ramos has been ruled out with a hip problem, so Pepe will likely fill in at the back, while the likes of Lucas Vázquez and Álvaro Morata may get some game time. The best news for Madrid is that Gareth Bale could be included in the squad after a three-month lay-off.
Espanyol slumped to a frustrating defeat to Real Sociedad last week, but their form overall has been strong. They won three on the trot before that match and the absence of the in-form Pablo Piatti, who got a bang on the head against Málaga, took its toll. But has been given the all-clear by club doctors and should be able to play here, pending Quique Sánchez Flores' final decision.
That would be a major boost and while Espanyol might struggle to halt their hosts, we like their chances of getting on the scoresheet with Ramos out. They've scored in their last nine games (including ties with Barcelona and Sevilla) and have good variety in attack, with Piatti, José Antonio Reyes, Gerard Moreno and Hernán Pérez all well capable of troubling top-level defences. Madrid have kept just one clean sheet in eight and may be weary after their midweek exertions, so both teams to score is the pick.
Recommended Bet
Back both teams to score at 2.06
Real Sociedad v Villarreal
Sunday, 11:00
Live on Sky Sports 2 and Betfair Live Video
It has gone largely unnoticed due to their league position and the woes of other, more prominent clubs, but Villarreal are in a real rut at the moment. So impressive in the run-up to Christmas, the Yellow Submarine have lost their rhythm entirely and have managed just a single win in ten matches in all competitions.
They were held by out-of-sorts Málaga on home soil last weekend and things got even worse on Thursday night, when Roma rattled four goals past Sergio Asenjo. The Italians are a quality outfit, to be sure, but Villarreal's defending left a lot to be desired. That will be a major worry for Fran Escribá, not least because his attack has looked blunt since the sale of Alexandre Pato; they've managed a measly six goals since the start of 2017.
Real Sociedad will be confident of piling more misery on their visitors on Sunday. The San Sebastián outfit have lost three of their last six in all competitions, but those defeats all came against Real Madrid and Barcelona, and their form against sides below them in the table has been impeccable: Málaga, Celta Vigo, Osasuna and Espanyol have all been dispatched in recent weeks.
La Real must do without Brazilian striker Willian José for the next couple of months, but have the manpower to cope without him and have won seven of their last 10 league games at home. This is a quick turnaround for Villarreal, who are without Roberto Soriano (suspended) and fell to a 3-1 cup defeat at the Anoeta earlier in the season. We cannot see them stopping Eusebio Sacristán's men here.
Recommended Bet
Back Real Sociedad to win at 1.96
Barcelona v Leganés
Sunday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 3 and Betfair Live Video
Sometimes a defeat is not just a defeat, and Barcelona's collapse in Paris on Tuesday night certainly felt like something more significant. So bad were Luis Enrique's side that all the talk since has been of the end of an era at the Camp Nou, with many feeling radical change is required this summer.
Enrique will almost certainly go, which is understandable. But there is plenty of blame to go round and some of it must fall on the shoulders of those leading the club's efforts in the transfer market: Barça's squad looks woefully thin in places, while many of those who have come in for top dollar (I'm looking at you, André Gomes) have simply not cut it.
With a Champions League recovery hugely unlikely and no Copa del Rey to think about for the next few months, the Catalans must now throw themselves into their ailing league campaign in the vague hope that Real Madrid will drop the ball between now and May. It probably won't happen, but pride is at stake.
At least the fixture computer has been kind enough to give them a soft landing this weekend. Leganés have been in appalling form, claiming just five points from the last 36 available and edging ever closer to the relegation zone. Their performance against Sporting Gijón last weekend (0-2) was about as limp as it gets and it would take something extraordinary for them to even claim a point at the Camp Nou, Barcelona crisis or not.
There's no Sergio Busquets for Barça - he is suspended - and it would be no great surprise if Enrique made a few changes to make a point. Either way, Barça will be desperate to put their Parc des Princes horror show out of their minds and could cut loose against a desperately poor side.
With Barcelona heavy favourites at 1.10 and even Barça win to nil as short as 1.56, we have to be creative as we search for value. One angle that appeals is backing the home side to score three or more second-half goals - a bet that would have paid out in in four Blaugrana games already this year.
Recommended Bet
Back Barcelona to score more than 2.5 second-half goals at 12/5
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