Before the Round – Trends on Spain La Liga (21-22/01)

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La Liga moves into round No 18 with six points separating 10th-place Mallorca and 18th-place Cadiz. There is a lot to play for in the bottom half of the table, as teams fight for Primera survival. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, and Real Betis are battling for the final Championship League spot.

Espanyol - Real Betis

Sixth-place Real Betis head to Catalonia to play 14th-place Espanyol on Saturday. Los Verdiblancos are fresh off playing at the Supercopa de Espana where they lost in the semifinals to Barcelona. They are aiming for a seventh straight unbeaten match against Espanyol.

Betis are unbeaten in six straight games versus Espanyol in all competitions. Los Verdiblancos have a game in hand over their top-four chasing rivals. Manuel Pellegrini’s team are on a dip in form with just eight points coming from their last six games.

Espanyol took seven points from their last six games in La Liga. The Parakeets are unbeaten in their last three games.

• RCD Espanyol are unbeaten in their last 6 all competitions games.
• Real Betis have no losses against RCD Espanyol in their 9 most recent matches in all competitions.
• RCD Espanyol are on a poor run of just 3 wins in 24 matches (La Liga).
• Real Betis are undefeated in 23 of their last 27 away all competitions games.
• Prediction: Draw @3.30

Sevilla – Cadiz CF

It is a match-up of 19th-place Sevilla and 18th-place Cadiz on Saturday. How did Sevilla get into this situation after being one of Spain’s best teams over the last 20 years?

Cadiz are winless in six straight games against Sevilla with five losses and one draw. However, the Yellow Submarine go into the game in better form with nine points from their last six games.

Sevilla took five points from their last six games. Sevilla do not score many goals and they tallied just six in their last six matches in La Liga.

• Sevilla FC have won only 2 of their last 11 home all competitions matches.
• Cadiz CF have achieved just 3 wins of their last 18 all competitions games.
• Sevilla FC are unbeaten in 6 of their last 7 matches in all competitions.
• There are no losses for Cadiz CF in 10 of their most recent 12 games (La Liga).
• Prediction: Draw @3.75

Villarreal - Girona FC

Villarreal are seeking a fourth straight win over Girona in all competitions. The Yellow Submarine are in excellent form under new manager Quique Setien while Girona find themselves in the bottom half of the table.

Los Rojiblancos are 11th ahead of their trip to Villarreal on Sunday. However, Girona are unbeaten in six straight games, as they collected 12 points. Only Barcelona and Real Sociedad took more points in the last six games than Girona.

Villarreal are also in good form as they took 10 points from the last six games. Goals remain elusive for Villarreal as they scored six times and conceded six times.

• Villarreal CF haven't lost any of their last 7 matches in all competitions.
• In Girona FC's most recent 16 all competitions matches, both teams scored.
• In their last 26 home games in all competitions, Villarreal CF have been undefeated on 23 occasions.
• In their 10 most recent away matches of all competitions, Girona FC have achieved just 1 wins.
• Prediction: Villarreal @1.70

Elche CF – Osasuna

Four of the last six games between Elche and Osasuna ended as draws. Two consecutive games between the La Liga rivals finished 1-1 scores.

Osasuna are seventh and knocking on the door to European qualification. Los Rojillos took 10 points from their last six matches. Osasuna do not score many goals, as they tallied a mere 17 in 17 matches.

Elche are bottom of the La Liga standings after 17 fixtures. They picked up one point from the last six matches. Elche are the only team in La Liga not to win a game this term.

• Elche CF have been defeated in their last 4 home matches in all competitions.
• CA Osasuna haven't lost any of their last 7 matches against Elche CF in all competitions.
• Elche CF are in an unfortunate period, having won just 3 of their last 25 matches in all competitions.
• CA Osasuna are undefeated in 9 of their last 10 games against Elche CF in all competitions.
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score - No @1.75