Before the Round – Trends on Spain LaLiga (18-19/02)

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La Liga moves into round 22 this weekend with four teams fighting for the final Champions League qualification place. Fourth-place Atletico Madrid are separated by just six points from seventh-place Athletic Bilbao.

Real Sociedad - Celta Vigo

Real Sociedad are third in the standings ahead of Celta Vigo’s arrival at Anoeta Stadium. La Real won five and lost one of their last six games versus the Sky Blues in all competitions. Sociedad are on a five-game win streak versus Celta Vigo.

Celta are in good form, with 10 points coming from the last six matches in La Liga. The Sky Blues do not score many goals, as they tallied seven in their last six games while conceding six.

Real Sociedad took 13 points from the last six games in the league, with 10 goals for and four against. Sociedad are not a strong home team, as they have a record of five wins, two draws, and three defeats at Anoeta.

• In all of their 14 most recent games in all competitions, Real Sociedad have not suffered a loss at half time.
• In their last 11 games in all competitions, Celta de Vigo have recorded 9 undefeated encounters.
• Real Sociedad are unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 matches in all competitions.
• Celta de Vigo haven't lost in 6 of their last 7 away games in all competitions.
• Prediction: Both to Score

Real Betis - Real Valladolid

Real Betis and Real Valladolid divided their last six head-to-head games into two wins, two draws, and two defeats. Earlier this season, Betis and Valladolid drew nil-nil, with Los Verdiblancos receiving a red card.

Valladolid are unbeaten in three straight La Liga games going into their trip to Seville. All three games ended with under 1.5 goals.

Betis are in so-so form with nine points from their last six games in La Liga. They scored 10 goals and conceded 10 times across the last six matches.

• Real Betis are undefeated at half time in their last 17 home La Liga games in a row.
• In all of their 3 most recent matches in La Liga, Real Valladolid have managed to keep a clean sheet.
• Real Betis haven't lost in 13 of their last 16 home games in all competitions.
• The average number of goals conceded by Real Valladolid is 1.90 for their away La Liga matches.
• Prediction: Real Betis

Elche CF – Espanyol

Elche went unbeaten in five of their last six games versus Espanyol. Three of the last six matches between these strugglers ended as draws. The teams finished 2-2 earlier this season at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium.

Elche are bottom of the standings and are heading down to La Liga 2. The Green Striped Ones took just five points from the last six games in La Liga, scoring five goals and conceding nine times.

Espanyol are 17th in the standings and one point above the relegation zone. The Parakeets’ form has improved slightly, as they took eight points from the last six games, scoring nine goals and conceding 10 times. Espanyol have won just two league away games this season.

• Elche CF have achieved just 3 wins in their 24 most recent games in all competitions.
• Both teams scored in RCD Espanyol's 7 most recent meetings with Elche CF in all competitions.
• Elche CF have conceded 1 or more goals in their last 26 La Liga games in a row.
• RCD Espanyol are on a poor run of just 3 wins in 29 away matches (La Liga).
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Rayo Vallecano – Sevilla

Rayo Vallecano won just one of their last six games versus Sevilla in all competitions. That one win came earlier this season, as the Red Sashes picked up a 1-0 victory.

Rayo are sixth in the division and are fighting for qualification to the Champions League. Five points separate Rayo from fourth place ahead of round 22. The team is unbeaten in three straight games, with two wins and a draw. All three games ended with under 2.5 goals.

Sevilla have improved since the World Cup break and are up to 12th in the table. They are still just four points above the relegation zone. Sevilla are third in the league form table with 12 points from the last six games, scoring nine times and conceding six goals.

• In their last 16 games in all competitions, Rayo Vallecano have been undefeated on 13 occasions.
• Sevilla FC are on a poor run of just 1 wins in 7 away matches (La Liga).
• Rayo Vallecano are unbeaten in 11 of their 13 most recent matches (La Liga).
• Sevilla FC conceded an average of 1.70 goals in their away matches in La Liga.
• Prediction: Rayo Vallecano