The ninth round of the Spanish La Liga is waiting for us this weekend, and two quite exciting games are set for Sunday, October 22nd, 2017, when Leganes meets Athletic Bilbao at Estadio Municipal de Butarque, while Real Madrid welcomes Eibar at Santiago Bernabeu.
In this preview, we’ll take a closer look at these two clashes, in order to give you some tips and betting predictions, like we always do here on GetMoreSports. So, let’s start with the first game.
LEGANES vs. ATHLETIC BILBAO
3-Way: 1: Leganes +167; X: +229 Draw; 2: Athletic Bilbao +224
Spread 0: Leganes -128; Athletic Bilbao +123
Total +2: Over +104; Under -111
LEGANES
Nobody expected to see Leganes at the sixth spot of the Spanish La Liga table after the first eight rounds, but The Legionaries showed us some terrific defensive work, as they’ve conceded just three goals so far. Their defense is the best in the league along with Barca’s, and they kept the clean sheet in the previous four rounds. The last team who scored against them was Eibar in the fourth round when The Gunsmiths defeated Leganes at home, 1:0.
Offensively, there are some issues in Leganes’ play, as they’ve scored just seven goals in eight games, creating 63 goal opportunities in total. The winger Alexander Szymanowski is the most dangerous man in Leganes’ squad with two assists and 13 key passes in seven appearances, while he also added a goal to his name. The leading scorer is the attacking midfielder Gabriel Pires with two goals in eight apps.
The manager Asier Garitano is focused on team’s defending, and his patient and versatile approach is paying off. He can count on almost all players for the next game, besides the keeper Jon Ander Serantes (shoulder injury), and the centre-back Ezequiel Munoz (back injury).
ATHLETIC BILBAO
The Lions are in the on-off form from the start of the season, and after a great win over Sevilla, 1:0, in the previous round of the Spanish La Liga, they managed to get just a point against Swedish side Ostersunds, 2:2, in the third round of the UEFA Europa League. At least, they bagged some goals, after they couldn’t find the net in the first two rounds against Hertha Berlin and Zorya Luhansk.
Athletic Bilbao is currently at the 11th spot of the Spanish La Liga table with 11 points, a 10:9 goal difference and a form of WLDLL. The experienced striker Aritz Aduriz leads his team with four goals in eight La Liga appearances, while the 23-year old winger Inaki Williams has two goals and three dishes to his name. Another winger Markel Susaeta created 12 chances in six apps, but only one of them was finished with a goal. The team’s average pass accuracy is quite poor, just 78%, while they are taking 38 defensive actions per game (12th in the league).
One of the Athletic’s best players, the 24-year old winger Iker Muniain, will be unavailable for at least five months, and it is a huge blow for The Lions. Another key player, the right-back Oscar de Marcos, is still having problems with a sprained ankle, and he’s doubtful for the next game.
LEGANES vs. ATHLETIC BILBAO – Match Prediction
If you look at the numbers, everything will tell you to go with the under in this one. Last year both games ended in a draw (1:1 and 0:0), so it seems like there’s no reason for a bunch of goals on Sunday evening. I suggest you be brave and try to get some money with both teams to score here. Football is a strange game sometimes, and if we accidentally get a quick goal, everything is possible.
MY PICK: Both Teams to Score YES (+125)
REAL MADRID vs. EIBAR
3-Way: 1: Real Madrid -526; X: +1250 Draw; 2: Eibar +3300
Spread -3: Real Madrid +127; Eibar -130
Total +4: Over -104; Under -101
REAL MADRID
Los Blancos are playing way below the fans’ expectations, although they’ve won four out of their five previous games in all competitions, after a shocking defeat against Betis in the fifth round of the Spanish La Liga. They are sitting at the third spot of the La Liga table with 17 points, a 15:7 goal difference and a form of WWWLW, with five points behind the leader Barcelona. Meanwhile, Real Madrid played a disappointing 1:1 draw at home with Tottenham in the third round of the UEFA Champions League.
Zinedine Zidane’s team is having huge problems with finishing, as they’ve scored just 15 goals from 127 created chances. However, it looks like a matter of time when Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates will start to score more than two goals per game. It sounds strange, but there is no player in the Real Madrid’s squad who scored more than two goals in the first eight rounds of the La Liga. Karim Benzema missed four games so far due to the injury, and his return could be crucial for Los Blancos’ attack.
Defensively, the team is looking fragile with just two clean sheets in the last ten games in all competitions. Zidane’s boys will always look to score more goals than their rivals, but with all missed chances in the front, they will need more responsible defending. The right-back Daniel Carvajal was one of the key players in the defensive line, and his absence with virus infection is a big problem for Los Blancos. Gareth Bale is suffering from muscular problems, and we don’t expect to see him in the squad against Eibar, while the midfielder Mateo Kovacic will be sidelined for at least a month with the rupture of the patella.
EIBAR
The Gunsmiths are in terrible form with just one point out of the previous four games. They are playing terribly in the front with just one goal scored in those four matches, while they allowed 13 goals to their opponents. In the eighth round of the Spanish La Liga Eibar played a boring 0:0 draw with Deportivo La Coruna in front of the home fans, and now they are at the 16th spot of the table with seven points and a miserable 3:17 goal difference.
Obviously, Eibar needs to improve finishing as soon as possible. The team created 63 scoring opportunities, finding the net just three times. The fans certainly expect more from Sergi Enrich and Charles, as both strikers are playing poorly from the start of the season. Takashi Inui and Kike are also underperforming, while the winger Bebe is still looking for his best form. The next game at Santiago Bernabeu is one of the toughest challenges, and it comes in a bad time for The Gunsmiths.
The manager Jose Luis Mendilibar will have some issues to field his best eleven, as Fran Rico, Pedro Leon, Ivan Alejo, and Ivan Ramis are all doubtful due to injuries. The keeper Yoel Rodriguez is unavailable for at least two months with the cruciate ligament rupture.
REAL MADRID vs. EIBAR – Match Prediction
I think it is time to see some goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and co., and even if Eibar manages to score, I’m looking for Real Madrid’s comfortable win. However, I don’t think that Real Madrid will be able to defeat Eibar with more than 3 goals, so I am taking the visitors on AH.
MY PICK: Eibar AH -3 (-130)
