La Liga Predictions: Round 18

Deportivo la Coruna v Sevilla

This is the second time in a week that Andalucian side Sevilla shall square up with Galician club Deportivo la Coruna. Manolo Jimenez's side defeated Depor 2-1 in the Copa del Rey in midweek in Seville and take a trip to La Coruna on Saturday to play them again.  

Sevilla are fourth in the table with 32 points from 17 matches while Depor are sixth, just two points behind them. Sevilla are on a bad run of form in La Liga and also have injury concerns, with coach Jimenez being forced to call up three members of the youth team for this match.  

Javi Varas, Javi Navarro, Abdoulay Konko, Federico Fazio, Aquivaldo Mosquera, Lautaro Acosta, Javier Chevanton and Arouna Kone all are missing for Sevilla while Depor shall have goalkeeper Dani Aranzubia, defenders Ze Castro and Felipe Luis and midfielders Sergio Gonzalez and Juan Rodriguez back.  

Depor are on a great run of form while things are starting to get nervy for Sevilla and their coach Jimenez. Deportivo have won six out of eight league matches at home and although they might fancy maximum points against the Seville club on Saturday, they might just have to do with a draw.  

Match to end in a 2-2 draw

Valencia v Villarreal

This is the match of the weekend and one that might well decide Villarreal's season. The Yellow Submarine are currently in seventh position, 15 points adrift of the top and have won only one of their last 10 competitive matches.  

Moreover, Manuel Pellegrini's side has lost successively to Sevilla, Barcelona and Real Madrid and a defeat to Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday night could just wreck their morale. Villarreal shall be without the injured Nihat Kahveci and Javi Venta while Marcos Senna is also out for the match.

Valencia defeated Atletico Madrid 3-1 last weekend and are now second in the table, four points ahead of Villarreal.

Los Che have star man David Silva back from injury and back into top form and having won seven out of nine league matches at home, Unai Emery's side should achieve a victory this weekend too.

Derby to end in a 2-1 win for Valencia

Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao

It is Atletico versus Athletic at the Estadio Vicente Calderon and things should be fiery between these two sides. Atletico's defeat to Valencia last weekend has helped them slip to fifth in the table, only two points off the top four while Bilbao are comfortably placed in 13th position in the table, a healthy six points above the relegation zone.

Atletico have taken 18 points out of a possible 24 at home this season while Bilbao have won only once away from home in the league. So no surprises for guessing which team should win this match.

Atletico to win 3-1

Espanyol v Almeria

This is a relegation six-pointer as third from bottom Espanyol entertain 14th placed Almeria at the Montjuic on Sunday. There is a five-point gap between Espanyol and Almeria but that owes to Almeria winning 1-0 against Real Betis last weekend in legend Hugo Sanchez's managerial debut for the Spanish club. This shouldn't be a very pretty match and goals would be hard to come by.

Match to end in a 1-1 draw

Real Mallorca v Real Madrid

Real Madrid seem to have revived under Juande Ramos and with successive 1-0 victories in the league, first over Valencia and then over Villarreal, they seem to be starting to gather momentum. Los Blancos are now third in the table, one point behind second placed Valencia but still 12 points behind leaders Barcelona.

They should cruise to a comfortable victory on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Mallorca to play a side that did put up a gutsy performance against Barcelona last weekend only to capitulate in the end. Mallorca are second from bottom with only 14 points from 17 matches.

The Islanders though have lost only twice in eight matches at home, winning two matches and drawing the other four. So things might get a bit cagey for Madrid, who have won only three out of eight matches in the league on their trip.

Madrid to nick it 2-1

Numancia v Getafe

16th placed Numancia do have a decent home record in the league this season and might fancy a win against a Getafe side that is sitting in 10th place. Numanica though are defensively very much vulnerable and should they concede a goal or two early on in the match, things would get very tough for them.

Match to end in a 1-1 draw

Osasuna v Barcelona

It is bottom verus top at the Reyno de Navarra in Pamplona where Osasuna welcome mighty FC Barcelona. Osasuna have won only twice in the league this season and have 13 points from 17 matches. But they have lost only twice in their last seven matches and things under new coach Jose Antonio Camacho is looking bright.

But that brightness should be eclipsed on Sunday night when Barcelona come to town. Barcelona are unbeaten in the league since their opening day defeat to Numancia and given their resources and form, the Catalans must certainly win and win big in Pamplona.

Barcelona to march past Osasuna 3-0

Racing Santander v Recreativo de Huelva

Recreativo de Huelva are battling relegation this season and are currently one place and two points above the bottom three. But last weekend's morale-boosting 3-1 win at home over Numancia must have gifted them the hopes to keep on batting and so they would against Racing in Santander this weekend. Racing are 11th in the table and wouldn’t lay down easy for the Andalucians.

Racing to win 2-1

Real Betis v Malaga

Real Betis entertain Malaga at the Ruiz de Lopera on Sunday in a match that Malaga should try and sneak a win, given that they are eight in the table and chasing a UEFA Cup spot while Betis are 15th, four points above the dropzone.

Malaga to nick it 1-0

Sporting de Gijon v Real Valladolid

This is a mid-table clash as promoted side Sporting de Gijon, currently placed in 12th, welcome ninth place Real Valladolid. Valladolid have a poor away form with only a single win on their trip in La Liga this season while Sporting have lost 5 at home, conceding 18 goals.

Seems that this is made for a 2-2 draw

Subhankar Mondal