La Liga Betting: Real Madrid to make light work of poor travellers Las Palmas

Barcelona v Sporting Gijón
Wednesday, 18:30
Live on Sky Sports 2

Barcelona were again thankful for their own personal get-out-of-jail-free card at the weekend: for the second successive game, Lionel Messi pounced at the death to secure maximum points for the Blaugrana. But while his celebration after converting a penalty against Leganés had been muted, there was an outpouring of emotion on Sunday, his strike having seen off a dogged Atlético Madrid side.

That result briefly looked likely to send Barça top, only for Real Madrid to stage a late comeback at Villarreal. But it nonetheless keeps them in contention, just one point behind their great rivals ahead of a kind run of fixtures that begins with the visit of Sporting Gijón to the Camp Nou.

The Rojiblancos could count themselves a touch unfortunate not to have seen off Celta Vigo at the weekend: they hit the woodwork twice and it took a moment of brilliance from Iago Aspas to break their resistance at the other end. Still, Sporting have won just two of their last 21 league games and have not picked up a single point away from home against any side currently in the top half.

A suspension for centre-back Jorge Meré won't help their cause on Wednesday night and we don't fancy their chances of springing an upset. But Barça are not firing on all cylinders, so with the home win as short as 1.09 we shall instead take a look at the Half With Most Goals market. Sporting have conceded just twice before the break in their last six games, while Luis Enrique's side always tend to do their best work when their opponents tire.

Recommended Bet
Back 'second half' in Half With Most Goals at 1.83

Real Madrid v Las Palmas
Wednesday, 20:30
Live on Sky Sports 2

Two-nil down with half an hour to play at El Madrigal, Real Madrid were staring a second consecutive defeat in the face. But star men Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to the plate to restore parity before super sub Álvaro Morata won it late on.

The Spaniard has now netted six times off the bench for his side this term and could be in line for a start on Wednesday, not least because Bale had to be withdrawn before the end. Zinedine Zidane played down fears that the Welshman had aggravated his recent ankle problem ("just a knock," said the Frenchman) but if their winger is anything less than 100% he will surely be rested for what looks like an eminently winnable game.

Las Palmas have lost four on the spin and their record away from Gran Canaria is abject: this season, only Granada have managed fewer than their five points on their travels. In their four trips to the other sides currently in the top five, they have lost by a combined score of 12-2.

Madrid are predictably short at 1.16, so the play here is backing them to win to nil. This isn't always a profitable way of siding with the league leaders, but they have tightened up considerably at the Bernabéu in recent weeks, keeping three clean sheets in four league wins there since the turn of the year. Given Las Palmas have fired blanks in three of their last four (plus four of six away), this could be another fruitless away journey for them.

Recommended Bet
Back Real Madrid to win to nil at [2.05]

Deportivo La Coruña v Atlético Madrid
Thursday, 19:45

The big losers of the weekend in Spain were Deportivo La Coruña, who were thumped by Leganés - their fourth defeat on the spin. That sequence has left them just a couple of points above the relegation zone at the start of Jornada 25 and it looks like heads are beginning to drop at the Riazor.

With Ryan Babel having jumped ship to Beşiktaş in January and Florin Andone struggling for goals, the Galicians have lacked attacking spark in recent matches. On Thursday, they will have to do without centre-back Raúl Albentosa (suspended after a red card at the weekend), which is not good news for their ageing backline, while inspirational midfielder Celso Borges is a major injury doubt.

That will all be music to the ears of visitors Atleti, who will be keen to bounce back from the defeat to Barça. Diego Simeone's side have been prolific in front of goal in recent weeks, scoring four times away to both Sporting and Bayer Leverkusen before the weekend. Saúl Ñíguez serves a ban but they have plentiful attacking options and should have some joy against a wavering defence.

Recommended Bet
Back Atlético Madrid to score two goals or more at 20/21