La Liga Midweek Tips: Sevilla to overcome Levante challenge and Barca to concede away

 La Liga Midweek Tips: Sevilla to overcome Levante challenge and Barca to concede away

Dan Fitch previews the midweek La Liga matches and is backing Sevilla to come out on top in an entertaining match against Levante...

Suarez already settled in at Atletico

Huesca 8.60 v Atletico Madrid 1.52; The Draw 4.10
Wednesday 30 September, 18:00
Live on LaLigaTV and Betfair Live Video

Atletico Madrid will be looking to build upon an impressive start to their season, when they visit Huesca on Wednesday.

In their first La Liga match of the new campaign over the weekend, Atletico thrashed Granada 6-1 at home. Surprise starter Diego Costa opened the scoring in the first-half, before a glut of second-half goals. Angel Correa and Costa's strike partner Joao Felix added to the total, before the front pair were replaced by Marcos Llorente and debutant Luis Suarez.

Suarez set up a goal for Llorente, who returned the favour by assisting a debut goal for Suarez, with the Uruguayan then grabbing a second goal in injury time. Alternating between strike partnerships was key to Diego Simeone keeping the squad fresh when La Liga returned after lockdown and it's quite possible that he'll start with Llorente and Suarez in this match, with the team back in action on Saturday against Villarreal.

Promoted Huesca have picked up very useful away points at Villarreal and then over the weekend, Valencia, but lost their one home match to Cadiz. Atletico should have too much quality and you can back them to win half-time/full-time at 2.50

Sevilla will claim second win of season

Sevilla 1.50 v Levante 5.40; The Draw 4.30
Thursday 1 October, 18:00
Live on LaLigaTV and Betfair Live Video

Sevilla won their first match of the season at the weekend and will be expecting to claim a second when they host Levante on Thursday.

Julen Lopetegui's team had to come from behind after going 1-0 down away at Cadiz. Substitute Luuk de Jong scored the equaliser within four minutes of coming on and then another sub put Sevilla ahead in the 90th minute, when Munir found the net. Ivan Rakitic added the third in injury time, which was his first goal since returning to the club.

Sevilla can be excused for making such hard work of that match, considering that they had to play 120 minutes against Bayern Munich last Thursday, when they were defeated 2-1 in the European Super Cup. Lopetegui rotated heavily and should be able to field a stronger side on Thursday.

After losing their opener 4-2 at Valencia, Levante claimed their first win with a 3-1 victory at Osasuna on Sunday. In between they played a friendly against Sevilla that they lost 3-2 and you can back the hosts to win again and both teams to score, at odds of 3.30.

Hosts can find net against travel sick Barca

Celta Vigo 6.40 v Barcelona 1.55; The Draw 4.80
Thursday 1 October, 20:30
Live on LaLigaTV and Betfair Live Video

Barcelona struggled with their away form last season and unbeaten Celta Vigo look capable of providing a test for the visitors.

Celta Vigo drew 1-1 at Real Valladolid on Sunday, which was their second away draw of the season. In-between they beat Valencia 2-1 at home and Iago Aspas is providing a cutting edge, with three goals in his last two games.

Barcelona did not lack a cutting edge themselves when they beat Villarreal 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Sunday. They scored all of their goals before half-time, with Ansu Fati producing two fine instinctive finishes, Lionel Messi scoring from the spot and then his cross forcing an own goal for Barca's fourth.

Messi started as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1, with Antoine Griezmann out on the right, as new manager Ronald Koeman tries to find an attacking blend that works. Philippe Coutinho played behind Messi and it will be interesting to see if Koeman retains such an adventurous approach, considering that Barcelona were so poor on the road last season. Both teams to score looks likely to land at 1.72.