After another superb weekend of La Liga action, round 25 finishes on Monday with a mouthwatering tie between Levante and Real Betis at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia.
Despite their contrasting league positions, the teams currently sit only five points apart and it’s sure to be a brilliant match (Levante 11/8, draw 9/4, Betis 19/10 – Match Betting).
Levante have been the surprise package of the season so far and having previously been one of the favourites to be relegated, they have astounded both fans and pundits alike and currently sit just a single point outside the European places in fifth.
Where other sides have sought success by buying big, the Granotas have built their squad by bringing in solid players on free transfers and have a number of familiar names to regular followers of La Liga football, with the likes of former Spanish internationals Juanfran and Asier Del Horno in their squad.
However, their ageing stars’ legs look to have started to catch up with them in the last month or so, but they got back on track last Saturday with a 2-1 win against Espanyol. If they continue to show fatigue for the rest of the campaign, they will have to rely heavily on striker Arouna Kone, the Ivorian who is on a season-long deal from Sevilla where he has continuously failed to deliver but looks to have found his feet at a smaller club.
He is sure to be sniffing around the penalty area and with the experience in defence that Juan Ignacio Martinez’s side possess, he could well pop up with a decisive winner (Levante 6/1 to win 1-0).
Betis themselves started the season in fine style, topping the table after four fixtures, but quickly slipped down to near the relegation places and at one point looked as if they could well return to the Segunda after their promotion last term.
However, they have found their form in recent games and now look as if they could sail clear of the drop zone after wins against both Bilbao and Zaragoza as well as last week’s draw with Getafe.
Much of their success is down to strike duo Ruben Castro and Jorge Molina who fired them to success last season and have had a similar effect this. Their pace could trouble the sluggish Levante central defenders and the duo’s combination will certainly have a huge say on the outcome of what otherwise looks a tight match (11/2 for a 0-0 draw).
As already mentioned, Levante’s ageing rearguard appears to be starting to struggle and with the pace Los Beticos possess up front, the visitors will be confident of sneaking a tight victory, most likely by a single goal (Betis 11/1 to win 2-1).
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Sven Goran Eriksson’s arrival at Leicester City back in October was greeted with some raised eyebrows as the former England boss’ return to club management in this country came on the back of short-lived and unsuccessful stints in charge of Mexico, Notts County and Ivory Coast. But the Swede has quietly overseen a real change in the Foxes’ fortunes and a charge up the Championship table. Ahead of Friday’s key home game with Bristol City, we look ahead to what could lie in store at the Walkers Stadium when the Robins visit.