Some exciting derby matches are waiting for us in the 10th round of the Spanish La Liga, and in this preview, we’ll take a closer look at two games set for Sunday, October 29th, 2017, when Eibar welcomes Levante at Ipurua Municipal Stadium, while Malaga meets Celta Vigo at La Rosaleda.
Down below you’ll find some tips and fresh information about these two encounters, along with our betting predictions, like always here on GetMoreSports.
EIBAR vs. LEVANTE
Three-Way: 1: Eibar +110; X: +250 Draw; 2: Levante +344 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Eibar -102; Levante -102
Total +2.5: Over +131; Under -137
EIBAR
The Gunsmiths are having a terrible season so far, as they are laying at the 17th place of the Spanish La Liga table after the first nine rounds with seven points, and the worst goal difference (3:20) in the entire league. In the last five La Liga games, they’ve scored just one goal, earning a single point only in a goalless draw with Deportivo La Coruna at home in the eighth round.
Eibar has a lot of problems with their attacking play. They’ve created 69 scoring chances with just 74% of average pass accuracy. Just three goals scored in nine games is pretty embarrassing fact, and they need to find the flow as soon as possible. The strikers Sergi Enrich and Charles both managed to find the net just once this season.
On the other end, Eibar’s defense is so fragile, and it seems like they have to play more aggressively. The team is recording 38 defensive actions per game, winning 47% of aerial duels, and 37% of tackles. They are playing poorly particularly on the road where they’ve conceded 15 goals in five games.
The manager Jose Luis Mendilibar is still without some crucial players, as Pedro Leon, Ivan Alejo and Ivan Ramis are all suffering from a knee injury, while Yoel Rodriguez is sidelined with a cruciate ligament rupture.
LEVANTE
The Frogs’ form is slightly descending in the last couple of weeks, as they earned just two points in the previous four rounds. After two consecutive defeats against Betis and Alaves, Levante drew with Espanyol on the road, 0:0, and with Getafe in front of the home fans, 1:1. With 11 points and a 9:11 goal difference after the first nine rounds, they are sitting at the 12th spot of the Spanish La Liga table.
Levante played just three games away from home so far, recording two draws and one defeat, with a 1:5 goal difference. The next game against Eibar could be a good chance for The Frogs to improve their away record, as they didn’t play well in those matches, especially against Espanyol when they were pretty lucky, and their goalkeeper Raul Fernandez made some magnificent saves. However, they’ve managed to stay unbeaten against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu in the third round.
The 30-year old winger Jose Luis Morales and a 22-year old midfielder Enis Bardhi are the team’s leading scorers, as both players bagged three goals so far. The 24-year old central midfielder Jose Campana created 14 chances for his teammates, but he’s still without an assist. Only three out of nine Levante’s goals came after the assist, while they’ve scored six times after set pieces.
The manager Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz cannot count on a striker Roger Marti due to a ruptured cruciate ligament, while the right-back Ivan Lopez will be unavailable for at least five months for the same reason.
EIBAR vs. LEVANTE – Match Prediction
Both teams are playing poorly recently, and I think it is time for The Gunsmiths to finally get some goals in front of the home fans. Therefore, I’ll go with the home team in this one, but I still expect to see a great battle at Ipurua.
MY PICK: Eibar to Win (+110)
MALAGA vs. CELTA VIGO
Three-Way: 1: Malaga +210; X: +262 Draw; 2: Celta Vigo +152
Spread 0: Malaga +120; Celta Vigo -125
Total +2.5: Over -111; Under +106
MALAGA
Malaga’s manager Michel certainly knows how important is the next match with Celta Vigo for his future at the club. His team is having one of the worst starts to the season in the history of the Spanish first tier with just one point, and a 4:20 goal difference after the first nine rounds. The White and Sky Blue lost three consecutive La Liga games with the same result, 2:0, and they even lost against Numancia, 2:1, in the first leg of the Spanish Copa del Rey round of 32.
Malaga desperately needs a win, and they have to be braver if they want to upheave the season. The striker Diego Rolan, who’s playing on loan from the French side Bordeaux, is the only man in the team with two goals on the account, and he’s doubtful for the next game with a muscle injury. The fans expect more from another striker Borja Baston, who’s also loaned from Swansea City, as he’s still goalless after six apps in the La Liga.
Besides Diego Rolan, the manager Michel cannot count on a midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic (muscle injury), while the right-back Miguel Torres is struggling with muscular problems. The goalkeeper Roberto missed a couple of games due to muscular problems, but he could be in the starting line up on Sunday.
CELTA VIGO
After the four games in a row without a defeat, Celta Vigo lost to Atletico Madrid at home, 1:0, in the previous round of the Spanish La Liga. They are currently at the 10th spot of the table after the first nine games with 11 points and an 18:14 goal difference. It seems like The Sky Blues are building up their form slowly, and the next match against struggling Malaga is a perfect chance to improve their record.
Celta Vigo is playing an entertaining football, and they’ve created 87 scoring chances so far with 83% of average pass accuracy. The 21-year old striker Maximiliano Gomez, who arrived from the Uruguayan side Defensor Sporting, is leading his team with six goals in eight appearances, while the winger Iago Aspas added three to his name when he scored a hat-trick against Las Palmas in the eighth round. The 22-year old Pione Sisto is another key player, as the winger made six dishes in nine appearances, adding two goals to his name.The midfielder Daniel Wass is the second-best assistant with three dishes in nine apps.
The manager Juan Carlos Unzue is certainly satisfied with his team’s performance lately, and he can field his best eleven in the next game, as the centre-back Facundo Roncaglia (hamstring injury) is the only unavailable player among the squad.
MALAGA vs. CELTA VIGO – Match Prediction
Malaga just has to attack in this clash, and on the other side will be Celta’s fragile defense. Enough for me to put my money on both teams to score here, while I expect to see the first win for the home team, especially when I see that the home team won in the last six encounters between these two teams.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (-135)
