The Spanish La Liga goes on this weekend with Round 14 matches, and in this preview, we’ll take a closer look at two interesting games set for Sunday, December 3rd, 2017, when Eibar hosts Espanyol at Ipurua, while Las Palmas meets Betis at Estadio Gran Canaria.
Down below you will find some interesting picks for these two matches along with our betting predictions, so don’t waste your time and join the action here on GetMoreSports.
EIBAR vs. ESPANYOL
3-Way: 1: Eibar +150; X: +409 Draw; 2: Espanyol +243 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Eibar -143; Espanyol +142
Total +2: Over +112; Under -118
EIBAR
The Gunsmiths had an awful start of the season, but in the last couple of weeks they have improved their form, winning two games in a row in the Spanish La Liga against Alaves on the road, 2:1, and Betis at home, 5:0. Meanwhile, they lost to Celta Vigo in both legs of the Spanish Copa del Rey Round of 32, and now they can concentrate on their La Liga campaign.
After the first 13 rounds, Eibar is in the 15th spot of the La Liga table with 14 points, a 13:26 goal difference, and a 4-2-7 record, seven points above the relegation zone. At Ipurua, The Gunsmiths have recorded two wins, two draws, and two losses with an 8:7 goal difference, while on the road they have recorded two victories and five defeats with a terrible 5:19 goal difference. Eibar had a lot of problems at the back this season, and their defense is one of the worst in the La Liga.
The 33-year old striker Charles, who arrived from Malaga this summer, is the team’s leading scorer with five goals in 12 appearances, while his partner Sergi Enrich and a midfielder Joan Jordan bagged two goals each thus far. Three different players are the best assist-makers with two dishes each – a winger Ivan Alejo, and the left-backs David Junca and Jose Angel.
The manager Jose Luis Mendilibar is still without the winger Pedro Leon (knee injury), and a midfielder Fran Rico (knee problems), while the centre-back Ivan Ramis is also struggling with a knee injury. The striker Charles will have to miss the next game with Espanyol due to a red card suspension.
ESPANYOL
After two consecutive defeats against Alaves on the road, 1:0, and Valencia at home, 2:0, Espanyol has beaten Getafe on the home soil, 1:0, in the previous round of the Spanish La Liga. It was their second victory in the last seven La Liga matches, while they’ve defeated Tenerife on last Thursday, 3:2, in the second leg of the Spanish Copa del Rey Round of 32.
Espanyol is in the 13th spot of the Spanish La Liga table after the first 13 rounds with 16 points, a 10:15 goal difference, and a 4-4-5 record. At home, Espanyol has recorded four wins, one draw, and two losses with an 8:5 goal difference, while on the road they have earned three draws and three losses in six matches with a poor 2:10 goal difference and only Malaga is a worse visitor in the La Liga. Espanyol is struggling in the final third so far, and their attack is the third most inefficient in the league.
The 25-year old striker Gerard Moreno is arguably Espanyol’s best player this season, and he is the team’s leading scorer with five goals in 13 appearances. The 25-year old forward Leo Baptistao bagged three goals in 12 matches, adding two assists to his name, while the winger Pablo Piatti scored one goal along with a couple of assists. The experienced playmaker Jose Manuel Jurado made two dishes in 12 appearances this season.
The manager Quique Sanchez Flores is having huge problems with injuries among the squad, as Leo Baptistao (muscle injury), Pablo Piatti (wound), Javi Fuego (achilles tendon problems), and Sergio Sanchez (wound) are all doubtful for the next match.
EIBAR vs. ESPANYOL – Match Prediction
Last year we saw two draws (1:1 and 3:3) when these two teams went on each other, and this time I expect to see more of the same. Both sides have problems with injured players, and we’ll see how it will affect their game this Sunday.
MY PICK: Draw (+409)
LAS PALMAS vs. BETIS
3-Way: 1: Las Palmas +135; X: +274 Draw; 2: Betis +231 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Las Palmas +131; Betis -137
Total +3: Over +102; Under -106
LAS PALMAS
Las Palmas is having a difficult time this season, and they finally put an end on the horrible eight-game losing string with a 2:2 draw with Real Sociedad at Anoeta in the previous round of the Spanish La Liga. On last Wednesday, they were beaten by Deportivo La Coruna at home, 3:2, in the second leg of the Spanish Copa del Rey Round of 32, but they’ve managed to reach the next round as they’ve won the first leg on the road, 4:1.
La UD is in the 19th spot of the Spanish La Liga after the first 13 rounds with seven points, a 10:32 goal difference, and a 2-1-10 record, five points behind Deportivo La Coruna in the safe 17th spot. They are the worst team in the league at home, recording one victory and five losses with a 5:17 goal difference, while on the road they have recorded one win, one draw, and five defeats with a 5:15 goal difference. Las Palmas is struggling at the back since the start of the season, and their defense is the worst in the La Liga.
The 30-year old striker Loic Remy, who arrived from Chelsea this summer on a free transfer, is the team’s leading scorer with four goals in eight La Liga appearances, while the 24-year old striker Jonathan Calleri bagged two goals in 13 matches this season. The attacking midfielder Jonathan Viera also scored a couple of goals in 12 appearances, adding three dishes to his name. Viera is the team’s best assist-maker, while the left-back Dani Castellano made two assists in nine matches thus far.
Las Palmas’ board sacked Pako Ayestaran last Thursday, and they will look for their third manager this season as Manolo Marquez resigned after the sixth round. There are no serious injury problems among the squad, besides the midfielder Alen Halilovic who will miss the next game due to a malleolar injury.
BETIS
The Big Greens are playing an attacking football, and their matches are full of excitement, but their defensive work is awful so far. Betis’ defense is the third worst in the La Liga with 27 goals conceded, while they’ve allowed nine goals to their opponents in the previous three La Liga matches. Meanwhile, they have conceded five goals at home from the second tier Cadiz side in the second leg of the Spanish Copa del Rey Round of 32. The Big Greens are without a win for four games in a row in the La Liga, recording two draws and two defeats in the process.
After the first 13 rounds of the Spanish La Liga Betis is in the eight place of the table with 18 points, a 23:27 goal difference, and a 5-3-5 record, three points behind Villarreal in the sixth spot. At home, they have recorded four wins, two draws, and one defeat with a 17:12 goal difference, while on the road they’ve suffered four defeats along with one draw and one victory, and a 6:15 goal difference.
The 21-year old striker Antonio Sanabria is the team’s leading scorer with seven goals in 12 La Liga appearances, his colleague Sergio Leon bagged four goals in 11 matches, while the experienced winger Joaquin scored three goals in 13 games this season. The 31-year old versatile midfielder Andres Guardado is the best assist-maker with six dishes in 13 apps, while the winger Cristian Tello added three dishes to his name in 10 matches thus far.
The manager Quique Setien is surely upset with his team’s defense, and he’s still without the centre-back Zouhair Feddal due to a leg injury. The winger Joel Campbell will probably miss the next match as he’s still suffering from a sprained ankle.
LAS PALMAS vs. BETIS – Match Prediction
When two sides with bad defense go on each other, I like to put my money on goals, and I think we’ll see at least three in this one.
MY PICK: Over 3 Goals (+102)
