Can Atleti Right the Ship?
Matchday 22 in La Liga doesn’t supply any game titles between Spain’s major groups, but if you assume that usually means there’s very little to discuss about in Spain correct now, you are A) incorrect and B) outing your self for disregarding the Copa del Rey chaos this 7 days.
That includes Real Betis-Sevilla final Saturday, which however had to finish on Sunday just after a Sevilla participant bought hit by an item thrown by a Real Betis fan.
Authentic Betis and Sevilla’s Copa del Rey match was stopped just after a Sevilla player was strike with an object through Betis’ objective celebration. pic.twitter.com/Z7yVQUJwoo
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 15, 2022
I highlight that not to rejoice it – let us hope Spanish soccer will come down really hard on Authentic Betis for that bullshit – but to present that even when La Liga has a weak slate or two, we still have a lottt to discuss about. We even experienced a Serious Madrid intention from Eden Hazard – in Authentic Madrid’s narrow Copa del Rey get above Elche — this 7 days!
We could also spend a several hours, each individual, on anything mistaken with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona right now. A tough time for the reigning La Liga champs has not gotten any superior in January, as Atleti required some luck to draw Villarreal on January 9, then misplaced to Athletic Club (soon after heading up 1-) in the Spanish Supercopa semifinals final 7 days. They then suffered an embarrassing 2- elimination from the Copa del Rey at the arms of Authentic Sociedad this 7 days.
Barcelona, on the other hand, has also very last its last two matches – in the Supercopa to Genuine Madrid and in the Copa to Athletic Club – and is also heading to be without the need of Ansu Fati thanks to personal injury, once again.
La Liga Matchday 22 Preview
As for the matches on faucet this weekend, uh, yeah, not a great deal to see listed here. The lines are understandably lopsided, but there’s even now some worth in a few locations, specifically if you are as skeptical as I am of Diego Simeone’s staff suitable now.
A couple other fast observations: It’s unclear why 3rd-location Authentic Betis is +130 towards 11th-place Espanyol, and are we positive Alavés must be this kind of a large property underdog given all of Barcelona’s modern challenges (and we’re not even acquiring into the Ousmane Dembele thing listed here).
- Espanyol (+220) vs. Serious Betis (+130) Friday, 3 p.m. Jap
- Sevilla (-140) vs. Celta Vigo (+400) Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
- Atlético Madrid (-215) vs. Valencia (+600) Saturday, 3 p.m.
- Real Madrid (-575) vs. Elche (+1,500) Sunday, 10:15 a.m.
- Alavés (+500) vs. Barcelona (-185) Sunday, 3 p.m.
La Liga Matchday 22 Odds & Ends
Espanyol-Serious Betis
While the story of Genuine Betis’ Copa acquire over Sevilla past weekend was the Actual Betis supporter who crossed each line by pelting Sevilla MF Joan Jordan, it was also notable that Serious Betis defeated their significant rival when play resumed on Sunday. However Sevilla is lacking some key players who are in Africa for the AFCON, which includes top rated keeper Bono, beating Julen Lopetegui’s facet stays a huge accomplishment. Serious Betis followed up that Copa get with a 4- house get more than Alavés in La Liga on Tuesday. No subject the opponent, it’s tough to conquer everyone in this league 4-, so it’s straightforward to come to feel confident in True Betis at +130 on Saturday against an Espanyol facet that has missing to Elche, missing to Mallorca and drawn Cádiz in its final three matches. Actual Betis -1.5 (+400) also feels like a worthy guess.
Atleti-Valencia
It is not just the actuality that Atleti has lost to Athletic Club and Real Sociedad (who are both solid, even if they’re not necessarily best-4 contenders) in its previous two matches. It is the way Atlético is shedding that can make you surprise if they’re heading to rebound in time to protected a best-4 end this time. Their outlook in excess of the remaining 18 online games isn’t our focus right here. But it feels like you officially just can’t rely on this protection this time. And the assault – particularly without the need of Griezmann – is not up to the task of consistently finding up the slack. A Valencia crew coming off a midweek draw from Sevilla warrants at the very least a appear at +600. If that would seem also superior to be real, Valencia Double Chance (+180) feels infinitely safer.
A person previous recommendation right here: a Valencia player has gained a pink card in 3 of this team’s past 6 video games. From an Atleti facet complete of players who do not brain mixing it up, isn’t Over .5 Pink Playing cards (+245) intriguing??
