Before the Round – Trends on Spain La Liga (12-13/08)

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Spain’s La Liga kicks off on Friday, with Barcelona aiming for a second straight title.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will hope to challenge for the title after the capital clubs finished second and third, respectively a season ago.

Real Sociedad – Girona

Four of the last six matches between Real Sociedad and Girona were draws. Last season, the teams drew 2-2 at Sociedad’s Anoeta. Girona had a player sent off in the high-scoring draw. The last two fixtures between these teams finished with over 3.5 goals.

Real Sociedad finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League last season thanks to picking up 71 points from 38 matches. The Royal were excellent at home, recording a record of 11W-5D-3L and a goal difference of +10.

Girona finished 10th last term, with a respectable 49 points. Los Rojiblancos scored 58 goals but conceded 55 times. Girona struggled on the road last season, winning just three times in 19 tries away from home.

• In the last 17 consecutive home La Liga matches, we have seen no losses at half time for Real Sociedad.
• Girona FC's 6 most recent La Liga matches have seen both team score.
• Real Sociedad are undefeated in 12 of their last 13 home league games.
• Girona FC have won just 1 of their last 8 away matches in La Liga.
• Prediction: Real Sociedad

Las Palmas – Mallorca

Las Palmas return to La Liga after earning promotion from the Segunda last season. The Canaries face Mallorca to kick off the season at home. Between 2014 and 2021, Las Palmas posted a record of 3W-2D-1L against Mallorca.

The Canaries finished second in the Segunda last term. They have been active in the transfer market, signing Daley Sinkgraven, Javi Munoz, Sandro Ramirez, and Munir El Haddadi. Las Palmas

Mallorca were ninth in the La Liga standings last season, picking up 50 points. The Islanders struggled to score goals, averaging 0.97 goals per match. Mallorca lost their final four matches away from home last season.

• Las Palmas are undefeated in their last 6 games in all competitions.
• Real Mallorca are on a run of 4 consecutive away defeats in their domestic league.
• Both teams have scored in 4 of the last 6 matches between Las Palmas and RCD Mallorca.
• Real Mallorca have won only 1 of their last 12 away La Liga matches.
• Prediction: Las Palmas

Celta Vigo – Osasuna

The last six matches between Celta Vigo and Osasuna in all competitions were split into two wins, two draws, and two defeats apiece. Osasuna took four points from six points on offer last season versus Celta Vigo in La Liga. The teams combined for just 10 goals in their last six meetings.

Rafael Benitez will kick off his Celta Vigo era against Osasuna. Celta finished just three points ahead of the relegation zone last season. A win on the final day of the season rescued the team from the drop. The team posted a record of 7W-6D-6L last season at home.

Osasuna qualified for the Conference League thanks to finishing seventh, with 53 points last term. Los Rojillos finished seven points outside of the top six. Osasuna weren’t good on the road last season, winning just four times.

• In their last 7 games in La Liga, Celta de Vigo have recorded only 1 wins.
• CA Osasuna are on a losing streak of 3 straight away matches in La Liga.
• There have been under 2.5 goals in 4 of the last 6 encounters between Celta de Vigo and CA Osasuna.
• CA Osasuna have won just 1 of their last 7 away matches in La Liga.
• Prediction: Celta Vigo

Getafe – Barcelona

Reigning champions Barcelona go into the new La Liga season with the same financial issues plaguing them from last season. Xavi has seen Ousmane Dembele join Paris Saint-Germain. The club signed Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu, and Inigo Martinez.

Barcelona went unbeaten in five of their last six games versus Getafe. But last season’s match played at Getafe saw the teams draw nil-nil. The last three games between the clubs finished with under 1.5 goals. Both teams did not score in those three matches.

Getafe finished a mere two points above the relegation zone in 2022-23. The Azulones got hot in their final four matches, allowing them to stay up.

• In their last 9 home games in La Liga, Getafe CF have been undefeated on 8 occasions.
• Barcelona have managed to keep a clean sheet in their 3 most recent encounters with Getafe CF in La Liga.
• Getafe have managed to defeat Barcelona in just 1 of their last 6 head-to-head meetings.
• Barcelona have not been beaten in 32 of their 38 most recent matches in La Liga.
• Prediction: Barcelona