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VIE 13.09.2019
RCD Mallorca vs. Athletic Club
Athletic Club return from the first international break sitting in second place, two points behind leaders Atletico de Madrid and three points clear of last year’s champions Barcelona. Raul Garcia has provided them a deadly attacking threat going forward and they have compounded that with a resolute defence, conceding just once in their opening three games. They travel to RCD Mallorca who find themselves with just one win from their opening three matches, scoring just two goals over that period. RCD Mallorca haven’t beaten Athletic Club since 2011, with the latter having won the past three matches by a one-goal margin.
Real Madrid CF vs. Levante UD
After an impressive opening showing, Real Madrid have produced two disappointing draws at home to Real Valladolid and away to Villarreal. Zinedine Zidane has been rescued by Gareth Bale on several occasions after the manager admitted the Welshman was surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabéu. They will face no easy task against a Levante UD side that currently sit ahead of them on the table with two wins from their opening three matches, both coming at home. The away side will feel buoyed by last year’s fixture away to Real Madrid where they defeated Los Blancos 2-1, before losing the reverse fixture by the same scoreline. The home side could see the debut of record signing Eden Hazard.
Real Sociedad vs. Atlético de Madrid
Real Sociedad have broken even with one win, one loss and one draw through their opening three games despite a roster bubbling with talent and promise. An extremely late and fortunate penalty against Valencia and a late winner against RCD Mallorca have earned them their four points in an underwhelming start to the season. They kick back into LaLiga action following the international break with the form team in the competition, an undefeated Atletico de Madrid. Diego Simeone’s side have set the early precedent and look a formidable opposition. Record-signing Joao Felix has so far lived up to the billing and their defence looks as resolute as ever, in a distinct warning to the rest of Spanish football. Real Sociedad’s recent form against their mighty opposition is far from dire however, winning two of the past six games against the league leaders, both coming at home.
C.D. Leganés vs. Villarreal CF
CD Leganes find themselves dead last after the first three weeks of the competition, registering just one goal from their three defeats in worrying early signs for the Madrid-based side. Villarreal have similarly struggled through their opening few weeks of the season, managing two draws and one defeat. Unlike CD Leganes they have managed to play out hugely entertaining games, scoring seven goals and conceding eight over that period. Villarreal CF are winners of the past four meetings between these two sides, but CD Leganes have scored in all but one of their past seven, meaning this game could go either way.
FC Barcelona vs. Valencia CF
FC Barcelona will be required to do the chasing after an indifferent start to the season sees the reigning champions already five points adrift of LaLiga leaders Atletico de Madrid. Their 5-2 dismantling of Real Betis at home has been their only impressive performance of the season so far, but the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez through these fixtures won’t have the club too concerned. Both are expected to return as they host Valencia CF, who have one win, one loss and one draw from their opening few weeks of the campaign. Valencia CF beat FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey at the Camp Nou in May of this year and will be confident they can capitalise on an indifferent start from the hosts. They have however only beaten FC Barcelona once in LaLiga since 2014.
SD Eibar vs. RCD Espanyol
SD Eibar host RCD Espanyol in a battle between two teams in the relegation zone in the very early stages of the season. Both teams have struggled mightily at the back, conceding five goals apiece while RCD Espanyol are the only club yet to score a goal in LaLiga. SD Eibar looked to have pulled off one of the upsets of the season in their last outing against Atletico de Madrid, only to fall 3-2 thanks to Thomas Partey’s 90th minute heartbreaker. They will be buoyed by the effort and should be confident against a RCD Espanyol side that look toothless in attack. The two times split the results last year, with the home side winning each time. SD Eibar have won three of the past four head to head fixtures.
D. Alavés vs. Sevilla FC
D. Alavés and Sevilla FC face off after promising starts to the season for both clubs which sees them sitting in seventh and third places respectively. D. Alavés’ draw away to Getafe CF in their last match ensured they remained undefeated heading into the international break, but they have scored just twice in those three matches. Sevilla FC have two wins from their opening three matches and could have had a perfect start if Denis Suarez hadn’t equalised late for RC Celta in their previous game. D. Alavés have beaten Sevilla FC just once since 2006, with that last victory coming at home in January of 2018.
RC Celta vs. Granada CF
RC Celta and Granada CF have identical records through the opening stages of the LaLiga season, with each registering one win, one loss and one draw. Granada CF’s last game out was a 3-0 annihilation of RCD Espanyol in Barcelona, which will fill them with confidence for the difficult trip to the nation’s north-west coast. RC Celta managed a late point against Sevilla FC in their last match and they will be looking to capitalise at home. These two teams last played in the 2016/17 LaLiga season where RC Celta dominated, winning 3-1 at home and 3-0 away.
R. Valladolid CF vs. C.A. Osasuna
LaLiga SmartBank champions Osasuna have made an impressive start to their return to LaLiga, with one win and two draws leaving them undefeated and in sixth-place after the first three weeks of the competition. R. Valladolid CF have made a less convincing start with one win, one loss and one draw which seems them sitting six points lower than their opponents. Both teams have scored three goals, with R. Valladolid CF’s Sergio Navarro and C.A. Osasuna’s Roberto Torres Morales scoring two for their respective teams. C.A. Osasuna have dominated recent meetings between these two sides, winning four of the past six matches.
Real Betis vs. Getafe CF
Last year’s fairy tale side Getafe CF have started the 2018/19 LaLiga season in disappointing form, winless from their opening three matches of the season. A difficult start to the season which included matches away to Atletico de Madrid and home to Athletic Club will have Getafe CF desperate to register their first win of the season, but they will have to do it away to Real Betis in one of the most intimidating stadiums in Spanish football. Betis have lost twice in their opening three games, notably a 5-2 demolition by FC Barcelona, but can always count on their home support. Getafe CF won both fixtures last season, including a 2-1 win away.
Follow all the results and the standings from the opening round of matches in LaLiga on livescore.com.
© LALIGA - 2019