Espanyol vs Deportivo Alavés
Time: 8:00 AM EST
Odds: Espanyol +105, Draw +210, Alavés +280
Last Game: Alavés 0 : 0 Espanyol
Saturday’s La Liga slate begins with a relegation six pointer when Alvaés visit Espanyol. Host’s Espanyol return to play looking to turn their season around, after entering the break on a four game winless streak. Espanyol sit in last place, but are only six points from safety. Espanyol will be without their goalkeeper Diego López who is suspended for this match after picking up his fifth yellow card in the last game before the break.
Deportivo Alavés enter this game on slightly better footing, sitting in 14th but only seven points clear of the drop zone they will be motivated to avoid getting sucked into the relegation battle. Alavés took a strong run of form into the break that saw them only lose one of their last six games. Alavés will be without their striker Joselu for this one as he is serving a suspension.
Despite Espanyol’s struggles they have performed well at home of late, and are undefeated in their last five at home. Alavés have struggled at RCDE Stadium, and are winless in their last six visits. These sides are evenly matched and with Espaynol being without their keeper and Alavés being without one of their leading scorers makes this a tough match to predict, but expect a tough low scoring match.
Celta Vigo vs Villarreal
Time: 11:00 AM EST
Odds: Celta Vigo +155, Draw +230, Villarreal +175
Last Game: Villarreal 1 : 3 Celta Vigo
Hosts Celta Vigo entered the break on a strong run of form, going unbeaten in their last five matches. That run saw Celta Vigo climb out of the drop zone and into 17th, although they now sit only a single point above a relegation spot. Midfielder Denis Suarez has returned to training but his status remains in doubt for this game.
Villarreal will be hoping the time off has allowed a team that entered the break on a three game losing streak to right the ship. Villarreal enter this match in 9th place and could jump to 8th with a win in this match. Ruben Pena will miss this game due to suspension, and Ramiro Funes Mori has been ruled out with a muscle injury.
Celta Vigo struggled at home early in the year and have scored the fewest goals at home in La Liga but are unbeaten in their last six at home. Villarreal have performed well away from home and are tied for the 3rd most goals away in La Liga this year. Villarreal have also enjoyed their trips to Celta Vigo, only losing one of their last six matches at the Estadio de Balaídos. Villarreal is the better side here and should be expected to prevail against a hungry Celta Vigo side.
Leganés vs Real Valladolid
Time: 1:30 PM EST
Odds: Leganés +135, Draw +195, Real Valladolid +250
Watch: beIN
Last Game: Real Valladolid 2 : 2 Leganés
Hosts Leganés find themselves in 19th on the return to La Liga action, but thanks to a four point haul in their last two games before the break they now only sit 3 points from safety. Leganés is expected to be at full strength for this match.
Visitors Real Valladolid will be looking to reverse the form they brought into the break, losing two straight games resulting in a 15th place position for the restart. Valladolid sit just five points above the drop zone and will be hungry for a win to avoid getting sucked into the relegation battle. Real Valladolid are also expected to be at full strength for this one.
Don’t expect fireworks in this one as Leganés have registered some of the fewest goals at home in La Liga and Real Valladolid have scored some of the fewest away from home. Both sides will be hungry for a win to get the restart off on the wrong foot and help them escape relegation. These two teams have only met four times previously at the Estádio Municipal de Butarque, with Leganés winning all four. Expect a low scoring hard fought game.
Real Mallorca vs Barcelona
Time: 4:00 PM EST
Odds: Real Mallorca +850, Draw +500, Barcelona -400
Last Game: Barcelona 5 : 2 Real Mallorca
Watch: beIN
The final match of the day sees recently promoted side Mallorca host 1st place Barcelona. Hosts Real Mallorca won their last match before the break 2-1 away at Eibar and now sit in 18th just a single point from safety. Defender Lumor Agbenyenu is set to miss this one for Mallorca.
Barcelona defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 before the break but it will be their loss to Real Madrid in the penultimate game before the break that will be on their mind as Real Madrid now sit within striking distance only two points back of Barcelona. Clement Lenglet will miss this match due to suspension.
Real Mallorca will need a miracle to get a result at home against a motivated Barcelona side. In the previous six meetings at the Son Moix Real Mallorca have only managed a single victory, coming back in 2009. Barcelona are well rested, motivated and at full strength, it shouldn’t require loads of analysis to see why they are such heavy favorites here.