La Liga Betting: Valladolid will draw another blank against Madrid

Dan Fitch previews the weekend La Liga action and he is backing Real Madrid to win away at Valladolid without conceding.

Valencia can score again

Valencia 5.10 v Barcelona 1.68; The Draw 4.50
Saturday 25 January, 15:00
Live on Betfair Live Video

The Quique Setien era is two games old and though both matches have been won, they've proved to be far from pleasant viewing for Barcelona fans.

In Setien's debut at the Camp Nou last weekend, it took until the 76th minute before Lionel Messi could score the only goal of the game against Granada. If that seemed like a slow start, Setien's second match almost ended in disaster. In an idealistic sounding away day at Ibiza in the Copa del Rey, Barca were a goal down for much of that match before being rescued by an Antoine Griezmann brace, with the second goal being scored in injury time.

After a couple of tight wins, Barcelona will be relieved that they are making the trip to Valencia at a time when Los Ches are in erratic form. Their midweek cup win against Logrones was only their second victory in the last six games (D2 L2) and last weekend they were surprisingly thrashed 4-1 by struggling Mallorca.

One area in which Valencia are reliable is when it coming to scoring goals, with the side finding the net in each of their last 19 games. Both teams to score is a short price at 1.61, but seems likely to land.

Low scoring win for hosts

Sevilla 1.44 v Granada 9.80; The Draw 4.70
Saturday 25 January, 20:00
Live on LaLigaTV

With Atletico Madrid not in action until Sunday, Sevilla have the chance to move up to third by beating Granada.

Sevilla has a tougher Copa del Rey match than many this week, yet convincingly beat fellow La Liga side Levante 3-1. Wins in La Liga itself have been harder to come by. Sevilla have only won one of their last five (D2 L2), losing 2-1 against Real Madrid last weekend.

Granada made it tough for Barcelona to break them down in a 1-0 defeat, but other La Liga teams have not experienced the same problems. The promoted club have only won two of their last ten league games (D1 L7).

They have failed to score in any of their last four La Liga away games, all of which have been losses. That makes Sevilla to win to nil at 2.20 and a home win and under 2.5 goals at 3.20, both decent options.

Clean sheet for Zidane's improved defence

Valladolid 8.00 v Real Madrid 1.44; The Draw 4.70
Sunday 26 January, 20:00
Live on LaLigaTV

With 18 games of their season remaining Real Madrid are firmly in the title race, with only goal difference currently keeping them behind the leaders Barcelona.

That amount of remaining games could be apt, as they are unbeaten in their last 18 (W12 D6). Real are perhaps drawing a few too many games and this is not a vintage side in terms of producing exciting football, but Zinedine Zidane deserves praise for the way he has organised their defence and made them tough to score against.

Valladolid look particularly unequipped to breach the Madrid defence. Currently fifteenth in La Liga, they have failed to score in six of their last eight league matches.

This is another game that has the potential to feature few goals. Back Real Madrid to win to nil at 2.50.