The wait is over, as the international break is finally done with, so now we fans can go back and enjoy our weekends as we see our favorite teams battle it out in the La Liga for three points. We have prepared a two match preview for the matches between Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad, followed by the clash between Athletic Bilbao and Girona, so as to keep our viewers updated with all the recent developments in the respective teams.
DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA vs. REAL SOCIEDAD
Three-way: 1. Deportivo La Coruna +190; X: +250 Draw; 2: Real Sociedad +172
Spread 0: Deportivo La Coruna +106; Real Sociedad -109
Total +2.5: Over +106; Under +100
DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA
Deportivo has started out the La Liga season showing the various sides to their play. In the season opener, they offered next to no fight against the La Liga champions Real Madrid, as they succumbed to a disappointing defeat. In the next match, they showed that even though they can be effective in attack, they are still culpable to lapses in concentration as they blew up a two goal lead. After finishing in the bottom half of the La Liga last year, the fans will be hoping that the new manager is able to steer the team to at least a respectable mid-table finish.
If someone was to rate the transfer window, they will be in some confusion for sure. They have made some good singings in the likes of talented Swiss international Fabian Schar from Hoffenheim for 1.8 million Euros, which looks like an absolute steal in the currently inflated market. However, apart from him, there haven’t been many permanent signings barring Guilherme from Udinese and right back Valentin from Gimnastic. They still have signed some good players on loan, most notably their former star Lucas Perez who is back for the year after a horror season at Arsenal, along with premier league player Costel Pantilimon who joins from Watford.
They have had a mixed start to the league campaign this year. In the curtain raiser for their season, they welcomed the rampaging champions Real Madrid to their stadium. Even though they weren’t expected to grab any points, it was still disappointing to see them lose without any real fight, something that they are capable of. They ended that match with a 0:3 defeat. This match was followed by much improved attacking display at Levante, although it was marred by defensive lapses, which allowed the visitors to crawl back from a 2:0 deficit with just ten men and grab a point with the final score being 2:2.
There aren’t any major concerns when it comes to injuries for their manager Pepe Mel, as he has the entire team available for selection except winger Carles Gil, who is going to remain on the treatment table due to a groin injury.
REAL SOCIEDAD
Sociedad seems to be determined to continue on their positive finish last season as they managed to secure the Europa League group spot by finishing 7th in the La Liga. In both the league matches that they have played so far, they have shown an impressive attacking intent as well as a good team spirit and cohesion. They currently sit on top of the league table, and although it has just been two games, it does show the confident start that Sociedad has made to their La Liga campaign.
Their transfer business this summer wasn’t anything spectacular, as they only brought in two players in the squad. They bought Adnan Januzaj from Manchester United for 7.6 million pounds, with the hopes of getting back the talented but inconsistent Belgian youngster back to his top form that once made him one of the most coveted teenagers in the world. Joining him is Spanish youngster Diego Llorente, who has been signed from Real Madrid for 6.7 million. The centre back has left the Bernabeu in search of more first team action. Apart from these two, they have welcomed back midfielder Ruben Pardo and left back Alberto de la Bella from Olympiacos as they have completed their loan spells at the respective clubs.
Their first two matches of the league campaign have been a treat for their fans. The league opener was an exciting 2:3 win at Celta Vigo, where the fans were treated to some absolutely wonderful goals from both sides. This match was followed by a much more defensively composed performance against Villareal at home, where they won by 3:0 as start striker Willian Jose continued his good form by scoring in this match also, which means he has two goals and an assist in the first two matches of the current league campaign.
Manager Eusebio will be concerned about the length of the current injury list, as a lot of first team players are out due to a medical reason. Raul Navas and Ruben Pardo are both out with Knee injuries, and will likely be back after the first week of September. Joining them are Inigo Martinez, Adnan Januzaj, and Igor Zubeldia, as all three are suffering from muscular problems. Right back Carlos Martinez still needs at least a couple of weeks to make a comeback from his ACL Rupture.
DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA vs. REAL SOCIEDAD- Match Prediction:
Looking at the results from last weekend, this match is going to be a potential Goalfest as both the sides are more comfortable on the attacking sides, and aren’t really effective on the defensive front. Sociedad will be relying on Willian Jose to provide attacking menace like he has done in the past two games, while Deportivo will be hoping that former striker Lucas Perez hits the ground running at a team he knows too well.
However, Sociedad looks like a more established and focused side, especially mentally, and hence, are better suited to take home the three points. So, my prediction will be an away win in this match with both the teams scoring.
MY PICK: Real Sociedad to win (+172)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score YES (-120)
ATHLETIC BILBAO vs. GIRONA
Three-way: 1: Athletic Bilbao -133; X: +320 Draw; 2: Girona +470
Spread -0.5: Athletic Bilbao -137; Girona +136
Total +2.5: Over +102; Under -106
ATHLETIC BILBAO
Bilbao has had an early start to this La Liga season, as they were also part of the Europa league qualifiers as they finished 7th last season, which meant they were not guaranteed a group spot. In the league, they have made an unspectacular, yet solid start. They haven’t conceded yet, but the attackers will be disappointed at the fact that even with a plethora of chances being created in the first two league fixtures, they haven’t been able to convert them efficiently. They are, however, known to be strong teams that are able to build on their sturdy style of play and build on it to improve their attacks later in the season, which means there isn’t much that the fans shouldn’t be worried about, yet.
In the current world of expensive transfers and star signings, Bilbao deserves massive appreciation for being a team that is determined to promote talent from within, which is clear by the fact that apart from Aymeric Laporte, there are no non-Spanish players in the squad. So even though the Basque club hasn’t signed anyone in this transfer window, they have still added to their squad as they have promoted Academy youngsters Unai Nunez and Inigo Cordoba to the first team, hoping that these players continue with the clubs tradition of promoting able talent to the senior team.
They have played six competitive matches so far, and have remained unbeaten in that period. Four of these matches were Europa league qualifiers and playoffs. Overall, their form over these matches was 4-2-0, which shows the solid style of play Bilbao has followed like always. In this period, they scored 9 goals, while conceding just three. The results of their first two league match this season were 0:0 at home to Getafe, followed by a 1:0 away win, with both matches being characterized by lots of missed chances from Bilbao.
There are three players who will be out on the medical table during the match. Centre-back Yeray Alvarez just needs around a couple of weeks more to make his determined comeback from testicular cancer, while Oscar De Marcos sprained his ankle after the first league game. Defensive midfielder Ander Iturraspe is also out with a Hamstring injury, which has kept him out for all the competitive matches so far.
GIRONA
If the fans of newly promoted Girona were told before the start of the season that they will accrue four points in their first two matches, which included a match against an Atletico Madrid side that was notoriously good in their defense, they would have a hard time believing it. However, that has been the case, as the La Liga teams are in awe of the strong mentality that Girona has shown in their first two matches to fearlessly approach their opponents. Surely, they will drop quite a lot of points by the end of the league, but the manner in which they have started their campaign is surely worthy of praise.
They have only spent money on one permanent transfer in the summer transfer window this year. Bernardo Espinosa has been recruited from Boro for 4 million Pounds. Joining him is the experienced goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz, along with left back Carles plan as from Celta and midfielder David Timor from Leganes with all three of them joining on free transfers. Another Middlesbrough player, Cristhian Stuani has joined Girona for an undisclosed fee. Apart from these signings, they have also signed Manchester city youngsters Aleix Garcia, Douglas Luiz, Pablo Maffeo and Marlos Moreno on loan deals.
Their first match in the La Liga was an impressive attacking display against the defensively resolute Atletico Madrid. Although Girona let 10 men Atletico claw their way back into the game, they showed tremendous quality and efficiency to earn a 2:2 draw. This was followed by a 1:0 win as they welcomed Malaga in the second league game, which again highlighted that Girona is more than able when it comes to maintaining their leads against teams of seemingly higher caliber and experience.
Striker Cristhian Stuani is already proving to be a smart acquisition, with two goals scored in his two league appearances. Moreover, the team will not be facing any disruptions in their squad cohesion, as there are no new injury concerns, except David Timor, who is still out with a muscle injury suffered before the start of the season.
ATHLETIC BILBAO vs. GIRONA-Match Prediction:
Girona has really impressed by their teamwork and efficient gameplay this season, as they have gathered four very good points from two tough matches. On the other side, Bilbao has also earned four points, but the scorelines have actually disappointed the fans, as in both the La Liga matches, they should have had a couple more goals at least, along with the fact that they should have lost the first match, as they had been the beneficiary of a wrong decision where the ball was judged to have not crossed the line by the Bilbao goalkeeper.
So, keeping all these factors in mind, I think it will be a tough match for both the teams. However, Girona will rely on set pieces more, something that Bilbao are adept at defending. Therefore, I will predict a home win in this match for Athletic Bilbao.
MY PICK: Athletic Bilbao to win (-133)
