In Spain’s Primera Division, Mauricio Pochettino’s Espanyol have slipped down to mid-table after a run of recent poor results. However, they finally returned to winning ways in comprehensive fashion last week with a resounding 5-1 mauling of Rayo Vallecano at the Cornella-El Prat, as new signings Kalu Uche and Philippe Coutinho grabbed a hat-trick and brace of goals respectively.

Espanyol remain in tenth position but the table is so congested that they are just two points of sixth spot which would secure Europa League football for next season, while fourth-placed Malaga are only four points better off at the time of writing. Therefore the visit of 19th-placed Racing Santander appears to be the ideal fixture for Espanyol to secure a second successive win which could take them fifth if results go in their favour.

Racing have only won once away from home all season and have gone five games without a win as they sit in second-bottom spot and are three points off the final position of safety. However, they have won on their previous two visits to the Cornella and will hope to make it three times lucky on Monday. But, looking at the fixture on current form, it is difficult to predict anything other than a comfortable win for Espanyol.

Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 4/6
Value Bet: Draw/Espanyol HT/FT @ 10/3

Moving across Europe to Italy’s Serie A and Roma play host to Genoa aiming to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Roma, who currently sit in sixth position and are five points behind fourth-placed Napoli, ended a run of two successive defeats with a 1-0 success against Palermo last weekend thanks to a goal from Fabio Borini. As a result Luis Enrique will be looking for his men to secure another three points on Monday when a mid-table Genoa side arrive at the Stadio Olimpico looking like they have little left to play for this season as they sit eight points clear of the relegation places.

The team news is mixed for the hosts as captain Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi will both miss out, but goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and defender Marco Cassetti are set to return to the starting line-up after serving their respective suspensions.

Genoa, who secured a creditable 0-0 home draw with title-chasing Juventus last weekend, are currently bogged down in a winless run with two draws and three defeats in their previous five outings so Pasquale Marino will be hopeful of some kind of result in Rome. He will be boosted by the news Alberto Gilardino suffered no ill-effects from his comeback against Juve and will be back in the team on Monday.

Genoa won the fixture on home soil earlier in the season, but Roma have won the previous two matches in front of their own fans and we see that trend continuing on Monday night.

Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 1/2
Value Bet: Roma 2-0 Genoa Correct Score @ 11/2

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After sitting comfortably behind the top two for much of the season, Valencia have conceded ground on the sides just below them in the league. They currently sit in third position – four points ahead of fourth placed Mallorca and just five points better than fifth (and no Champions League qualifying) placed Sevilla.

Valencia must now be wary of Mallorca and Sevilla’s challenge, but their destiny is firmly in their own hands at the moment with third place being los Che’s to lose.

With five games remaining, Valencia (1,40) host Deportivo La Coruna (7.00) at the Mestalla on Saturday night and travel to Barcelona to face Espanyol next weekend before ending the season at home to Xerez and Tenerife on either side of a trip to Villarreal.

Three of the last four league meetings between these two sides on Saturday have ended as draws, including the 0-0 in the reverse fixture back in December at the Riazor.

However, Valencia are unbeaten in their last nine league meetings with Deportivo claiming five wins and four draws.

Valencia are currently in a rich vein of home form, they are unbeaten in their last nine fixtures (eight wins and a draw), and have not conceded a single goal in the last five.

The travelling Deportivo are without a win in the last eight match-days of this campaign, and have not scored more than one goal per game in the process.

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Related posts:

1. Barcelona Face Tricky Fixture Away at Deportivo La Coruna
2. Valencia Look To Get First Home Win Over Racing In Six Years
3. La Liga Predictions: Barcelona Pedigree Will Show Against Valencia

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