Real Betis vs Rayo Vallecano: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Real Betis will continue their quest for European football next season when they host Rayo Vallecano on Monday. The hosts come into this tie on the back of a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. That result kept them in sixth position, four points ahead of Girona in seventh. So their dream of playing in the Europa League remains intact. However, manager Manuel Pellegrini has publicly admitted he is “not confident” that his side will qualify for European football next season because of their recent form.  At one point this season, Betis looked certain to secure a UEFA Champions League spot for the first time since 2005/06, but four losses in their last seven La Liga outings (W2, D1) scuppered that dream. Read more: Leicester City Liverpool: Preview and Expert Football Prediction While that claim by Pellegrini looks like a motivational tactic, the fact that the hosts have just three wins from their last eleven home league outings (D4, L4) shows why he might be keen to incentivise his squad. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano travel to Estadio Benito Villamarín looking to make it back-to-back league wins. They come into this tie on the back of a 2-1 home win over Real Valladolid at home. That win kept them on track to achieving their dream of qualifying for European football for only the second time in the club’s history. However, the Red Sashes are on a worryingly poor run on the road, losing four of their last six away fixtures (D2).  They don’t have happy memories in this fixture, having won only one of their last ten H2Hs (D4, L5), and that was a penalty shoot-out win in the Copa del Rey.  That said, Real Betis have lost eleven of the 13 league games in which they conceded the first goal (W2), so Vallecano will feel they have a chance after scoring first in three of their last four away games.  Click here to get accurate football predictions.

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Espanyol vs Barcelona: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Barcelona and Espanyol will renew their rivalry this Sunday when both sides meet at RCDE Stadium. Espanyol come into this fixture in desperate need of maximum points that will push them further away from the relegation zone. They sit three points ahead of the relegation zone and should be highly motivated to win here. The ignominy of rivals Barcelona being ahead by 51 points, the biggest gap in a Derbi Barceloní in the 21st century, should also trigger Luis García Fernández’s side. Read more: Bologna vs AS Roma: Preview and Expert Football Prediction But beating Barcelona hasn’t been something the White and Blues have been used to, as they are winless across 25 top-flight derbies (D7, L18), which is their worst such record against any opponent. Meanwhile, Barcelona could seal the La Liga title win at Cornella de Llobregat if they win here and Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid drop points in their respective fixtures. Yet, even though the Madrid clubs don’t drop points, Xavi’s men will be happy to take all three points and make it three wins in three league games after back-to-back wins over Real Betis (4-0) and Osasuna (1-0). The 1-0 win over Osasuna on Tuesday was Barca’s eleventh victory by that scoreline this season, equalling the record for a full top-flight campaign. Those results also played their part in Barcelona collecting a 25th La Liga clean sheet this season, the joint-most for any team in the top-five European leagues this century.  The fact that they can push their derby neighbours closer to the drop could be extra motivation to produce another defensive masterclass, although Barça have kept just one clean sheet across their last four league trips to this venue. Click here to get today’s soccer prediction.

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Real Madrid vs Getafe: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

After their weekend exertions in the Champions League, Real Madrid will return to La Liga action this Saturday when they host Getafe.  The hosts have not played in the league since their 2-1 loss to Real Sociedad early this month. Since then, they have beaten Osasuna 2-1 to win the Copa Del Rey before holding Manchester City 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League semi-final.  Two league losses from their last three games mean they come into this round of games sitting in third place, one point behind city rivals Atletico Madrid, who have shot themselves to the second spot with impressive results.  Read more: Bayern Munich vs Schalke: Preview and Expert Football Prediction Getafe have beaten Madrid only once across the last 18 H2Hs (W15, D2) and might struggle again here, given that their hosts have lost just once in 20 La Liga home fixtures (W14, D5). The visitors were winless in April (D2, L4) but moved to 18th position with a crucial 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo, which boosted their survival hopes.  They will enter this game (which is their third last La Liga away game of the season), having not won on the road since October (D3, L7) whilst failing to score in three of the last four (D1, L3). The visitors also haven’t won an away head-to-head meeting with Carlo Ancelotti’s side since February 2008 (L13), losing the last four of them ‘to nil’, including three with a 2-0 scoreline. Click here to get accurate football predictions 

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Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Real Madrid will travel to San Sebastian on Tuesday to face Real Sociedad in the 33rd Round of the 2022/23 La Liga season.  The hosts kept their quest for a top-four finish alive last Friday courtesy of a 2-0 win over local rivals Osasuna. The win kept them locked in the fourth position, five points ahead of Villarreal and in the fifth position. So they are now well-placed to finish in the La Liga top four for the first time since 2012/13. Star forward Takefusa Kubo declared they “have the right to dream–we are going for the Champions League.” Read more:  However, the month of May won’t be easy as they will take on each of the three sides above them, starting here with Real Madrid. The fact that manager Imanol Alguacil has never won the opposite number Carlo Ancelotti (D1, L2), points to the job’s difficulty.  Meanwhile, Madrid come into this tie on the back of a 4-2 win over Almeria, with Karim Benzema scoring a hattrick to make him  fourth-highest all-time scorer.  The hosts will hope that Ancelotti rests the Frenchman with the upcoming CDR final and Champions League semi-final in mind. But Ancelotti’s options appear limited, with star forward Vinícius Júnior suspended after picking up his sixth yellow card of the season for dissent. Yet, Madrid have won just one of their last four league away fixtures (D1, L2), and can’t afford to take their eye off the ball in a La Liga context as they bid to stay ahead of city rivals Atlético in the fight for second place behind champions-elect Barcelona.  Meanwhile, Los Blancos have averaged 1.4 goals per game across their last five La Liga road games (W2, D1, L2), so they should at least keep Sociedad’s defence busy regardless of the end result. That said we can expect over 2.5 goals scored in this game. Click here to get winning soccer predictions. 

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Sevilla vs Girona:  Preview and Expert Football Prediction  

La Liga continues this Monday with rejuvenated Sevilla welcoming in-form Girona in the 32nd Round of the league season. The hosts have enjoyed a remarkable return to form under the management of 62-year-old Spanish journeyman José Luis Mendilibar.   His appointment has so far been an inspired decision from Sevilla, as Mendilibar has guided the Andalusian club not only to their longest undefeated period (W4, D1) of this La Liga season but also into the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League.  That has translated into an impressive seven games without a loss in his one-month tenure and a ten-point buffer from the relegation zone heading into this Round. Meanwhile, they come into this tie on the back of a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. However, they needed some luck to secure that win, as a last-minute penalty was their saving grace in the game.  They will now look to make it five wins in five games in all competitions in this match.  Read more: Real Mallorca vs Athletic Bilbao:  Preview and Expert Football Prediction   Given that they are yet to lose a La Liga game at home to any club ranked below ninth-placed Vallecano at the start of this Round (W5, D3), Sevilla have every reason to be confident of avenging January’s 2-1 loss at Girona. Moreover, the hosts will be particularly optimistic as they have six wins from eight league home games in 2023 (D1, L1). Meanwhile, Girona boosted ambitions of eclipsing their highest-ever top-flight finish (tenth in their La Liga debut 2017/18) when they beat Real Madrid 4-2 in their last outing. That win was their third La Liga win over the Spanish giants from six attempts (D1, L2), keeping them in the top half.  The visitors start this round eight points adrift of the top six, so European football could still be within reach if they can build upon that momentum on the run home. However, closing that gap will require them to do better away from home. They have not enjoyed their road trips since March and recently came back down to earth after following a scoreless draw at Camp Nou with a loss to lowly Valladolid.  While their superior position in the table to Sevilla might suggest they have an advantage, Girona’s league away record against current bottom-half opposition (W1, D2, L5) leaves much to be desired. Click here to get sure win predictions. 

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Real Mallorca vs Athletic Bilbao:  Preview and Expert Football Prediction  

La Liga continues this Monday with Athletic Bilbao travelling to Palma de Mallorca to face Real Mallorca. The hosts will look to get back to winning ways when they host Bilbao in this game. They suffered their first defeat in April in their last outing as they were beaten 3-1 by Atletico Madrid last weekend.  Head coach Javier Aguirre blamed a “lack of concentration and bad decisions” for his team’s 3-1 defeat in the capital. But a swift return home should suit Mallorca as they bid to return to winning ways, given they’ve lost just one of their last ten matches (W6, D3) on their own turf in La Liga.  Read more: Leicester vs Everton:  Preview and Expert Football Prediction   The hosts have accumulated an impressive 63% of their points at home, a strong return they’ll be confident of improving against Athletic Bilbao given their solid head-to-head record as the hosts (W14, D10, L8). Meanwhile, Bilbao travel to Visit Mallorca Estadi on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Sevilla on Thursday evening. The visitors controlled much of the match but eventually conceded a stoppage-time penalty. Boss Ernesto Valverde said there’s “no room for regret” over those dropped points as his side continues their hunt for a European finish, something they’re not guaranteed with a top-seven finish thanks to Osasuna’s progression to the Copa del Rey final. The Lions start this round three points adrift of the top six with just seven games remaining, so they’ll need to start making inroads into that gap as quickly as possible. A trip away from home perhaps comes at the perfect time as Athletic have won each of their last three league games on the road.  However, they haven’t managed four successive away victories this century, so they might struggle to hit that height here. Meanwhile, Mallorca home matches average just 1.8 goals per game, the lowest in the division. So we can expect a low-scoring game here, with under 2.5 goals the likely outcome.   Click here to get the best football prediction today.

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Osasuna vs Real Sociedad: Preview and Expert Football Prediction 

La Liga returns this Friday as Real Sociedad travel to Pamplona to face European hopeful Osasuna. The hosts are one of five teams hoping to occupy fifth and sixth positions in La Liga at the end of this season. They kept their chances of doing so alive with a massive 3-2 win over   Celta Vigo in their last outing. The win made it two straight wins for Jagoba Arrasate’s side and kept them firmly placed in eighth position, three points behind the available European spots. Read more: Everton vs Newcastle United: Preview and Expert Football Prediction  Arrasate will be hoping to make it three wins in a row against top-four hopefuls Real Sociedad. But his side has struggled against teams starting this Round above them in the league standings (D2, L7), so it might be another disappointing outing at Estadio El Sadar. But after beating Real Betis in their last outing at this venue, they hope they’ve finally unlocked the formula required to win the league’s finer clubs. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will travel to Pamplona to return to winning ways after being held to a disappointing goalless draw against Real Betis in their last outing. That result has left their secure position in the top four under threat. Yet, they remain in command of their top-four destiny, leading fifth-placed Betis by six points. Given their current position, they will fancy their chances of securing Champions League football next season. However, with upcoming fixtures against the current top three still left to play, Imanol Alguacil knows his side must win this fairly easy game to stand a chance of achieving their goal for the season. But a run of six away games without a win (D2, L4) will not inspire much confidence ahead of this game. And having scored this La Liga season away to any club starting this Round in the top-eight (D2, L2), Sociedad will likely struggle to get maximum points here.  Click here to get the best Prediction for today.

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Girona vs Real Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction 

Real Madrid will travel to Estadio Municipal de Montilivi on Tuesday to face Girona in the 31st Round of the 2022/23 La Liga season. Girona saw their four-game unbeaten run in La Liga (W2, D2) ended on Saturday when they were beaten 1-0 by Valladolid. The result was a huge blow to their chances of qualifying for European football for the first time in their history.  So a more realistic target for this season will be eclipsing their best ever top-flight finish of tenth in 2017/18, with their next assignment a Real Madrid side against whom they’ve fared well recently (W1, D1, L1). Read more: Leeds United vs Leicester City: Preview and Expert Football Prediction  Although they lost the last two home head-to-head despite scoring on both occasions, draws away to Barcelona (0-0) and Real Madrid (1-1) this season suggest they could influence the title race.  They will fancy their chances of causing another upset here, given that they have lost only one of their last five home La Liga fixtures (W4). Meanwhile, Real Madrid kept their unlikely La Liga race alive by beating Celta Vigo 2-0 on Saturday. The win was their fourth consecutive game to have finished in their favour with that scoreline.  But they remain eleven points behind table toppers Barcelona. But they will hope to keep winning, hoping for a slip-up from the Catalan side with seven games still to play. Meanwhile, mixed away form since November has been a key factor in Los Blancos falling so far behind Barcelona (W4, D1, L4), a far cry from when they began their league campaign with six consecutive victories on the road.  But recent campaigns suggest they should finish strongly, as when including only their final four away trips of a La Liga season, Madrid have lost just one of their last 12 fixtures away from the Bernabéu (W8, D3). Meanwhile, Girona’s home La Liga games have produced the second-highest average of total goals per game (3.07) in the division. So we can expect an over 2.5 goals game here. 

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Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

La Liga leaders Barcelona will look to continue their unhindered march towards the league title when they host top-four chasing Atletico Madrid this Sunday. With no European games, the hosts enjoyed an entire week on the training field. That extended time of rest and recuperating may have arrived at the perfect time for Barcelona as they look to bounce back from a three-game scoreless and winless run (D2, L1).  That winless run included a goalless La Liga draw at Getafe last Sunday. Despite the result, Barca’s eleven-point lead at the top of the table ahead of this round remains comfortable. Read more: Juventus vs Napoli: Preview and Expert Football Prediction  However, if their scoring woes aren’t addressed and Real Madrid keeps picking up points, it won’t be long before the title race is back on. A return home could be a blessing as Barça have scored in 12 of their last 13 league games here, averaging over two per game. However, they won’t be short of motivation either, as the hosts stand a chance to win both seasonal H2Hs for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, having won the reverse fixture 1-0. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will travel to Camp Nou in beast mode, having gone unbeaten across 13 league games (W10, D3). That run includes six straight wins that consolidated their top-three spot.  This has softened the blow of dropping out of Europe and getting knocked out of the Copa del Rey, although a win here could receive the biggest cheer from their arch-rivals Real Madrid. Yet, the visitors still have much to aim for, sitting just two points shy of Real ahead of the weekend.  However, this fixture hasn’t been kind to them in recent years, with Atlético failing to win an away La Liga head-to-head since February 2006 (D5, L11 since).  But four wins from their last five league road trips (D1) suggest the visitors are well prepared this time and will take the 1-0 scoreline recorded in three of those victories. Meanwhile, given how tight Barcelona have been at home, we expect a low-scoring encounter in this game. Click here to get expert football predictions.

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Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo: Preview and Expert Football Prediction 

After their Champions League exertions at Stamford Bridge in midweek, Real Madrid will turn their attention to La Liga when they welcome Celta Vigo to Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. The hosts secured their place in the sending final of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday. A brace from Rodrygo Goes sealed the win for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, handing them a 4-0 aggregate win and securing a date with Manchester City in the next Round. Their attention will now turn to securing their 20th win in La Liga this game as they look to keep their unlikely league title charge alive. However, they come into this tie sitting eleven points behind Barcelona, with little or no chance of closing the deficit. Read more: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Preview and Expert Football Prediction  But they will keep trying to win games, especially at the Bernabéu, where they will be hoping their fans are treated to a battery performance than their most recent home outing when they were beaten 3-2 by Villarreal. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo will look to get back to winning ways after their Monday night 1-0 defeat to Mallorca ended their seven-match unbeaten run in the league (W3, D4). That loss dented their ambitions of a top-half finish this season. But it is still achievable, given that they come into this Round of games sitting just two points off ninth-placed Girona.  Repeating their top-ten finish two seasons ago would be a fine way to mark their centenary year, as would beating Madrid, which they haven’t managed in the league since May 2014 (D2, L15). Yet they are unbeaten in the league away action since the start of February (W2, D3) and will fancy their chances here. But you have to go back to November 2006 for the last time they claimed a head-to-head league triumph in Madrid (D1, L9), highlighting the scale of the task Celta face. Click here to get Football Prediction for today.

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