La Liga Predictions: Week 17

FC Barcelona v Real Mallorca

The first match of the New Year in La Liga is between champions elect FC Barcelona and relegation battlers Real Mallorca. Barcelona are a massive 10 point clear at the top of the Liga table and should be comfortable winners at Camp Nou on Saturday evening.

Barca are unbeaten in 15 league matches and with 41 points in their bag already, they boast their best ever start in La Liga. Mallorca, on the other hand, are set to confront a long and struggling season. They are just a point and one place above the relegation zone and have won only once away from home all season.

Can they get their second away victory and inflict on Barca their first home defeat of the season? Yours truly is not putting any of his money on a draw or a Barcelona defeat.

Barcelona to win 3-0

Valencia v Atletico Madrid

Sunday's second league match pairs up two of the at-the-start-of-the-season-league-title-contenders-turned-mid-season-UEFA Champions League hopefuls Valencia and Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla. This is going to a cracker and neither side can afford to drop points.

Valencia and Atletico have 30 points each and both need maximum points. Goals can be expected in this match as Valencia's David Villa and Atletico's Sergio Aguero would fancy their chances of winning the Pichichi at the end of the season.

Atleti have been on an unbeaten run that stretches back to mid-October while Valencia have won just one of their last three matches, suffering a defeat to Real Madrid in La Liga in Round 16 a fortnight ago.

It should be a close call but then again Atletico have not looked very comfortable playing the big teams in Spain this season and at the Mestalla, you might just fancy a home victory.

Valencia to nick it 2-1

Almeria v Real Betis

Almeria were last season's surprise package but with the departure of coach Unai Emery to Valencia in the summer, the Andalucians have plummeted towards the bottom of the table. At the moment they are three points above the relegation zone in 16th and entertain fellow Andalucians Real Betis on Sunday.  

Betis have not won in their last four matches but they do have a decent-ish away record, having won thrice and drawn once in their seven matches on their travels so far. Almeria, on the other hand, have won only one of their last 11 matches.

Betis to win 2-1

Athletic Bilbao v Espanyol

Athletic Bilbao have won their last four home matches and are favourites to add to that list on Sunday when they welcome Espanyol. San Mames is never an easy place to get even a point from and struggling Espanyol should not foster much hope either.

New coach Mane's side has collected a solitary point out of a possible 21 and are currently third from bottom. Bilbao, on the other had, are comfortably in the top half of the table.

But it would be new start for Espanyol and although form-wise they are anticipated to lose the match, it is likely that Mane would instill some resistance and gut into the team.

Match to end in a 1-1 draw.

Real Madrid v Villarreal

This is the match of the week as fifth placed Real Madrid host sixth placed Villarreal. Both sides are on 30 points and the side that loses this titan clash would have to kiss their dim hopes of a title challenge goodbye.

Both Real and Villarreal have been under par so far this season with Real being thrown into the disaster bin in December, what with the sacking of Bernd Schuster as coach and the side slipping to 12 points behind archrivals FC Barcelona.

But things can only improve under new coach Juande Ramos. Real should be the slight favourites as they have lost only once at home in the league so far. If they perform as they did against Valencia a fortnight ago, the Blancos should manage maximum points.

Real to win 1-0

Real Valladolid v Racing Santander

Valladolid have an incredible home record in the league so far this season. They have won six of the eight league matches played at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla, having conceded only five goals.

The Pucela are sitting comfortably in eighth position in the table while Racing are 14th. You should not expect this to be a pretty game of football but you can expect Valladolid to win.

Valladolid to win 2-1

Malaga v Sporting de Gijon

La Rosaleda on Sunday afternoon sees this season's two promoted sides come head to head. Malaga take on Sporting de Gijon in what is a clash between ninth and eleventh placed teams. Sporting have not drawn a match in the league so far this season and one can anticipate the same trend to continue this weekend too.

Malaga should be the favourites in this match. Last season, Malaga won both the matches against Sporting in the Segunda Division and although Sporting have exhibited that they can sustain pace in the Spanish top flight, Malaga should continue to put one over them.

Malaga to win 3-1

Recreativo de Huelva v Numancia

Recre versus Numancia at the Nuevo Colombino is relegation six-pointer. This match should be the dullest match in the Spanish top flight this weekend. Recrea are the lowest scoring Liga team as they have managed only 11 goals in 16 matches while Numancia have the second worst defensive record this season.

So don't expect goals in this match but somehow yours truly gets the feeling that Recre might just nick it in the end.

Recre to win 1-0

Sevilla v Osasuna

This match has a Sevilla victory written all over it. The Andalucians are second in the table and know that to retain their slim title hopes they have to maintain the winning tempo and they should do so this weekend when they host bottom club Osasuna at the Pizjuan on Sunday evening.

Sevilla to win 2-0

Getafe v Deportivo la Coruna

Deportivo la Coruna are on the rise this season as they are just 3 points off a UEFA Champions League spot. But their success so far has been built on a strong home record while away from home, they look vulnerable as they have won only twice in 8 matches in the league so far. Getafe are tenth in the table but they don't boast a very good home record.

Match to end in a 2-2 draw

Subhankar Mondal