Real Madrid vs Valencia

23/3- Real Madrid are on top of the points table in La liga but their form is the worst it has ever been this season out of their 6 defeats in la liga this season 4 have come in the last 10 matches played by them and they have only been able to win 4 matches in the last 10 played which is a very bad statistics for a team of this calibre. This week they play hosts to another team that is performing pathetically in comparison to the way it performed in the beginning of the season, Valencia. Valencia are currently placed on the 10^th position on the points table and they have been able to manage 2 wins in their last 10 matches where as they have lost 5 and drawn the remaining three. The last time both these teams faced each other Real Madrid while playing away from home were able to register a 1-5 victory and they would hope to repeat the performance in front of their home crowd this time as well. A brief look at the head to head records would show that Real Madrid have been the dominant side and have won 16 of the 29 matches played between the sides in the last 15 years while Valencia have managed to win only 7 times. Also while playing at home real Madrid have only lost one match this season and they would not like that tally increase.

Both teams would be down on confidence as they faced defeats in their previous matches as Real Madrid lost to Deportivo in an away match while Valencia conceded 2 goals to Sevilla at home and lost with a 0-2 score line. Real would like to get the maximum points from this match and strengthen their hold on the title this year as well.

Prediction: 2-0, Real Win

Barcelona Valladolid

23/3- Barcelona have played good football throughout the season but the last few weeks have not gone as per their liking, in the last 5 matches they have played they have lost twice and won twice and drawn a single match which is something a top team like Barcelona would not appreciate. This week they get prepared to take on the 17^th placed Valladolid. While playing at home Barcelona have been very strong and in fact they have been the best team when it comes to home performances in La liga this season and they would like to win this convincingly and close down the gap on leaders Real Madrid. The last time both these sides played against each other, which was earlier this season when Barcelona had travelled to Valladolid, the match ended in a draw. However a look at the overall record between the two sides would clearly suggest that Barcelona would be the heavy favourites as they have won 15 times of the 23 matches played between the two sides in the past 15 years while Valladolid have only be able to manage 3 victories.

Looking at the current form as well Barcelona would be better as they have won 5 of their last 10 matches while they have lost only 2 and there have been three draws but Valladolid on the other hand have only 3 victories with 5 losses and a couple of draws. Playing at home in front of the home crowd would also be an added advantage for Barcelona and they would be hoping the most of it. Anything less than three points from this tie would be highly disappointing for the home team as they might not only fall back behind Real Madrid but their second spot might also come under serious threat.

Valladolid in all this would like to get a point and keep away from the relegation zone.

Prediction: 2-0, Barcelona win

Levante vs Villareal

23/3- Levante have showed some grit in their performances in the past few weeks but their chances of staying in the top league of La liga are as good as nonexistent. This weekend they would play hosts to the team placed on the third spot of the points table, Villareal. While Villareal has been one of the best performing teams and they also are in prime form, the home team is by far the worst team in terms of the performance this season and their form has not been that great that they moght pose a challenge to the better teams like Villareal. The last time both these teams had faced each other was earlier this season and villareal had managed an easy 3-0 home victory. Also while Villareal have won 6 of the last 10 matches with 3 draws and one loss, Levante have been able to manage only 3 victories with 5 losses and 2 draws. The home crowd may not be that big an advantage for the struggling Levante that would help them overcome Villareal.

Villareal have reached a stage where they are just a couple of points behind second placed Barcelona and the fluctuating form Barca has showed over the last few weeks could also lead to Villareal taking over the second spot on the table. Villareal come fresh from a 2-0 home win against Real Zaragoza and that would have lifted their confidence further as well and a chance to reach the top two in the league is a good enough incentive for the team to get inspired and perform. They would like to score the entire three points and anything less would be a disappointment.

Levante on the other hand can just hope and try to stretch Villareal to an extent and hold them for a draw but even that does not look realistic.

Prediction: 0-3, Villareal win

Osasuna vs Real Betis

23/3- Osasuna and Real Betis are among the 8 teams fighting it out to keep away from the relegation zone and in an attempt to keep their selves safe from the relegation zone, Osasuna play hosts to the visiting Real Betis team. While Osasuna are a couple of points away from the relegation zone, Real Betis are out of the danger zone only on a better goal difference. However the notable fact is that Real Betis have played a match less than most of the other teams and hence they also have a good chance to move away from the relegation zone. In terms of the current form both the teams can be said to be at par as both teams have registered 4 wins, 4 losses and a couple of draws in the last 10 matches. In the last match between the sides that was played earlier this season ended in favour of Osasuna, who won 0-3, away from home. Even the overall record is in favour of Osasuna by a very small difference as of the 13 matches played Osasuna have won 6 while Real Betis have managed to win 5 only.

Osasuna would be quite confident as they managed to hold a good team like Valladolid for a tie in an away match last week and also a fact that they have performed well while playing at home would add to that when they take on Real Betis this weekend. Gomes Dady has been the best striker for Osasuna this season and has already scored 6 goals and he would be expected to score once again.

Real Betis have also performed well to get out of the relegation zone but they have quite a few injury worries and they would have to put a good performance to ensure that they can stay out of the relegation zone.

Prediction: 1-2, Real Betis win

Murcia vs Espanyol

23/3- Other than Levante, who are placed at the bottom of the table Murcia is the other tam which is almost sure for being relegated at the end of this season. In case they need to survive in the top division only winning all matches now onwards can help them to an extent but practically this does not look possible. This weekend they get ready to play hosts to the 6^th placed Espanyol, a team that is trying to reach the 4^th position on the points table. Murcia have been a side that has lost 9 of its last 10 matches and they have been able to draw the remaining one match. While Espanyol have managed to win three of the last 10 matches but they have lost the remaining 7. The last match played between the two sides was earlier this season and Espanyol had been held to a draw while playing at home. In the last 15 years there have been 3 matches between the sides and Espanyol have won 2 while one has been a draw. Espanyol have been performing well away from home this season and they would like to get a full 3 points of this one in order to enhance their chance of ending the season in the top 5.

Espanyol come into this match after they defeated Mallorca in a home match last week and they would be confident playing a weaker team like Murcia. With an injury free squad the team should look for a win with a big margin.

Murcia on the other hand would be really low on confidence as they have not been able to score a single point in the last 6 matches. Their last week’s loss against Recreativo Huelva would have further hampered their confidence and against a team like Espanyol not much can be expected form this team.

Prediction: 1-3, Espanyol win

Sevilla vs Athletico Madrid

22/3- In a battle for the fourth place on the points table Sevilla get ready this week to play hosts to Athletico Madrid who are currently the occupants of the fourth spot on the points table and are a couple of points ahead of Sevilla. Both teams are in tremendous form but Sevilla are performing better looking at the last 10 matches played by both sides this season. In the last 10 matches played Sevilla have managed to win 7 while lost 2 and drawn one match on the other hand their opponents have managed just 4 victories while have lost 5 times and also have a single drawn match.  The last time both the teams clashed was earlier this season and playing at home Athletico Madrid were able to beat Sevilla with a 4-3 score line. But looking at the head to head record between the sides it can be clearly seen that Sevilla have been dominant as they have won 8 of the 21 matches played between the sides while Athletico have managed to win just 5.

Sevilla have been a great team while playing at home and beating them at home would not be easy for Athletico and hence the visitors might play for a draw but the home team would want to win this all important match. Sevilla would be pretty confident getting into the match as they managed to beat Valencia in an away tie last week. Fabiano is in ominous form and has already scored 22 goals this season and the home crowd would expect some more from his this weekend.

Athletico on the other hand would not want to concede their position to Sevilla they also come into this match after a win which was at home against Levante. A point from the match would be a good performance.

Prediction: 1-0, Sevilla win

Mallorca vs Deportivo La Coruna

22/3- La liga is getting more and more interesting as the season is approaching its end, while most leagues have teams fighting it out at the top La liga is also seeing a  battle between 8 teams to keep away from the relegation zone. This weekend two such teams fight it out when the 11^th placed Mallorca play hosts to the 13^th placed Deportivo La Coruna. While Deportivo have shown good form in recent matches and have won 5 of their last 10 matches, lost 3 and drawn 2 the home team have only managed a couple of victories in the last 10 matches and have lost one match while all other matches have been draws. The last time both these teams played each other was earlier this season and the match ended as a draw. Looking at the overall record between the two sides Mallorca have a slight edge as they have won 6 of the 21 games played in the last 15 years while Deportivo have managed only 5 victories. A notable fact is that though the teams are separated by 2 positions on the points table they are on the same number of points.

Mallorca have been in decent form but have not been able to win a match for quite some time now but they have not lost many matches either but last week’s loss against Espanyol would be a big concern as they are only a couple of points away from the relegation zone even though they are on the 11^th spot.

Deportivo on the other hand would be high on confidence after they were able to beat the league leaders and defending champions, Real Madrid at home last week. Also their performance away from home has been decent this season and they would be looking at some points from this match.

Prediction: 1-2, Deportivo win

Fulham vs Everton

16/3- Fulham have had a dreadful season and they find themselves on the second last position and almost relegated as the season approaches its end, only some inspiring performances here can help them out of the problems they are currently in and this struggling team get prepared this week to play hosts to the 5^th placed Everton. Everton have had a great season and most certainly than not would be qualifying for European action for the next year and would want to continue the good form and hang on to the position achieved. While the home side are trying to avoid relegation the visiting side are concerned about their finishing in the top 5 of the premiership this season. This match can be expected to deliver some result as in the last 15 years no match between the two sides has ended in a draw. Everton are the dominant side as they have won 7 of the 13 matches played while the remaining 6 have been won by Fulham. The last encounter between the two sides that took place earlier this season saw Everton pulling off a marvellous 3-0 home victory.

Fulham are in a spot of bother due to the bad performance of the team in the past 10 games, they have lost 6 games while drawn 3 and won just a single game. They did show some grit against Blackburn last week in an away tie where they managed to hold the home team for a draw and get a point out of the match but they would have to throw a much better performance against a team like Everton.

Everton on the other hand have a great record this season, they have won 7 of the last 10 games with 2 being drawn and only 1 loss and anything less than a victory would be unsatisfactory for them.

Prediction: 0-2, Everton win

Athletico Madrid vs Levante

16/3- Athletico Madrid are currently placed on the 4^th position on the points table and they would be eager to get back to form as some disappointing performances in the recent few weeks has put them 6 points behind the third placed Villareal. This week however they have a good chance to score a full three points as they get prepared to take on Levante at home. Levante are currently at the bottom of the La liga table and their performance away from home can be described in one word- disastrous. They have only managed a single victory away from home and a tough opponent like Athletico Madrid would not allow them to get away. The last match between the two sides that was played earlier this season resulted in a 0-1 win for Athletico Madrid playing away from home. The head to head record for the past 15 years also works in favour of Athletico as they have managed to win 3 of the 5 matches played between the sides.

Athletico Madrid go into this match to regain their form and there would be no other way rather than having the home crowd inspire them to a huge team again a comparatively weak opponent. Also this is a great chance for them to cut down on the lead that Villareal have developed. The last match they played was against Real Zaragoza and they lost the away tie 2-1 and after that they would want to ensure that they at least do not lose points at home.

Levante on the other hand have just pride to play for and in the last few matches they have been able to come up with some good performances and they would try and settle for a draw and take home at least a point from the match and they might be able to do it if they actually can put in their best efforts.

Prediction: 1-0, Athletico Madrid win

Almeria vs Barcelona

16/3- Almeria have had a good season this time and currently on the 8^th spot they look good to end the season in the top half of the table but they have slipped in their performance in the past few weeks as they have lost two matches in the last three games and they would like to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later and this week they get prepared to play hosts to the second placed Barcelona. Barcelona would be hoping that their luck and performance would improve in the La liga and match the kind of play they have been able to display in the Champions League. They would be in a desperate hunt for points after the gap between them and league leaders Real Madrid has again cropped up to 8 points. The last time both the teams played each other was earlier this season when Barcelona while playing at home were able to register a 2-0 victory and they would be hoping to repeat the same this time as well. Almeria would also be looking out for some points and they would want to make the most of the home advantage they have.

Barcelona have been in decent form and in the last 10 matches they have been able to win 6 times while losing 2 others with the remaining two being drawn. Their last week’s home loss to Villareal would have been disappointing and they can be expected to come all guns blazing in this forthcoming tie. Eto’o and Henry can be the key players and their contribution to the team’s performance can be a deciding factor.

Almeria on the other hand would want to get over their loss to Osasuna in an away tie last week and would want to get at least a point off this tough home tie.

Prediction: 1-2, Barcelona win

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