La Liga Betting: Explosive Sevilla can fill their boots against Huesca

Levante on the rise

Levante v Leganés
Saturday, 17:30
Live on Betfair Live Video

Before you ask, no, we're not backing Levante this weekend solely on the basis of their demolition job on Real Madrid last weekend. But that was a decent demonstration of what Paco López's charges can do on their day, and with three successive wins now in the bank, there's every chance they'll continue their upward surge against a turgid Leganés side.

The Cucumber Growers, you'll recall, had their own red-letter day a few weeks ago, beating Barcelona. But they remain in the relegation zone heading into Jornada 10, and their record away from home does not make for pretty reading: they've taken just four points from the last 60 available on the road, the last win coming against Málaga over a year ago.

Granted, they held Valencia to a draw at the Mestalla last weekend. But Los Che have been struggling in the final third, and the same cannot be said of Levante, who have scored in all but one of their games this term and will have their tails up after their Bernabéu exploits. In José Luis Morales, Enis Bardhi and Roger Martí, they have plenty of players capable of settling a game with some magic.

Throw in the fact that Leganés will likely be without lead striker Guido Carillo, who was forced off early against Valencia, and you have a good argument for the home win. 2.20 is a decent price, but we'll try to squeeze a little more value out of this one by adding in under 3.5 goals; Leganés, for all their struggles, have at least made things fairly competitive in four of their five away games so far.

Alavés a value pick

Alavés v Villarreal
Sunday, 17:30
Live on Eleven Sports 1 and Betfair Live Video

Sometimes you just have to bet on principle. So it is at the Mendizorrotza on Sunday, with Alavés an absurd 3.25 to beat Villarreal. Are they guaranteed to do so? Absolutely not. But there's no way that a team third in the league should be that long against a side down in 16th. And at home, to boot.

Alavés have been good to this column over the last few months, with layers slow on the uptake as far as their improvement under Abelardo goes. After dogged wins over Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, the Basques have now picked up 58 points since his appointment last December, at an average of 1.705 per game. That's a stunning record, and they have lost just three home games over the same period.

Villarreal, on the other hand, are struggling badly. Javi Calleja's side looked ready to kick on after an eye-catching summer in the transfer market, but new signings are taking some time to settle - strikers Gerard Moreno and Karl Toko Ekambi have three league goals between them - and there is a fragility to the defence. The loss of Carlos Bacca to injury won't help their cause, either.

There are reasons for caution over backing Alavés. Villarreal have been better away from home (two wins in four in La Liga) and might just have a spring in their step after clobbering Rapid Vienna in midweek. But the home side are rested, confident, and underrated at the current price.

No stopping Sevilla

Sevilla v Huesca
Sunday, 19:45
Live on Eleven Sports 1 and Betfair Live Video

Sevilla have scored 28 goals in their last eight matches (all competitions), which will have Huesca worried as they make the trip to the Sánchez Pizjuán this weekend. After a slowish start to the campaign, Pablo Machín's side have really hit their stride in the final third, so while a few question marks remain at the other end, the overall mood is buoyant.

The Andalusians will feel slightly disappointed not to have given a better account of themselves at the Camp Nou last weekend: they scored twice, but the reaction only really came with the game beyond their reach. They took their frustration out on Turkish minnows Akhisarspor in the Europa League on Thursday, winning 6-0 without even using André Silva or Wissam Ben Yedder, and will be aiming for more of the same on Sunday.

Huesca, after starting well with a win at Eibar and a draw against Athletic Club, have seen the momentum drift away. They've lost six of seven since, the other result being ann underwhelming 1-1 home draw with Girona. Unless things improve quickly, they're going to have to get used to the view from the foot of the standings.

With Huesca having managed just one goal in six games, we can't see them their troubling in-form hosts. That is reflected in the prices, however, and finding a way to side with Sevilla requires a little detective work. One decent option is to back them to win both halves, which shouldn't be beyond them given their recent attacking potency.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Levante to beat Leganés and under 3.5 goals at 17/10 (Sportsbook)

Back Alavés to beat Villarreal at 3.25

Back Sevilla to win both halves against Huesca at 8/5 (Sportsbook)