Before the Round – Trends on Spain LaLiga (04-05/02)

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Ninth-place Athletic Bilbao and 19th-place Getafe are separated by a mere nine points. The relegation battle in La Liga is extremely tight and a big-name club could go down this season. This weekend’s La Liga fixtures will have a big impact on the relegation fight.

Elche CF – Villarreal

Elche are bottom of the league and destined for relegation. The Green Striped Ones picked up just six points from 19 games. They are the only team in La Liga without a win. Villarreal won 4-0 against Elche earlier this season at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Villarreal are fifth in the league but coming off a defeat versus Rayo Vallecano. The Yellow Submarine still picked up 13 points from the last six matches.

Elche took two points from their last six games in La Liga. The Green Striped Ones failed to win each of their last 19 La Liga matches.

• Elche CF have achieved just 1 wins of their last 20 La Liga games.
• Villarreal CF are undefeated in 10 of their last 11 encounters with Elche CF in all competitions.
• Elche CF score an average of 0.56 goals in their home matches in all competitions.
• In their 8 most recent away matches of La Liga, Villarreal CF have achieved just 1 wins.
• Prediction: Villarreal @1.95

Real Betis - Celta Vigo

The last six games between Real Betis and Celta Vigo were divided into two wins, two draws, and two defeats apiece. Celta Vigo are unbeaten in three straight games versus Betis. Earlier this season, Celta Vigo won 1-0 at home versus Betis as Manuel Pellegrini’s team had a man sent off.

Real Betis’s form in La Liga has dipped. Los Verdiblancos took just eight points from the last six games. Goals have dried up as Betis scored just four times across those six fixtures.

Celta Vigo are improving and they took nine points from the last six matches. The Sky Blues are coming off a 1-0 win versus Athletic Bilbao.

• Real Betis are on a run of 16 consecutive home undefeated at half time matches in their domestic league.
• Celta de Vigo have won just 2 of their last 12 league games.
• Real Betis haven't lost in 13 of their last 15 home games in all competitions.
• Celta de Vigo have not been beaten in 8 of their 9 most recent matches in all competitions.
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @1.57

Girona FC – Valencia

Valencia won five of their last six games against Girona in La Liga. However, this is the right time to play Valencia. Los Che sacked manager Gennaro Gattuso recently and could struggle versus Girona.

Girona are 12th in the standings but go into the match on a two-game losing streak in La Liga. Eight points were picked up across Girona’s last six games.

Valencia will play Real Madrid in midweek and could drop points once more. Before playing Madrid, Valencia took just five points from the six games before playing against the reigning champions.

• Girona FC have achieved just 1 wins of their last 7 all competitions games.
• Valencia CF's performance has been disappointing of late, as they have won just 3 of their 16 most recent away all competitions clashes.
• There are no losses for Girona FC in 5 of their most recent 6 home games (La Liga).
• Valencia CF have achieved just 1 wins of their last 10 La Liga games.
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @1.80

Real Sociedad - Real Valladolid

Real Sociedad are fresh off a nil-nil draw with Real Madrid away from home. Sociedad are the best of the rest in La Liga this season and will host 17th-place Real Valladolid on Sunday. Valladolid shocked Sociedad in the reverse fixture in October with a 1-0 win.

Valladolid are hoping to complete the double over Sociedad this season. However, the team is in poor form. Valladolid lost five of their last six games in La Liga.

Sociedad are unbeaten in six straight La Liga matches. La Real took 16 points from their last six games, scoring 11 goals and conceding twice. No team played better across their last six games than Sociedad.

• A period of 12 straight games without a loss at half time marks the all competitions campaign of Real Sociedad.
• A run of 5 straight away defeats makes the most recent matches in La Liga of Real Valladolid.
• Real Sociedad haven't lost in 20 of their last 24 matches in all competitions.
• Real Valladolid haven't succeeded in scoring a goal in their 5 latest away games in La Liga.
• Prediction: Real Sociedad @1.40