Some exciting games are waiting for us this weekend, as the Spanish La Liga goes on with the 11th round matches. In this preview, we’ll take a closer look at two encounters set for Sunday, November 5th, 2017, when Real Sociedad hosts Eibar at Anoeta, while Villarreal meets Malaga at Estadio de la Ceramica.
Don’t waste your time and check out our betting picks and predictions for these two games, like always here on GetMoreSports.
REAL SOCIEDAD vs. EIBAR
3-Way: 1: Real Sociedad -143; X: +341 Draw; 2: Eibar +500 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Real Sociedad +108; Eibar -106
Total +2.5: Over -125; Under +125
REAL SOCIEDAD
Real Sociedad is fighting on three fronts, and it is the main reason why they are struggling in the Spanish La Liga recently. After the first ten rounds, they are sitting at the ninth spot with 14 points, a 21:20 goal difference and a form of LDWDL. In the previous round Real Sociedad lost to Getafe on the road, 2:1, after they had a lead at the halftime. On last Thursday, they easily won the fourth round match of the Europa League against Vardar at home, 3:0, and they need to stay unbeaten in the next round against Rosenborg to secure the second spot of the Group L table.
Real Sociedad’s players created 105 scoring chances in ten La Liga games, scoring 21 goals which make them the third most efficient team in the league. On the other end, their defensive work was pretty sloppy from the start of the season, and they conceded 10 goals just in the previous five rounds. The talented 20-year old winger Mikel Oyarzabal is leading the team with five goals in seven appearances, while forwards Willian Jose and Juanmi both scored three times so far. The right-back Alvaro Odriozola and the midfielder Xabi Prieto made three assists each, and along Asier Illarramendi, Prieto is a key player in Sociedad’s midfield.
The manager Eusebio is having some problems to field his best eleven, as the centre-back Diego Llorente (wound) and the right-back Carlos Martinez (ruptured cruciate ligament) are both sidelined for the next game.
EIBAR
The Gunsmiths showed us two different faces of their game in the previous round of the Spanish La Liga against Levante at home. They looked totally unorganized in the first half, allowing The Frogs to score twice, and it seemed like another nightmare for Eibar’s fans. However, in the second half, they played much better, creating some dangerous opportunities, and they managed to get a point at the end. Finally, they scored two goals in one game, and it could be a huge boost for the next matches.
Eibar is at the 17th spot of the La Liga table after the first ten rounds with eight points and a 5:22 goal difference. They are winless in six games in a row, earning just two points after their last victory over Leganes, 1:0, in the fourth round. The 33-year old striker Charles, who arrived from Malaga this summer, bagged his second goal of the season against Levante, and now he’s a team’s leading scorer. The 29-year old winger Takashi Inui was brilliant in the previous round. He took four shots on Levante’s goal and created two scoring chances for his teammates.
The manager Jose Luis Mendilibar is still trying to pick up the pieces, and the second half against Levante is surely a good role model. For the next game, Mendilibar will have to cope with some injury problems. The keeper Yoel Rodriguez is sidelined with a cruciate ligament rupture, while Fran Rico, Pedro Leon, and Ivan Alejo are all suffering from a knee injury.
REAL SOCIEDAD vs. EIBAR – Match Prediction
There are some tired legs among the Sociedad’s squad, and it could be a chance for The Gunsmiths to get something from this match. The home team is a favorite in this one, but I expect to see a close game with some goals on both ends.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score (-115)
VILLARREAL vs MALAGA
3-Way: 1: Villarreal -147; X: +340 Draw; 2: Malaga +620 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Villarreal +104; Malaga -108
Total +2.5: Over -125; Under +120
VILLARREAL
The Yellow Submarine is in a decent form recently, especially in the Spanish La Liga where they’ve won three times in the last four rounds. Villarreal drew with Atletico Madrid on the road, 1:1, in the previous La Liga match, and now they’ll be looking for another positive result against Malaga in front of the home fans. On last Thursday, Villarreal bagged a couple of goals at Slavia Prague to secure a 2:0 win in the fourth round of the Europa League group stage.
After the first ten rounds of the Spanish La Liga, The Yellow Submarine is sitting at the sixth place with 17 points, a 16:11 goal difference, and a 5-2-3 record. At home, they’ve earned 10 points with a 3-1-0 record and a 10:1 goal difference, while they’ve collected seven points on the road with a 2-1-3 record and a 6:10 goal difference.
The 26-year old striker Cedric Bakambu is playing in a top form this year, and he’s the team’s leading scorer with eight goals in nine appearances. The Columbian striker Carlos Bacca added three La Liga goals to his name, and he scored the first goal against Slavia Prague last Thursday. The 22-year old winger Samu Castillejo made four dishes in nine apps, and he’s the team’s top assistant.
The manager Javier Calleja took over the helm after a 4:0 defeat against Getafe in the sixth round, and since then he’s doing a great job. For the next game against Malaga, he’ll have some serious problems to field his best eleven. The centre-back Alvaro Gonzalez and the midfielder Manu Trigueros will both have to serve a yellow card suspension, while Samu Castillejo is suffering from a muscle injury,
MALAGA
Malaga’s players have got their first victory of the season beating Celta Vigo in the 10th round of the Spanish La Liga in front of the home fans, 2:1. It should be a huge boost before they continue with the battle against relegation, regardless it is so early in the season. Malaga didn’t play exceptionally well, but they created seven scoring chances and took 15 shots on goal. The attacking midfielder Adrian Gonzalez, who arrived from Eibar this summer, bagged his first goal of the season just before the halftime, while his colleague Recio converted the penalty in the 83rd minute for his first goal, too, and for Malaga’s first win.
After the first ten rounds of the Spanish La Liga, Malaga is laying at the 19th place with four points and a 6:21 goal difference. They are still without a single point on the road, and they also didn’t find the net away from home. Malaga’s players created 80 scoring opportunities so far, scoring just six times, so they need to improve finishing, and to be more aggressive, particularly when they are playing on the road.
The manager Michel is certainly happy after the first victory, and he’ll try to motivate his guys for the next challenges. He’ll miss the striker Diego Rolan (muscle injury), and the midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic (muscle injury) for the next match with Villarreal, while the keeper Roberto could be in the starting eleven after he missed three games due to muscular problems.
VILLARREAL vs. MALAGA – Match Prediction
Villarreal is playing very well recently, but they have a lot of problems with injuries and suspensions, so this could be a tricky match. Malaga didn’t score on the road yet, and we all know that every string has an end.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (-110)
ADDITIONAL PICK: Villarreal to Win (-147)
