There is a triple header of La Liga action on Thursday which will have a big bearing on the outcomes at both ends of the table, with two Champions League chasers going head to head as well as struggling sides looking for points to beat the drop.
Real Betis started the season in promising fashion following their promotion back to the top flight but have been struggling to put points on the board of late and have slumped to 16th in the table.
The Verdiblancos do have home advantage for this clash and have been priced at 21/20 in the match betting, but there looks to be value in opposing a side that has lost their last three matches and who were recently beaten by strugglers Granada at the Benito Villamarin.
Admittedly Espanyol do not boast the best record on the road with just three wins to their name, but the Parakeets are not in seventh place in the table without reason – and they have the ability to get something from the game (Espanyol 12/5 to win, 12/5 the draw).
The Catalan side were soundly beaten 5-0 on their last trip but there is no disgrace in coming second to Real Madrid in the capital, and they have picked up points at Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao and Getafe recently – goals have been a problem for both sides though so do not expect a thriller.
Racing Santander are in the middle of an awful run of form, having not won since January 15, and now find themselves in the relegation zone and in danger of getting cut adrift.
Los Racinguistas lie in 18th place in the table but are three points away from safety and six behind the team, Betis, in 16th place, so they are desperately in need of a win.
Racing are priced at 2/1 to make home advantage count and, although that price seems attractive against a struggling side, Sevilla have the ammunition to keep the pressure on Alvaro Cervera’s men.
Racing have just three wins at home to their name this season but have also picked up points courtesy of seven draws – including Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Sporting Gijon recently.
However, goals are a massive issue and they simply do not score enough – Racing are the joint-worst scorers in the division and have mustered just nine in front of their own fans, the only team in single figures at home.
Sevilla have not been the force of old this season but have shown signs of a European charge of late with successive wins over Osasuna and Valencia, as well as a draw against Atletico.
However, they go into the game on the back of successive defeats and have fallen to 12th place in the table.
A 1-0 loss at second-from-bottom Sporting does not read too well but they can take encouragement from a 2-0 reverse against Barcelona and, having won at the Mestalla last month, they can pick up the win at 13/10, with the draw on offer at 9/4.
Again, do not expect a rip-roarer as the Sevillistas have scored a mere eight goals on the road, two of which came against Valencia.
Last but not least, the game that promises to be the most entertaining is Malaga’s match with Rayo Vallecano at La Rosaleda with the kick-off at 9pm.
Both sides will hold hopes of Champions League qualification with Malaga currently lying in fifth place, level on points with Levante, with Rayo just four points below them in the table in ninth.
Los Boquerones have spent big this season and the cash influx is starting to bear fruit, not least at home where they boast La Liga’s fourth-best scoring record – behind Real, Barca and Athletic Bilbao.
Malaga have made La Rosaleda something of a fortress, having lost just twice there all season, and it is no surprise to see them installed as 1/4 favourites in the match betting.
Rayo are no mugs on the road though with five wins and three draws in 13 games and there will be some that may be tempted by 4/1 on the away win, with the draw priced at 13/5.
Whichever way, there certainly looks to be a case for goals though as nine of Malaga’s 13 home games have gone over 2.5 goals, and four of the last five, while all of Rayo’s last six away games have surpassed that mark as well.
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