After an intriguing weekend in La Liga there is still much to play for in a busy midweek schedule, with three key games to get stuck into – including Barcelona’s bid to close the gap at the top of the table to just a solitary point.
Concentrating on the chase for European places first, Osasuna entertain Espanyol in a match that will have a huge bearing on the top six finishers – and potentially even Champions League qualification.
Osasuna have been something of a surprise package this season and currently lie in sixth place in the table, with a recent 2-0 win over Levante keeping them very much in the top-four mix.
Los Rojillos have built their success around their home form, having lost just three times this season at the Reyno de Navarra, and they are the 6/5 favourites in the match betting, with Espanyol priced at 11/5 and the draw at 9/4.
Although it was no disgrace to lose to Real Madrid, the 5-1 scoreline looks particularly unfavourable given the league leaders’ recent form and Osasuna will go into the game on the back of a 6-0 hammering at Rayo Vallecano – their first win in four games.
Taking on Osasuna appears to be the way to go although Espanyol have struggled to pick up wins on their travels – with just three this season.
However, they have lost just one of their last six and could capitalise on Osasuna’s recent troubles to pick up at least a point to boost their own chances of European qualification.
Real Sociedad appear to have turned a corner with four points from their last two games – ending a three-match losing streak – which has given them some breathing room as they are now nine points above the relegation zone.
The Erreala have a decent record at the Anoeta, particularly given their lowly position of 15th place in the league, with just four defeats suffered in front of their own fans.
Sociedad are the favourites in the match betting at 6/5, with the draw on offer at 11/5 and Betis at 15/8, which is perhaps not surprising given their home record.
However, Betis have won five times on the road this season and, although they have also lost 10 times with no draws, only three clubs have won more on the road and look the value in the betting to beat a side two places lower in the table.
The last match of the evening sees Barcelona looking to narrow the gap at the top of the standings to just a point, with Real Madrid not in action until Wednesday.
There is certainly plenty of incentive for the Catalans to take this match seriously which is reflected in the match betting as they are 1/14 to record a 15th win out of 16 games at the Nou Camp this season, with no defeats and one draw.
It is hard to see Getafe doing the double over Barca, following a 1-0 win at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez in November, although the more fanciful punter can get 28/1 on the away win, and perhaps more realistically 10/1 on the draw.
However, that surprise success earlier this season for Getafe will merely provide further ammunition for Barca to ensure the three points on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola’s men also have scored 90 goals this season, 60 of which have came at home, whilst they have only conceded a mere eight.
Barca’s disadvantage to Real has come about because of their away form but on home soil they have proved nigh on impossible to stop and they should pile the pressure on their arch-rivals with another win on Tuesday.
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