18.08. (Sun) 21:00 Real - Betis

The Italian’s mission to bring La Liga back to the Santiago Bernabeu starts with a home clash on Sunday

Last season Real Madrid saw the league crown stolen from their grasp by Barcelona.

Defeat to Atetico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final saw them finish the campaign without a major trophy and 15 points behind their fierce rivals in La Liga and they will need to demonstrate significant improvement under new coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian, who led Paris Saint-Germain to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years last term, has already made his mark on the squad with a host of new signings.

The former Chelsea boss acted quickly to bring in Isco from Malaga, while fellow midfielder Asier Illarramendi - who is a doubt for the Betis game through injury - has also been drafted in from Real Sociedad, both for sizeable fees.

Cristiano Ronaldo is certain to be part of Ancelotti’s starting line-up on Sunday, but a number of first-team regulars are doubtful, including Xabi Alonso, Raphael Varane, Fabio Coentrao and Pepe.

Betis enjoyed their best league finish in six years when they placed seventh last term, earning a spot in the Europa League play-off round.

Pepe Mel does not have the same resources at his disposal to strengthen in the same way as his Madrid counterpart, but the Betis boss has still brought in 13 new recruits.

Most have arrived on free transfers, but Mel did dip into the club’s coffers to lure Getafe midfielder Xavi Torres.

However, the departure of Benat Etxebarria from Athletic Bilbao will have come as a significant blow to their hopes of building on last season’s achievements.

And Betis’ chances of getting a positive result at the Santiago Bernabeu have been lessened by the absence of Ruben Castro - who scored 18 Liga goals last season - with a hamstring injury.

18.08. (Sun) 19:00 Barcelona - Levante

Lionel Messi remains a serious injury doubt as Barcelona get their La Liga title defence under way at home to Levante on Sunday.

The 26-year-old sustained a minor thigh strain during the Spanish champions' pre-season tour of the Far East - an injury that kept him out of Argentina's 2-1 win over Italy in Rome on Wednesday.

Messi has undergone rehabilitation training with Barcelona's medical personnel in a bid to be fit for selection in Gerardo Martino's first competitive fixture in charge.

But with a hectic schedule in the next two weeks, which includes a two-leg Supercopa de Espana final with Atletico Madrid on August 21 and 28, Martino may decide to rest his star player.

Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas is also doubtful after he sprained his ankle in the club's 3-1 pre-season victory over a Malaysia XI on August 10.

Nevertheless, history is on the side of Martino - who took over from Tito Vilanova last month - as six of Barcelona's eight previous managers have tasted success in their first league match, with only Pep Guardiola losing in a 1-0 defeat away to Numancia in 2008.

And the new boss could hand a competitive debut to Brazil international Neymar, who signed from Santos in May in a move worth around £50million.

Levante have never won at the Camp Nou, but they were unlucky in their last visit when a late Fabregas goal consigned them to a 1-0 defeat on April 20.

After a sixth-placed finish and subsequent UEFA Europa League qualification in 2011-12, Levante slipped to 11th last time around.

In a bid to improve on that performance, the club brought in Joaquin Caparros to replace former manager Juan Ignacio Martinez.

And Caparros has been busy in the transfer window so far, bringing in the likes of forward David Barral from Orduspor, midfielder Jordi Xumetra from Elche and goalkeeper Javi Jimenez from Murcia.

However, the new manager may not be able to call on ther services of Ruben Garcia and Papakouli Diop at the Camp Nou, as both are struggling for fitness.

The weekend’s La Liga previews, 2013/14 – round 1

Saturday 17th August

Real Sociedad v Getafe
After an unlikely 4th placed finish last season, Real Sociedad (5/6) lost their coach, Montanier, to Rennes and best midfielder to Real Madrid- who paid Illamendi's buyout clause. Hardly ideal, but the club messed their now former French coach about with regards to a new contract - and a buyout clause, well, what could they do.

Anyway, while La Real still have the players to make a top 6 finish, it remains to be seen how their small squad will cope with the demands of Champions League football. Last time they qualified for UEFA's flagship tournament, in 2003, not very well was the answer.

Little to set the pulse racing with summer changes at Getafe (19/5), but they do seem to well against Real Sociedad - drawing at San Sebastian last season and winning at the Alfonso Perez - and I'm going to see if they can get a draw or better this weekend.

Worth a punt: Getafe + 1 goal (19/20)


Valladolid v Athletic Bilbao
Coach Djukic has left Valladolid to join Valencia, while Bielsa has parted with Athletic Bilbao, replaced by Ernesto Valverde - who was at Valencia last season.
Merry go round aside, what does alll of this mean? My guess: Valladolid (17/20) will struggle, while Athletic (17/10) will prosper in the league without European competition to tire their limited squad out.

Given that the midfielder is good in the tackle and an excellent free kick taker who should weigh in with 7-10 goals this season, the addition of Benat from Betis should prove to be a very good move for Athletic. All in all, I think that Athletic will finish in the top 6 and maybe the top 4.
As for today's game, well, Athletic drew 2-2 here last season, so if I think they are now stronger and that the home team has weakened, Athletic draw no bet is surely worth a punt.

Recommendation: Athletic - draw no bet (19/20)


Valencia v Malaga
Valencia's coaching changes are catalogued in the preview above, while I'm sure you all know that Pellegrini has left Malaga for Man City - replaced by former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster. As for player changes, Soldado has left, replaced by Helder Postiga in a cut price deal, while Isco, Toulalan and Demichelis have all left the Anchovies for a more consistent pay packet and better chance of winning trophies.

While Jonas was more consistent last season than he was in 2011/12, the inevitable loss of Soldado makes you wonder who'll score the goals for Los Che in 2013/14.
Positga's signing is better than nothing, but I'd prefer to assess Valencia (6/10) and their new forward in my own viewing before placing a bet on them.

Former Che player Djukic has achieved good pre-season results and I forecast a home win against Malaga (5/1) - who Valencia defeated 5-1 here last season - but the 4/5 that was available a few weeks ago is now 6/10 and too low for me to recommend, I think.
If you fancy it, we have a headline offer of Postiga to score and Valencia to win at 6/4. Otherwise, you can always bet in-play.

Sunday 18th August

Barcelona v Levante
Most importantly, our best wishes to Tito Vilanova from all at William Hill - we hope he has a speedy recovery and encounters no further problems with his illness.
Now, of course, former Newell's Old Boys coach Gerardo Martino - a man who played attacking football in a safety first league - is the new Barcelona (1/10) coach.
In other news, Thiago, Villa and Abidal have left the club, with Neymar coming in from Santos on a record club deal.

I should expect the young Brazilian will spend a lot of time on the ground while he adapts to Spanish football, but he is an exciting talent and should be a joy to watch long term.
As for today's game, well, it's unlikely that Levante (20/1) will win but very plausible that we'll have witnessed two goals before half time. I'm certainly willing to bet that repeating this tactic over the course of a season will pay off.
Sadly, the price has lessened somewhat (was 5/6), but you can always chance waiting out a couple of minutes in-play for a better price if you wish.

Recommendation: Over 1.5 first half goals (4/6)


Real Madrid v Real Betis
Mourinho out, the more reserved, more controllable and better behaved Ancelotti in. On the playing side at Real Madrid (1/6), notably, Higuain and Albiol have left, with Isco and Illamendi coming in.
Real, apparently, will focus on youth long term. We'll see how they get on with that, but the news signings are a step in that direction - as is bringing back Carvajal from Leverkusen (for more than they sold him for, naturally) and calling up forwards Jese and Morata from the B team, Castilla.

Along with loanees Campbell and Pavon, Benat has left Betis (16/1). Verdu is their only notable signing, joining from Espanyol. Betis, I think, will struggle to come anywhere close to repeating last season's 6th placed finish if their European campaign lasts beyond the group stages.

In conclusion, Betis have scored in their last three visits to the Bernabeu and last six games against Real Madrid, but it's only 6/4 for both to score and Real to defeat Betis so I've chosen a different bet.
Indeed, like Barcelona games, I expect this bet will win a lot more than it'll lose over the course of the season.

Recommendations: Over 1.5 first half goals (4/5)


Osasuna v Granada
Traditionally hard to beat on home soil, you'd expect Osasuna (23/20) to defeat Granada in Pamplona. However, low scoring Osasuna sold their best striker, Sola, to Athletic Bilbao and, as such, it's hard to see who'll score their goals this season.
Granada (5/2) have employed Riki and Piti - both adept at scoring goals with the former having netted thirteen for Deportivo last season and the latter eighteen for Rayo Vallecano. Also, Granada defeated Osasuna home and away in 2012/13.
Well, you'd fancy under 2.5 goals here, but it's the first week and I'm having a small punt on an upset instead.

Worth a punt: Granada (5/2)


Sevilla v Atletico Madrid
As I expect you all know, Negredo, Navas and Medel have all left Sevilla, while Falcao parted company with Atletico Madrid to join the uber-rich Monaco.
Atletico (17/10), for whom Diego Costa shone for in 2012/13, often in Falcao's absence, have made the impressive signings of David Villa and Leo Baptistao, along with securing the services of former Malaga defender Martin Demichelis.

All in all, while Sevilla have brought in forwards Gameiro and Bacca to complement on-loan winger Marin, they've lost their best striker, winger and midfielder - and given the quality of the departed and likelihood that the new Sevilla attackers will need time to gel, coupled with the fact that Atletico won here last season, my opinion is that Simeone and his charges will get at least a draw here, probably all three points.

Recommendation: Atletico - draw no bet (4/5)

Monday 19th August

Rayo Vallecano v Elche
Along with star player Leo Baptistao, nearly all of Rayo Vallecano's (13/10) midfielders and forwards have left, making them hard to judge at present.
Elche (23/10), Segunda champions in 2012/13, have brought in a few players with top flight experience, but still look likely candidates for immediate relegation.

With Rayo pretty strong on home soil last season, I feel I have to recommend a home win against a promoted team at a fair 13/10 price, but be warned that this is largely a different Rayo team that we're dealing with.

Recommendation: Rayo (13/10)


Almeria v Villarreal
Whilst I have nothing against Almeria (17/10), it's nice to see the Yellow Submarines of Villarreal back in the top flight. Of course, nearly all of the players you will remember from a couple of years ago have left, but they look capable of avoiding an immediate return to Segunda football.

The Segunda's top scorer, Charles, has left Almeria and that gives Villarreal (17/10) the advantage, but its promoted team v promoted team and a hard call in the ninety minute market.
My temptation is to opt for both teams to score because it let me down in the Segunda last season, but with Charles now a Celta player, it loses a little credibility.

In conclusion, a 1-1 draw is my guess (priced at 11/2), but given that the last five clashes between these two have finished 1-0, 1-0, 1-1, 0-0 and 2-0, under 2.5 goals looks like the bet.
However, the price about the unders and has been backed in and I'll leave it alone, but it does look like the best bet if you don't know what to pick.

Recommendation: Under 2.5 goals (8/13)


Celta v Espanyol
Surviving on the last day of the season, Celta (13/10) have now turned to Luis Enrique to advance their ambition and stabilise the club. Despite losing star forward Aspas to Liverpool and the Premier League, the former Roma and Barcelona B coach has acted swiftly by bringing in a plethora of Barca B players, either on permanent or loan deals.

Whether this just makes Celta a really good Segunda team or propels them up the Primera table remains to be seen, but against an Espanyol (21/10) side that has lost their best attacker, Verdu, and doesn't travel well, we've got to give the new Celta the nod on home soil.

Recommendation: Celta (13/10)

La Liga Opta Facts - Matchday 1 - 17/18 August

Almeria v Villarreal
Almeria have not lost any of their four home meetings with Villarreal in the Primera Division (3W 1D).
Villarreal achieved their third promotion to the Primera last season - after their first promotion, they suffered their worst ever top-flight campaign to date (1998/99, 36 points).
On the contrary, Almeria achieved their second promotion to the top-flight last season - they gained their best ever points total the year after their promotion (52 points in 2008/09).
Current Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral has never lost against Almeria in the top-flight (W3 D1).
Villarreal have only won two of their 13 previous opening day games in La Liga (D5 L6), though both victories came away from home (1-2 in Vallecas, 0-3 in the Mestalla).
The Yellows claimed promotion to La Liga in the final gameweek of the Segunda last season despite losing 1-0 at home to Almeria.
Villarreal only conceded more than one goal in two of their final 20 league games last term.
Almeria scored a league-high 19 headed goals last season.
Since the Frenchman made his Segunda debut, only former Almeria striker Charles (13) scored more goals in the second division than Jeremy Perbet (11).
Ustari has lost all three league games he has played against Villarreal.

Barcelona v Levante
Barcelona have won eight of their last nine meetings with Levante in La Liga, drawing the other.
The Catalan side have won all of their eight previous top-flight meetings with Levante on home soil.
Los Granotas have conceded an average of 3.25 goals per game in these eight trips to the Nou Camp in the Spanish league.
The 5-0 hammering Levante suffered in the Camp Nou last season equalled their worst ever La Liga defeat (also lost 5-0 v Real Madrid in 2004/05).
Cesc Fabregas has scored in three of the last four clashes between Barcelona and Levante in the league, including the victory in the Nou Camp last term.
Fabregas made 185 passes in the opposition half against Levante last season, the most by a single player against one opponent in the top-flight.
Barcelona had the highest average possession in any of the top five European leagues last season (69%), whilst Levante had the lowest (35%).
Levante will be playing in their fourth successive top-flight season; their best ever run of consecutive top tier campaigns.
Lionel Messi was the top scorer in La Liga last season, netting 46 goals - four few than the 50 goal record haul he netted two campaigns ago.
Levante have never won their opening fixture in a La Liga season (D5 L3).

Celta Vigo v Espanyol
Celta Vigo sealed La Liga survival last season after winning 1-0 against Espanyol on the final day.
Four of Celta Vigo's five previous home victories over the Catalan side have ended with the same scoreline: 1-0.
Luis Enrique will make his La Liga managerial debut; his Roma side in 2011/12 had the second highest possession figure in Serie A (60%) after champions Juventus (61%).
Espanyol won just three points having conceded the first goal last season - a La Liga-low.
Celta Vigo have lost last season's star man Iago Aspas to Liverpool; only Lionel Messi contributed directly to a higher portion of his team's goals in La Liga than Aspas last term.
Sergio Garcia has participated in more goals for Espanyol than any other player in La Liga under Javier Aguirre (seven goals, four assists).
With 27 goals last season, new Celta striker Charles was the top scorer in the Segunda last season (Aspas scored 23 goals in Celta's promotion campaign).
The last four times Espanyol have started a top-flight campaign away from home, they have suffered defeat, failing to score in three of those games.
Pizzi attempted more crosses than any other player in La Liga last season (338, including corners).
Rafinha attempted more passes in the opposition half than any other player in the second division last term (1417).

Osasuna v Granada
Osasuna lost both clashes with Granada last season; their last victory over the Andalusian side came back in February 2012 (2-1).
In that victory, Javad Nekounam scored his final league goal for Osasuna; the Iranian is Osasuna's top scoring midfielder over the last 10 seasons (24 goals).
Granada have only won one of their five visits to Pamplona in La Liga (2-1 last season).
Dani Benitez was the scorer of the winning goal in this one Granada victory in Pamplona, netting his first ever top-flight goal in the process.
The Andalusian side have lost their opening game in each of their last two top-flight seasons (1-0 v Betis and Rayo Vallecano).
New Osasuna striker Oriol Riera scored more headed goals than any other player in the Segunda last season (seven).
Granada had the second worst shot conversion rate in La Liga last season (10%), behind Osasuna (8%). Two years ago, Granada had the worst rate (9%).
Osasuna scored just 15 goals at the Reyno last season, their worst ever home goal haul.
New Granada striker Riki scored 13 goals for Deportivo last season; his best ever return in a top-flight campaign.
The Reds scored their last five goals last season after the half-time break.

Rayo Vallecano v Elche
Under Paco Jemez, Rayo Vallecano registered their best ever top-flight points haul last season (53 points).
Elche have won their last two top-flight meetings with Rayo Vallecano (3-0 and 1-0 in 77/78).
In fact, this was Elche's only victory in 39 total visits to Madrid in La Liga (D6).
After Barcelona (69%), Rayo Vallecano had the highest possession figure in La Liga last season (58%).
Edu Albacar was the top scoring defender in the Spanish segunda last season (eight).
Roberto Trashorras averaged more long passes per game than any other player in the top-flight last season (12.4).
Rayo Vallecano have never won a first round game when they have started the campaign away from home in La Liga (D4 L8).
Elche are one of only two teams Rayo Vallecano have faced in La Liga but never scored against (other is Castellon).
Cristian Sapunaru was shown a league-high 18 yellow cards last season.
Of the last 18 goals scored by Rayo in La Liga last season, none of the scorers remain at the club.

Real Madrid v Real Betis
Real Madrid have won four successive league games against Betis in the Bernabeu (scoring 3.7 goals per game).
The Green-and-Whites are the only team to have recorded more than one 0-0 draw against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu over the last 10 seasons.
Betis are one of two teams (with Tenerife) that Cristiano Ronaldo has faced in the league on home soil and never scored against.
Jorge Molina has scored more goals against Real Madrid than any other Primera side, including in each of Betis' last two trips to the Bernabeu.
Mesut Ozil, scorer of a brace in the 3-1 victory over Betis last season, created more big chances than any other player last season (24).
Betis were the first team to ever beat Real Madrid on their own pitch in a La Liga season (1-0 in 1934).
Asier Illarremendi won 59% of the duels he contested in La Liga last season, the best record of the ten midfielders to contest the most duels.
Ruben Castro scored his first top-flight goals against Real Madrid in 2001 when he played for Las Palmas, but has not scored against the Whites since.
The last time there were five Andalusian teams in the top-flight (2008/09), Real Betis were relegated to the Segunda.
The Whites have not opened a season with a home defeat since 1984/85, when they lost 0-3 to Barcelona.

Real Sociedad v Getafe
Real Sociedad have only won one of their six home meetings with Getafe in the top-flight (3-0 in 2005).
The Blues have logged five draws at the Anoeta in La Liga, more than against any other opponent on the road in their top-flight history.
Getafe have found the net at least once in each of their previous nine opening La Liga fixtures.
The last three goals netted by Real Sociedad against Getafe in La Liga have all been headers scored by different players (Paco Sutil, Carlos Martinez, Carlos Vela).
Real Sociedad defenders scored a joint-high 11 goals in La Liga last season, whilst Getafe conceded a league-high 12 to opposition defenders.
Pedro Leon made a league-high six assists from dead ball situations last season.
Carlos Vela was one of only two players (with Iago Aspas) to be his team's top scorer and top assister last season (14 goals and nine assists).
Luis Garcia has never lost against los txuri-urdin in the top-flight (W3 D3).
Carlos Martinez scored the only goal of his La Liga career against Getafe.
Alvaro Vazquez was caught offside more frequently than any other player in La Liga last season (52.6 minutes).

Sevilla v Atletico Madrid
Sevilla are without a win in five league meetings with Atletico Madrid (D3 L2), their last victory against them coming back in 2010 (3-1).
Sevilla did, however, beat Atletico Madrid on the last occasion they played them on the opening day; Julio Baptista scored a debut goal in that game back in 2003.
Atletico have won two successive league games against Sevilla; they last won three in a row against them in La Liga back in 1993.
Both these teams have lost the player that scored the highest percentage of their league goals last season: Alvaro Negredo (43%) and Radamel Falcao (42%).
New Sevilla forward Kevin Gameiro had the second best minutes/goal average in Ligue 1 (eight or more goals) last season (one every 108 minutes) after Zlatan Ibrahimovic (one every 99).
David Villa will make his debut for Atletico against the team he has scored the most La Liga goals against (14).
Thibaut Courtois kept more clean sheets than any other La Liga keeper last season (20).
Ivan Rakitic created more chances per game than any other player in La Liga last season (2.97).
The last time there were five Andalusian teams in La Liga, Sevilla qualified for the Champions League (2008/09).
When they have opened the season on home soil, Sevilla have opened with a victory in seven successive campaigns.

Valencia v Malaga
Valencia have won four successive home league games against Malaga; they have never won four in a row against them.
The Mestalla is the ground that Malaga have played the most often without winning in La Liga (12 times, no victories) together with the Bernabeu since their reformation.
Excluding Sevilla, Valencia are unbeaten in 17 home league games against sides from Andalusia (D3).
Malaga lost on the last occasion they faced Valencia on the opening day of a La Liga campaign.
Valencia scored a league-high 17 headed goals last season.
Willy Caballero conceded five goals on the last occasion Malaga played at the Mestalla, more than in any other game he played last term.
Los Che saw a league-high 11 opposition players sent off last season.
Malaga were the only team not to lose having scored the first goal of a game in the 2012/13 La Liga campaign.
No team won more points with goals scored in the 88th minute or later than Valencia last season (10).
Helder Postiga committed a league-high 100 fouls and was offside a league high 52 times last term.

Valladolid v Athletic Bilbao
Athletic have only lost one of their last eight league games against Valladolid (5W 2D).
However, the Basque side have only won one of their last nine league games in Pucela against Valladolid (D2).
The last four times Valladolid have opened up a top-flight season on home soil, they have lost.
The last time Athletic Bilbao played a full league game without picking up a yellow card was against Valladolid at the old San Mames.
Against no other side has Susaeta scored more league goals than against Real Valladolid (three).
Txingurri Valverde has never drawn in six league games against Valladolid (W2 L4), nor has JIM in the league against Bilbao (W3 L1).
Indeed, Valverde has lost both of his previous two league trips to Pucela, conceding exactly twice in each of these games.
Gorka Iraizoz made more saves per game than any other stopper in La Liga last season (4.37).
Ander Herrera won more fouls than any other player in the top-flight last term (107).
Valladolid scored more own goals than any other side in 2012/13 (four).

27.07. (Sat) 20:00 Valencia - Milan (Preview)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Valencia (4-2-3-1)

Alves; 

Mathieu, Ruiz, Rami, Cissokho 

Romeu, Parejo

Piatti, Banega, Guardado

Soldado

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Diego Alves, Vicente Guaita, Yeray Lopez
Defenders: Adil Rami, Victor Ruiz, Joao Pereira, Antonio Barragan, Ricardo Costa, Jeremy Mathieu, Aly Cissokho
Midfielders: Oriol Romeu, Sofiane Feghouli, Ever Banega, Juan Bernat, Javier Fuego, Michel, Andres Guardado, Dani Parejo
Forwards: Jonas Goncalves, Roberto Soldado, Pablo Piatti, Jonathan Viera, Paco Alcacer, Roberto Ibanez, Fede Cartabia

AC Milan (4-3-3)

Abbiati

Constant, Mexes, Zapata, De Sciglio

Montolivo, Muntari, Boateng

Niang, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati, Marco Amelia, Gabriel
Defenders: Luca Antonini, Daniele Bonera, Kevin Constant, Phillipe Mexes, Bartosz Salomon, Didac Vila, Cristian Zaccardo, Cristian Zapata, Mattia De Sciglio
Midfielders: Kevin-Prince Boateng, Bryan Cristante, Nigel De Jong, Urby Emanuelson, Sulley Ali Muntari, Ricardo Montolivo, Antonio Nocerino, Riccardo Saponara, Rodney Strasser, Bakaye Traore
Forwards: Mario Balotelli, Giacomo Beretta, Robinho, Stephan El Shaarawy, M'Baye Niang, Nmandi Oduamadi, Andrea Petagna

DID YOU KNOW?
Mestalla is hosting the only Guinness International Champions Cup match that is not being played on American soil.
The match marks the first meeting between the two storied sides.
Both teams will play their next matches in New York, with the winner taking on the winner of Chelsea-Inter and the loser dropping down to the loser's bracket and meeting the Chelsea-Inter loser.
There will be no extra time in any matches in the ICC. If a match is tied after regulation, it goes straight to penalty kicks. Teams receive two points for a regulation win and one for a PK win.
Los Che striker Roberto Soldado is the subject of fervent transfer rumors, with the club's president saying he could be had for a €30 million transfer fee. Tottenham are said to be the Spanish forward's most serious suitor.
AC Milan are also heavily involved in the transfer market, with the club being linked to Japan star Keisuke Honda.

01.06. (Sat) 19:00 Barcelona - Malaga

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA
Valdés
Alves • Piqué • Mascherano • Alba
Xavi • Song • Iniesta
Pedro • Fàbregas • Sánchez

MALAGA
Caballero
Gámez • Demichelis • Weligton • Eliseu
Camacho • Toulalan
Joaquín • Baptista • Isco
Cruz

Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova has no fresh fitness concerns heading into Saturday's Liga encounter against Malaga.

Captain Carles Puyol remains absent with a knee problem, while Lionel Messi is unlikely to be risked as he continues his recovery from a hamstring strain.

Eric Abidal is set to make a farewell appearance after Barca announced they will not be renewing the Frenchman's contract into next season.

Malaga defender Martin Demichelis pulled his hamstring in training and is a doubt for the trip to Camp Nou.

Midfielder Manuel Iturra and goalkeeper Carlos Kameni are both likely to miss out with knee injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?
Barcelona are on a four-game winning run in La Liga.
The Blaugrana have won their last 14 Liga matches at Camp Nou.
Alexis Sanchez has scored three goals in his last three appearances for Barca.
Malaga are on a five-match losing run away from home in all competitions.
The Andalusian side have lost 10 of their last 11 meetings with Barcelona.
Malaga's last away win over Barca came in November 1999.

Prediction
Malaga face a crucial summer as they hunt for a replacement for Manuel Pellegrini while warding off interest in their most exciting talent in Isco. Barcelona have recovered well after their crushing defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League and should close out the season with a win.

Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 2-1 Malaga

01.06. (Sat) 17:00 Real - Osasuna

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID
López
Arbeloa • Albiol • Ramos • Coentrão
Essien • Modrić
Callejón • Özil • Benzema
Higuaín

OSASUNA
Fernández
Bertrán • Rubén • Arribas • Oier
Puñal • Silva
Shojaei • Armenteros • Cuevas
Sola

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo could miss the home encounter against Osasuna as he continues to manage a back problem.

Raphael Varane (knee) and Sami Khedira (suspension) are both sidelined, while Pepe, Xabi Alonso and Kaka are all doubts.

However, goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defenders Sergio Ramos and Fabio Coentrao should be available after missing the 3-3 draw at Real Sociedad through injury.

Osasuna defender Damia is suspended after picking up his 15th booking of the season in the win over Sevilla but midfielder Nano is available after serving a one-match ban.

Lolo, Miguel Flano, Sisi, Anthony Annan and Nino are all out injured for the visitors, who have already secured their top-flight status for next season.

DID YOU KNOW?
Real Madrid are on a 10-match winning run at home in La Liga.
Los Blancos have kept a clean sheet in just one of their last eight matches in all competitions.
Gonzalo Higuain has scored three goals in his last two appearances against Osasuna.
Osasuna have only won two of their last eight matches in La Liga (W2, D2, L4).
The Pamplona club have lost four of their last five meetings with Real Madrid.
Osasuna’s last away win over Madrid came in April 2004.

Prediction
Osasuna’s win over Sevilla made this match a dead rubber, but the home side will have been irked by their 3-3 draw against Real Sociedad last weekend and will want to end the season on a positive note.

Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Osasuna

26.05. (Sun) 20:00 Real Sociedad - Real

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

REAL SOCIEDAD
Bravo
Martínez • Mikel • Martínez • Bella
Bergara • Illarra
Prieto • Griezmann • Castro
Agirretxe

REAL MADRID
López
Essien • Albiol • Ramos • Marcelo
Khedira • Modrić
María • Özil • Ronaldo
Higuaín

Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the weekend clash against Real Madrid after suffering a muscle injury in last Saturday's win at Sevilla.

Forward Carlos Vela is suspended after accumulating 10 yellow cards, while defender Mikel Gonzalez is back in contention after returning from a one-match ban.

Madrid trio Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao and Xabi Alonso sustained knocks in the Copa del Rey final defeat against Atletico Madrid and are doubtful to feature.

Defender Raphael Varane (knee) is definitely out but forward Cristiano Ronaldo is available as his two-game ban for his red card in the final only applies to Copa matches.

DID YOU KNOW?
Real Sociedad have only won two of their last five matches in La Liga (W2, D2, L1).
The Basque outfit have lost their last seven Liga encounters with Real Madrid.
Philippe Montanier will leave Sociedad to join Ligue 1 side Rennes at the end of the season.
Real Madrid have just won two of their last six away matches in all competitions (W2, D2, L2).
Los Blancos' last defeat away to Real Sociedad came in January 2004.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored six goals in his last four appearances against Sociedad.

Prediction
Sociedad have been hit by the news Montanier will leave the club at the end of the campaign despite the likelihood of Champions League football next season, while the visitors are also preparing for managerial change in the summer after confirming the departure of Jose Mourinho earlier in the week. The home side have all to play for, however, as they bid to secure a lucrative top-four spot and could stretch Madrid's winless run to three matches in all competitions.

Editor's Prediction
Real Sociedad 1-1 Real Madrid

26.05. (Sun) 20:00 Espanyol - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ESPANYOL
Casilla
López • Colotto • Rodríguez • Capdevila
Forlín • Sánchez
Simão • Verdú • Mubarak
García

BARCELONA
Valdés
Alves • Piqué • Mascherano • Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Iniesta
Pedro • Fàbregas • Sánchez

Espanyol duo Hector Moreno and Christian Stuani are both carrying thigh injuries and are doubtful to feature in the 158th Catalan derby against Barcelona.

Midfielder Sergio Tejera is suspended but defenders Joan Capdevila and Joan Forlin both return after serving bans.

Meanwhile, Espanyol announced young defender Victor Alvarez successfully underwent surgery on Thursday to correct a minor heart defect.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will not be available as he is yet to recover from a hamstring injury.

Defenders Dani Alves (thigh) and Adriano (back) are expected to be available after missing the win over Real Valladolid, but Carles Puyol (knee) remains sidelined.

DID YOU KNOW?
Espanyol are on a four-match winless run in La Liga, losing three.
Los Periquitos have lost four of their last five meetings with Barcelona.
Simao made 69 appearances for Barca between 1999 and 2001, scoring four goals.
Barcelona have only won two of their last eight away matches in all competitions (W2, D3, L3).
The Catalan giants must win their last two games to equal Real Madrid's record tally of 100 points from last season.
Barca's last away defeat to Espanyol came in January 2007.

Prediction
The 158th Catalan derby has nothing riding on it but local pride, with Barcelona having wrapped up the Liga title and Espanyol having secured their top-flight status for next season. The visitors are in a decent run of form having won their last three Liga matches, but the Cornella-El Prat can be an intimidating place to visit and the hosts will be eager for some end-of-season bragging rights.

Editor's Prediction
Espanyol 1-1 Barcelona

La Liga Opta Facts: 26 May

Atletico Madrid v Mallorca
Atletico Madrid have only won two of their last eight league meetings with Mallorca (D3 L3).
The Balearic side have drawn four of their last six trips to the Vicente Calderon in La Liga (L2), with all four ending 1-1.
Over the last seven seasons, only against Real Madrid (0) have Atletico won fewer home games than they have against Mallorca (2, minimum seven games played).
Diego Simeone's side have won just one of their last five home league games, losing three (D1).
Gregorio Manzano has only lost two of his 12 La Liga games as a manager against his former club (W5 D5).
Radamel Falcao averages exactly a goal a game on home soil in La Liga (35 goals in 35 games).
Mallorca have conceded the most goals in La Liga this season (70); Atletico, the fewest (30).
Radamel Falcao has only missed one of the 14 penalties he has taken in La Liga, and that was the one saved by Mallorca stopper Dudu Aouate last season.
Atletico Madrid are the only team yet to concede a penalty in La Liga this term.

Athletic v Levante
Athletic have won five straight home games against Levante in La Liga (scoring 2.4 goals per game on average).
Los Granotas have, however, won their last two league games against Bilbao, though both were played at the Ciutat de Valencia.
Fernando Llorente has scored more goals at the Cathedral than any other player in the 21st century (48 in 129 games).
Athletic have the opportunity to win three successive league games for the first time under Marcelo Bielsa.
Fernando Llorente will play his last game at the San Mames against the team he recorded his first ever La Liga brace (v Levante in 2005).
Levante are without a win in seven (D2 L5) and have only won one of their last 15 (D6 L8).
If he gets booked in this game, De Marcos will become the first player to be shown a yellow card in five successive La Liga games this season.
Robert Acquafresca has scored three of Levante's last six league goals after not netting a league goal all season before this run.
Levante have the lowest average possession in La Liga this term (36%) while Athletic have the third-highest figure (57%).

Real Betis v Real Zaragoza
Real Betis have won five successive games against Real Zaragoza in La Liga, their best ever run against them in the top-flight.
The Green-and-Whites have won four and lost none of their last six home games against the side from Aragon in the top-flight.
Zaragoza have not won an away league game against Betis since 2001, when legendary former captain Xavi Aguado netted his final La Liga goal.
Manolo Jimenez's side have lost seven of their last nine away league games, failing to win any of them.
Current Betis player Juan Carlos scored his first top-flight goals in a Zaragoza shirt against Real Betis in a 4-3 defeat in Villamartin last season.
Betis are unbeaten in nine home league games (W4 D5), their best run on home soil in La Liga since 2004/05 (15 games).
Zaragoza have scored a higher percentage of goals from the penalty spot than any other team in La Liga this season (22%).
Manolo Jimenez's side have scored just 14 second-half goals this season - a league-low.

Espanyol v Barcelona
Espanyol have gone five successive home league games against Barcelona without win (D3 L2), they haven't gone six in a row without a win since 1995/96.
Barcelona have won five and lost none of their last seven derbies with los Pericos, although both draws in that run came away from home.
Barcelona are the team to have inflicted the heaviest defeat on Espanyol at Cornella El-Prat in La Liga (1-5 in 2010).
Tito Vilanova's side now need just two wins from their final two games to equal the record La Liga points total set by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid last season (100).
Espanyol are winless in four league games (D1 L3) and in five on home soil (D4 L1).
Only Bayern Munich (15) have won more away league games than Barcelona (13) in the top five European leagues this season.
Sergio Garcia has directly participated in seven of Espanyol's last nine home league goals (four goals, three assists).
Cornella El-Prat is the only La Liga ground that Lionel Messi has played at more than once and never scored.
Espanyol have lost a joint-high 13 points from winning positions on home soil this season.
Messi's 46 league goals this season have won Barcelona 28 points; Ronaldo's 34 goals have won Real Madrid just 16.

Getafe v Rayo Vallecano
Getafe have lost all three derbies against Rayo Vallecano played in the top-flight.
Indeed, Rayo are the only team that Getafe have faced but never beaten in La Liga.
Getafe have won just one Madrid derby this season, the worst record of all four teams, though they are the only team to defeat Real Madrid in a derby this term.
Luis Garcia's side have lost five of their last six league games, beating only Real Sociedad on home soil in this run.
If they win this game, Rayo will equal the most points they have ever won in a single top-flight campaign (52 in 1999/00).
With his two goals at Levante last week, Piti overtook the goals total registered by Michu last season (17, Michu scored 15 in 2011/12).
The side from Vallecas have conceded a league-high 13 goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this term.
Getafe have conceded more goals to defenders than any other team in La Liga this season (12).
Luis Garcia's side have gained more points from losing positions on home soil than any other team this campaign (14).

Malaga v Deportivo La Coruna
Malaga are without a win in 19 consecutive top-flight games against Deportivo (D8 L11).
The last six games between Malaga and Deportivo at La Romareda, however, have ended level, with four finishing 1-1.
The last two games between Malaga and Deportivo in Andalusia have both ended goalless; Depor midfielder Sergio netted the last goal in this fixture back in 2009.
Malaga have gone 507 minutes without a goal in La Liga against Deportivo; former Depor player Albert Luque netted their last league goal against the Galician side.
Deportivo have been reduced to 10 men in each of their last two visits to La Rosaleda in La Liga (Laure and Pablo Alvarez).
Malaga are the only team in La Liga this season yet to lose a game having netted the first goal.
Bruno Gama has directly participated in four of Deportivo's last five league goals (three goals, one assist).
Deportivo are the only team yet to win a point with a goal in the final 10 minutes in La Liga this season.

Osasuna v Sevilla
Osasuna have gone three league games against Sevilla without a win (D1 L2), failing to score in all three games in this run.
Four of the last six games between these sides in Pamplona have ended level, with three of those four draws ending goalless.
The Andalusian side have won just one of their last 12 visits to Osasuna in the top-flight: 0-2 in 2009/10 (D6 L5).
Mendilibar's side have won just one of their last five league games (D1 L3), the only game in this run in which they found the net (1-0 v Getafe).
Over the last five seasons, only Toulouse (27) have drawn more games 0-0 than Osasuna (25) across the top five European leagues.
No side in Europe's top five leagues have won fewer away games than Sevilla this season (one); only relegated Italian side Palermo have won the same number on the road.
Osasuna have never scored as few as 29 goals after 36 games of a top-flight campaign.
Between them, Alvaro Negredo (three) and Ivan Rakitic (two) have scored all of Sevilla's last five away league goals.

Real Sociedad v Real Madrid
Real Sociedad have lost three successive top-flight home games against Real Madrid; their worst ever run against them at the Anoeta.
The Whites have won their last seven league games against Real Sociedad overall, scoring 2.9 goals per game on average.
The last Real Sociedad victory over Real Madrid in the Anoeta dates back to 2004, when the winning goal was scored by Valeri Karpin.
Real Sociedad have won three of their last four home league games (D1), scoring exactly four goals in each victory.
No team in the top five European games has won more away games than Real Madrid in the Mourinho era (38).
Imanol Agirretxe has scored four goals in the last four La Liga gameweeks.
Real Sociedad and Real Madrid are the only two teams to have beaten champions Barcelona in La Liga this season.
Xabi Prieto is the only player to have scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid in La Liga under Mourinho.
Real Sociedad have scored more goals through defenders than any other La Liga side this season (11).

Valencia v Granada
Valencia have won four successive games against Granada in La Liga, their best ever run against them in the top-flight.
Granada have lost 16 of their 18 previous trips to Granada in La Liga, only managing to draw the other two.
Granada lost 1-7 against Valencia in 1975, their second-heaviest ever top-flight loss.
If los Che win this game, their will have won four straight league games for the first time under Ernesto Valverde.
Granada are unbeaten in five successive league games (W3 D2); they are yet to go six in a row without defeat since their promotion.
Valencia could join Barcelona in this game as the only sides to have won all four games against Granada since they were promoted back to La Liga.
Roberto Soldado is the top scoring Spaniard in La Liga this season (21); last season, he shared the title with Fernando Llorente (17).
Youssef El-Arabi has now scored more goals in a single season than any other Granada player since their promotion in 2011 (seven).
Granada are the only team yet to lose a point from a winning position on the road this term.

Real Valladolid v Celta Vigo
Real Valladolid have won just one of their last 16 top-flight meetings with Celta Vigo (2-1 in 1999).
Celta Vigo have won five successive games at the Zorrilla in the top-flight, their best ever away run against a single side in La Liga.
Miroslav Djukic's side have won only two of their 11 league games; both in the Zorrilla and both by the odd goal.
Celta Vigo have only won one of their five away league games since the arrival of Abel Resino.
Javi Guerra has scored three goals in Real Valladolid's last three league games at the Jose Zorrilla (W2 D1).
Iago Aspas has scored two braces in his first ever La Liga season, with one of them coming against Valladolid in the reverse fixture.
Valladolid have lost a league-high 24 points having scored the first goal of the game this season.
Celta Vigo have scored a league-high 29% of their goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season.
Iago Aspas has participated in 50% of Celta Vigo's goals this season (11 goals, six assists), while Oscar has participated in 40% of Valladolid's (12 goals, seven assists).

19.05. (Sun) 21:00 Barcelona - Valladolid

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA
Pinto
Alves • Piqué • Correia • Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Iniesta
Pedro • Fàbregas • Sánchez

REAL VALLADOLID
Jaime
Peña • Rueda • Valiente • Balenziaga
Rubio • Pérez
Ebert • González • Larsson
Guerra

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is set to miss the rest of the season after aggravating a hamstring injury in the win over Atletico Madrid last weekend.

Goalkeeper Victor Valdes is unlikely to be risked as he continues to nurse a foot problem, but Javier Mascherano could make his first appearance for the club in over a month after recovering from a knee injury.

Real Valladolid defender Antonio Rukavina is sidelined after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Coach Miroslav Dukic has no injury concerns for the Camp Nou clash.

DID YOU KNOW?
Barcelona have only won two of their last five matches in all competitions (W2, D1, L2).
The Catalan side will need to win their final three games of the campaign to equal Real Madrid's Liga record tally of 100 points set in last season.
Alexis Sanchez has scored three goals in his last three Liga appearances for Barca.
Real Valladolid are on a five-match winless run away from home in La Liga, losing three.
The Pucela have lost their last six Liga encounters with Barcelona.
Valladolid's last win over Barca at Camp Nou came in November 1997.

Prediction
Barca will be out to celebrate their title triumph in front of the home fans and should secure a straightforward win over Valladolid, who have already achieved their objective for the season.

Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Valladolid

Opta Facts La Liga 2012-13 - Matchday 36

Getafe v Valencia 
Getafe have only won one of their last six clashes with Valencia in La Liga (L5), though that was the last time they played in the Coliseum (3-1 last season).
In their last three league victories over Los Che, Getafe have netted exactly three goals.
Luis Garcia's side have only won one of their last seven league games (D2 L4) but have only lost one of their last 12 at home (W7 D4).
Valencia will arrive at the Coliseum on the back of their biggest away win under Valverde (4-0 in Vallecas).
Against no other side have Getafe won more home games in their La Liga history than they have against Valencia (five).
Roberto Soldado has scored a joint-high five away goals against Getafe, his former club, in the top-flight history of the Madrid side (level with Messi).
Valencia have won a league-high 12 points with goals in the final five minutes this season.
Los Che have also scored a league-high 16 headed goals this term.
Getafe have earned a league-high 14 points from losing positions at home in La Liga this term.

Granada v Osasuna 
After their 2-1 win in the Reyno, Granada have the opportunity to win consecutive top-flight games against Osasuna for the first time in their history.
Osasuna's only win in Granada in La Liga came in their first ever visit there (1-2 in 1958).
Granada are unbeaten in four league games (W2 D2); they last went five in a row unbeaten in La Liga back in Decemeber 2011.
Osasuna have only won one of their last six league games (D2 L3), though that win did come in their last game (1-0 v Getafe).
Four of the last six Osasuna goals have been headers, with the last two both being scored by Raul Arribas.
Granada have scored exactly one goal in each of their last seven home league games.
Osasuna have won just one penalty all season - a league-low.
Mendilibar's side have the worst shot conversion rate in La Liga this season (8.2%) while Alcaraz's side have the second-worst (9.3%).
Youssef El-Arabi has scored six goals this season, the same as Granada top scorers Siqueira and Ighalo managed last term.
Osasuna and Granada both have 36 points this season, just one short of the total relegated Sporting managed in the whole of 2011/12 (37).

Sevilla v Real Sociedad
Sevilla have lost two successive league games against Real Sociedad, both at the Anoeta and having conceded exactly two goals each time.
Sevilla have won five and lost none of their last six La Liga games against the Basque side on home soil, however.
The last time Real Sociedad won in the Pizjuan in the league was back in 2002/03 (0-1), the year they finished second in the table.
Sevilla have won eight of their last nine home league games, only losing against third placed Atletico Madrid.
The Basque side have failed to win their last two league games (D1 L1); they have not gone three games without a victory since November.
After 12 competitive games without a clean sheet for Sevilla, Beto has managed a shutout in each of his last two appearances.
Montanier's side have conceded exactly twice in five of their last seven league games.
Alvaro Negredo needs just one goal to register his best ever La Liga haul (currently on 20 for this term).
Imanol Agirretxe has scored five of Real Sociedad's last nine league goals.
Thanks to his assist against Espanyol, Ivan Rakitic has now assisted more goals for Negredo at Sevilla than any other player.

Levante v Rayo Vallecano 
Levante have lost two of their three previous top-flight meetings with Rayo Vallecano (W1).
The Madrid-based side won 5-3 in the Ciutat last season; they are still the only team to have scored 5+ goals in an away game against JIM's Levante side.
Levante have only won one of their last 14 league games (D6 L7), though that was in the Ciutat de Valencia against Sevilla (1-0 in March).
Rayo have gone five league games without a win (D2 L3), their worst run of the campaign.
Levante have failed to score in three successive home league games; they have never gone four in a row without netting in the Primera.
Piti has participated in six of Rayo's last eight league goals (five goals, one assist).
JIM's side have scored just two goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season, a league-low.
Rayo, on the other hand, have scored a league-high 30% of their goals in the final 15 minutes of games.
JIM's side have the lowest average possession in La Liga this season (36%), while Paco Jemez's side have the second-highest figure (58%).

Deportivo La Coruna v Espanyol 
Deportivo won 3-0 in their last home league meeting with Espanyol with goals from Adrian, Albert Lopo and current Espanyol defender Diego Colotto.
Los Pericos have won five of their last six top-flight meetings with Depor (1L), but four of those victories were in Barcelona.
Espanyol have only scored in one of their last five visits to the Riazor in La Liga, but that was in their last victory there (2-3 in 2009/10).
Deportivo are unbeaten in five league games (W2 D3), they last went six or more in a row in the top-flight without defeat back in 2007/08 (nine).
Espanyol have won three of their last four away league games (1L), all by the same 2-0 scoreline.
Fernando Vazquez has won more games in La Liga this season (four) than the two other managers to take charge of Depor combined (three).
Bruno Gama has participated in four of Deportivo's last five league goals (two goals, two assists).
Espanyol have lost a league-high seven points with goals conceded in the final five minutes this season, though Deportivo are the only team yet to win a point in this period.
The Galician side have conceded a league-high 35 goals before half-time this season.

Zaragoza v Athletic Bilbao 
Zaragoza have won two consecutive league games against Athletic Bilbao; they have never won three in a row against them.
Los Manos have won five of their last six games against Athletic in La Romareda in the league, losing the other.
Manolo Jimenez's side are unbeaten in three league games (W2 D1), their joint-best run of the campaign.
Athletic have drawn their last two away games; they last drew three in a row in the league back in 2005.
Manolo Jimenez has only lost one of his eight previous clashes with Athletic as a top-flight manager (W6 D1).
The only hat-trick Aritz Aduriz has ever scored in La Liga came at La Romareda during his first spell at the Lions (in a 3-4 defeat in 2007).
No side has conceded more goals from the penalty spot than Athletic this season (seven).
Zaragoza have scored a league-high 60% of their goals before the half-time break this season.
Marcelo Bielsa's side have conceded the most set piece goals this season (30), while Manolo Jimenez's side have scored the highest percentage from dead balls (60%).

Barcelona v Real Valladolid
Barcelona have won six and lost none of their last eight home league meetings with Real Valladolid (2D).
Valladolid have not won a point at the Nou Camp since 2003 (0-0).
Tito Vilanova's side need to win their remaining three games to equal the La Liga points record set by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid last season (100).
Valladolid have scored in each of their last nine league games, though the last time they failed to net was in Barcelona (0-0 v Espanyol in March).
Lionel Messi has scored in each of his last three league meetings with Valladolid (four goals).
Javi Guerra scored his first La Liga goal against Barcelona in the reverse fixture, the only one of his eight league goals this season that came before the winter break.
Excluding the own goal by Gabi, Alexis Sanchez has participated in 10 of Barcelona's 16 league goals since April (five goals, five assists).
Antonio Rukavina, the outfield player to have played the most minutes in La Liga this season (3,135), will miss this game.
Cesc Fabregas has now scored more goals (10) and made more assists (11) than he made in La Liga last term (nine goals, eight assists).
Valladolid have lost a league-high 24 points having scored the first goal this season.
Of regular Spanish players in La Liga this season, only Roberto Soldado (one every 127 minutes) has a better mins/goal ratio than David Villa (131).
Valladolid keeper Jaime has saved all 22 shots from outside the area that he has faced this season (100% success rate).

Mallorca v Real Betis
After enduring their longest ever winless run against Betis in La Liga (five games), Mallorca have won their last two against them in the top-flight.
Betis have drawn four of their last six visits to the island in La Liga (L2) but have not won there since 2002 (1-3).
Gaby Amato, former player of both of these sides, scored his final ever La Liga goal in that Real Betis victory.
Mallorca are currently bottom of the table on 29 points. The last time they finished a La Liga campaign at the foot of the table, they won 37 points (91/92, assuming three points for a win).
Betis have already beaten Celta (1-0) and Deportivo (3-2) on the road this season - the other two teams currently in the drop zone alongside Mallorca.
Giovani dos Santos has scored two direct free kicks this season, the same number as Betis man Benat: only Ronaldo and Messi have scored more this season.
With his goal against Celta Vigo, Ruben Castro took his league tally to 17 for the season - his best ever return in La Liga.
Mallorca have conceded a league-high 11 goals from outside the area this season; Betis, a league-low of just two.
Since his La Liga debut, Dorlan Pabon has scored more away goals than any other player for Betis in the top-flight (four).
The last time Gregorio Manzano faced Betis as a La Liga manager, it proved to be his last game in charge of Atletico Madrid (0-2 in December 2011).

12.05. (Sun) 19:00 Atletico Madrid - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATLETICO MADRID
Courtois
Juanfran • Miranda • Godín • Luis
Gabi • Tiago
García • Adrián • Turan
Falcao

BARCELONA
Valdés
Alves • Piqué • Correia • Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Iniesta
Pedro • Messi • Villa

Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez is a doubt for Sunday's clash against Barcelona after suffering a ligament injury in the midweek win at Celta Vigo.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and striker Diego Costa also picked up knocks in Wednesday's match but are expected to be fit in time for the weekend.

Lionel Messi has recovered from a hamstring injury and is set to start for Barcelona after coming off the bench to score twice in the 4-2 win over Betis last Sunday.

Victor Valdes (foot), Pedro (illness) and Javier Mascherano (knee) have been declared fit, while Cesc Fabregas returns following a one-match ban.

DID YOU KNOW?
Atletico Madrid have won just one of their last four home matches in La Liga (W1, D1, L2).
With just 28 goals conceded, Los Colchoneros boast the best defensive record in the Primera Division.
Radamel Falcao has scored five goals in his last five matches for Atletico.
Barcelona have won just one of their last seven away matches in all competitions (W1, D3, L3).
The Catalan giants have won their last five encounters with Atletico Madrid.
Barca have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four games across all competitions, conceding 11 goals in that sequence.

Prediction
Atletico will be fully focused on Friday's Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid after guaranteeing Champions League football for next season with the win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday. Barca will be determined to finally clinch the Liga title, while Messi's expected return to the starting line-up will also give them a boost.

Editor's Prediction
Atl. Madrid 1-2 Barcelona

11.05. (Sat) 22:00 Espanyol - Real

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ESPANYOL
Casilla
López • Colotto • Moreno • Capdevila
Forlín • Sánchez
Stuani • Verdú • Mubarak
García

REAL MADRID
López
Nacho • Varane • Carvalho • Marcelo
Essien • Modrić
María • Kaká • Ronaldo
Higuaín

Espanyol trio Cristian Alvarez, Felipe Mattioni and Simao will miss Saturday's Primera Division clash against Real Madrid.

Defender Mattioni and midfielder Simao are yet to return to training after sustaining calf injuries, while goalkeeper Alvarez is out with a torn hamstring.

Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Malaga and will miss the trip to the Cornella-El Prat.

Alvaro Arbeloa, Sami Khedira and Marcelo could all return from spells on the sidelines but Sergio Ramos is still out with a hamstring problem.

DID YOU KNOW?
Espanyol are on a four-match winless run at home in La Liga (D3, L1).
Los Periquitos are on a 10-match winless run against Real Madrid, losing eight.
Espanyol's last home win over Real was a 2-1 triumph in October 2007.
Real Madrid have only won two of their last five away matches in all competitions (W2, D1, L2).
The Castilian giants are the only team to remain unbeaten at home across all competitions in Europe's top five leagues this season (W23, D5).
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 200th goal of his Madrid career in the win over Malaga. He has achieved this feat in just 197 matches.

Prediction
Real were sensational in the demolition of Malaga and they will want to continue winning games to keep away the media circus that is threatening to undermine the club. Espanyol have little to play for after securing their top-flight status for next season and could fall to a third-straight defeat.

Editor's Prediction
Espanyol 1-3 Real Madrid

Barsa bez motiva Ivan Obradović (Saragosa, Španija 1)

BILBAO - MAJORKA 1 - Majorka je jednom nogom u Drugoj ligi. Bilbao ima lošu sezonu, još nije osigurao opstanak, tako da mora da slavi na „San Mamesu” ako želi mirniji finiš sezone.
RAJO VALJEKANO - VALENSIJA 2 - Posle poraza Sosijedada u prošlom kolu Valensija je ponovo u borbi za Ligu šampiona. Rajo Valjekano je u padu forme u poslednjih nekoliko kola. Iako su „slepi miševi” slabiji na strani, smatram da će da pobede u predgrađu Madrida.
BETIS - SELTA 1 - Betis je odličan kod kuće. Ne verujem da gosti mogu da izbegnu poraz u Sevilji.
ATLETIKO – BARSELONA 1X - Barselona je sigurno “pala” posle poraza od Bajerna. Katalonci zavise od Mesija, bez njega su samo bleda senka one ekipe koja je „žarila i palila”. Mislim da bi Atletiko na svom „Vinsente Kalderonu” mogao da iznenadi budućeg šampiona Španije.
MALAGA - SEVILJA 1 - Malaga je pod suspenzijom UEFA. Neće moći da igra evropska takmičenja naredne sezone, ali možda joj ukinu kaznu. Cele sezone igra dobro. Zbog domaćeg terena dajem prednostu Malagi.
SOSIJEDAD - GRANADA 1 - Baskijci su prekinuli seriju pobede protiv Hetafea, ali i dalje sve drže u svojim rukama. U San Sebastijanu su u ovom šampionatu padale i mnogo jače ekipe, pa zašto ne bi i Granada.

Opta Facts La Liga 2012-13 - Matchday 35

Levante v Real Zaragoza
Levante have only won two of their 15 top-flight meetings with Zaragoza (D6 L7).
The sides have shared the spoils in four of their seven meetings in Valencia in La Liga, with the last three all ending 0-0.
Only against Barcelona (6%) and Real Madrid (12%) do Levante have a worse win rate in La Liga than against Zaragoza (13% - minimum five games played).
Levante have won just eight points since the start of February - a La Liga-low.
Zaragoza have won two successive league games for the first time in the year 2013.
Levante have lost their last two league games at the Ciutat de Valencia. They have not lost three in a row there since their promotion in 2010.
Zaragoza's last victory at Levante's ground in La Liga saw them escape relegation on the final day of the 2010/11 campaign (2-1 win).
Only Falcao (8) has scored more penalty goals than Apono in La Liga this season (7).
Levante have scored just two goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season, a league-low.
Zaragoza have scored the highest percentage of set piece goals in the league this term (60%).

Athletic Bilbao v Mallorca
Athletic have won two successive league games against Mallorca, they have not won three in a row against them since 2004.
The Lions have won six of their last nine league clashes with the Islanders in the Cathedral (D1 L2).
If they win this game, Mallorca will have lost more games at the San Mames than any other away side this century (currently seven).
The Red-and-Whites are winless in five league games; they have never gone six in a row without a victory in a single season under Marcelo Bielsa.
Bottom of the table Mallorca have 29 points from 34 games; the last team to have this exact record (Rayo Vallecano in 2002/03) were relegated.
The Balearic side have conceded a goal in more games than any other team this season (31 of 34).
The last seven goals scored by Athletic Bilbao in La Liga have come courtesy of seven different players.
Of Spanish players in La Liga this season, only Iago Aspas (50%) has directly participated in a higher portion of his team's goals than Aduriz (49%).
Mallorca have lost a league-high 16 points from winning positions on the road this season.

Valladolid v Deportivo La Coruna
Valladolid have won five of their last eight home La Liga meetings with Deportivo (D2 L1).
The Galician side have lost two successive games at the Zorrilla in La Liga without scoring a single goal; Riki was the last Depor player to net there in a 2-2 draw in 2007/08.
Real Valladolid have scored more goals against Deportivo than any other side in the top-flight this century (26).
Valladolid have only won one of their last six home league games (D3 L2).
Deportivo are unbeaten in seven league games (W4 D3), their best run since 2006/07 (eight).
Miroslav Djukic's side have lost the most points having scored the first goal of all teams in La Liga this season (24).
Deportivo have drawn three successive league games; they have not drawn four in a row since November 1998.
Javi Guerra has scored six goals already in the second round of the season; he only netted one before the Christmas break.
Deportivo are the only team in La Liga this season who are yet to win a point with a goal scored in the final five minutes of a game.

Osasuna v Getafe
Osasuna have drawn five of their last six league meetings with Getafe (1L).
Indeed, the Reds have not beaten the Blues at the Reyno de Navarra since 2008; incidentally the last time they scored five goals in a single league game (5-2).
The last three clashes between these sides in La Liga in Pamplona have all ended goalless.
Osasuna are winless in five league games (D2 L3); they have never gone six in a row without a win under Jose Luis Mendilibar.
The Reds have gone four successive home league games without scoring; they have never gone five in a row in their top-flight history.
Only the already relegated Greuther Furth (nine) have scored fewer home goals than Osasuna (12) across Europe's top five leagues this season.
Since the three point for a win rule was introduced, the five teams to have logged exactly 33 points after 34 games, as Osasuna do now, have all been relegated.
Osasuna are the only team yet to claim a single point from behind on home soil this term.

Espanyol v Real Madrid
After the draw at the Bernabeu earlier in the season, Espanyol could achieve consecutive games against Real Madrid without defeat for the first time since 1998.
Real Madrid have won their last four visits to Espanyol, however, their best ever run against the Pericos.
Espanyol have not beaten Real Madrid in La Liga since October 2007, with that victory coming at the Olympic Stadium in Monjuic (2-1).
Espanyol have lost their last two league games without scoring; their worst run with Javier Aguirre at the helm.
Real Madrid have won four of their six away league games with Diego Lopez in goal, only losing the first one (1-0 at Granada with an own goal by Ronaldo).
Gonzalo Higuain has scored nine league goals against Espanyol (same as v Valencia); against no side has he netted more.
Sergio Garcia has participated in seven of Espanyol's last eight home goals (four goals, three assists).
Javier Aguirre has never won a home league game against Real Madrid in eight attempts (D2 L6).
Espanyol have only recouped three points having conceded the first goal this season, a league-low alongside Rayo and Real Betis.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have recouped a league-high 24 points from losing positions this season.

Rayo Vallecano v Valencia
After their victory in the Mestalla this season, Rayo have the opportunity to win successive top-flight games against Valencia for the first time in their history.
Los Che have won their last two trips to Vallecas in La Liga, they have never won three in a row there.
Rayo are winless in three successive home league games (D1 L2), they have not gone four in a row without a win since their return to the Primera in 2011.
After winning their first four away games under Ernesto Valverde, Valencia have gone five without a win on the road (D3 L2).
Paco Jemez's side have won just two of their eight league games without Leo Baptistao in the starting eleven this season (D1 L5).
With his goal last week, Roberto Soldado reached 19 league goals for the season - his best ever return in a La Liga campaign.
Rayo have scored a league-high 30% of their goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season.
Valencia have scored a league-high 16 headed goals this season, while Rayo have netted a joint-low of just five this way.
Real Betis have won four of their last five home meetings with Celta Vigo in La Liga (1L).
The Green-and-Whites have the opportunity to do the double over a team for the first time this season in this game, having won at the Balaidos in the reverse fixture.
Abel Resino has won both of his two previous visits to Real Betis as a La Liga manager, with his side scoring twice on each occasion (2-0 with Atleti, 2-1 with Granada).
Pepe Mel's side are without a win in three league games in Villamarin but are unbeaten in eight (W3 D5) at home.
Colombian Dorlan Pabon has scored more goals this season than any other winter signing in La Liga (six).
Celta Vigo have lost a league-high 13 games by the odd goal this season.
Betis are the only team who are yet to lose a point following a goal conceded in the final five minutes in this campaign.
The Galician side have only scored two or more goals in one away game all season, and they lost that game 2-3 at Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico Madrid v Barcelona
Atletico Madrid have lost five successive league games against Barcelona; they worst ever run against them.
Barcelona won 6-0 in the Calderon in 2007, the biggest ever home defeat suffered by Atletico in their La Liga history.
In no away ground over the last 10 seasons have Barcelona lost more games than at the Calderon (four).
Atletico need to win both of their last two home league games this season to equal their top-flight record for most home wins in a single campaign (16 in 1991/92).
Barcelona will be crowned champions of La Liga if they win this game, whatever Real Madrid do against Espanyol in this gameweek.
With a goal in this game, Falcao would join Gonzalo Castro as the only two players to have scored in two league games v Barcelona this season.
Atletico Madrid have been on the end of more La Liga goals from Leo Messi than any other team in the competition (17).
Diego Simeone's side have scored the second highest portion of set piece goals this season (50%); Tito Vilanova's side have scored the lowest portion (14%).
Barcelona are the top scorers in Europe's top five leagues this season (105) while Atletico have the joint-fourth best defensive record (28 goals conceded).
Falcao has scored 44% of Atletico's league goals this season, a joint-high with Messi.
Alexis Sanchez has participated in nine of Barcelona's 15 league goals since April (four goals, five assists).

Malaga v Sevilla
Malaga have only won one of their last five home league meetings with Sevilla (1D 3L), though this was the last one they played (2-1 in 2012).
Manuel Pellegrini's side have already won both of their previous two home derbies this season by a 4-0 scoreline (v Betis and Granada).
Since Sevilla's last away win (v Depor in September), every other team in the top five European leagues has won at least one away game.
Unai Emery's side have not kept a single clean sheet in 14 away league games since that win in A Coruna.
Malaga have conceded just five goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season, a league-low shared with Real Madrid.
Malaga are the only team in La Liga yet to lose a game having scored the first goal this season.
If Alvaro Negredo scores in this match, he will equal his record for successive games scored in this season (three).
Sevilla have scored a league-low of just 13% of their goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season.
Only Mesut Ozil (85) has created more chances than Ivan Rakitic (83) in La Liga this season, while Joaquin (79) has been the most creative Spaniard.

Real Sociedad v Granada
Real Sociedad have won 12 of their 15 home meetings with Granada in La Primera (D2 L1).
The Red-and-Whites have only scored in one of their last five trips to San Sebastian in La Liga, but that did earn them their only ever win there (2-0 in 1973/74).
Sociedad have won three straight league games at the Anoeta; they have not won four in a row there in a single season since March 2012.
Granada have won two successive league games; they have not won three in a row since promotion to the top-flight.
Imanol Agirretxe has participated in six of the last nine goals logged by Real Sociedad in the league (four goals, two assists).
Excluding penalties, Odion Ighalo is Granada's top scorer since they won promotion to La Liga in 2011 (11 goals).
Real have won 39% of their top-flight games under Philippe Montanier, a very similar record to that of his compatriot Raynald Denoueix (43%).
Granada have won nine games already this season, exactly the same number relegated Villarreal managed in the whole of last term.
Only Barcelona (27%) and Real Madrid (17.4%) have better shot conversion rates than Real Sociedad (16.9%) this season.

08.05. (Wed) 21:30 Real - Malaga

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID
López
Nacho • Albiol • Varane • Coentrão
Essien • Alonso
Callejón • Özil • Ronaldo
Benzema

MALAGA
Caballero
Sánchez • Demichelis • Lugano • Eliseu
Iturra • Camacho
Joaquín • Baptista • Isco
Cruz

Raul Albiol is available for Real Madrid's Liga clash against Malaga on Wednesday after completing a one-match ban.

Fellow defenders Alvaro Arbeloa (back), Sergio Ramos (hamstring) and Marcelo (muscle tear) are all out injured, while Pepe has been left out of the squad after criticising coach Jose Mourinho earlier in the week.

Malaga captain Weligton is suspended after picking up his 10th booking of the season in Saturday's defeat at Granada.

Defender Jesus Gamez and midfielder Jeremy Toulalan remain sidelined for the Andalusian club, who have no other injury concerns.

DID YOU KNOW?

Real Madrid are on an eight-match winning run at the Santiago Bernabeu in all competitions.

Should the Castilian giants fail to beat Malaga, Barcelona will become Primera Division champions for the fourth time in five seasons.

Saturday's 4-3 win over Real Valladolid was Jose Mourinho's 85th Liga victory as Madrid boss. Only Leo Beenhakker (89) and Miguel Munoz (257) have overseen more Liga wins at the Bernabeu club.

Malaga are on a four-match losing run away from home across all competitions.

Los Boquerones have lost seven of their last eight encounters against Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Javier Saviola made 28 appearances for Madrid between 2007 and 2009, scoring five goals.

Prediction
Madrid will be glad to get back to football as the public spat between Mourinho and some of his senior playing staff rumbles on in the background. The home side will hope to continue racking up the wins in the run up to the Copa del Rey final and should possess enough quality to avenge the 3-2 defeat to Malaga in the reverse fixture in December.

Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 2-1 Malaga

05.05. (Sun) 21:00 Barcelona - Betis

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA
Valdés
Alves • Piqué • Abidal • Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Iniesta
Pedro • Villa • Tello

REAL BETIS
Adrián
Chica • Amaya • Mario • Martínez
Pérez • Beñat
Campbell • Igiebor • Pabón
Castro

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is doubtful to start against Betis at Camp Nou as he continues to cope with a hamstring injury.

Defender Eric Abidal (calf) and midfielder Sergio Busquets (groin) should be available but Cesc Fabregas is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao.

Betis midfielder Eder Vilarchao is available to play his first game after a three-month lay-off with a tibia injury.

Casto (knee), Paulao (hamstring), Damien Perquis (calf), Nacho and Jose Canas (both suspension) are all sidelined, while midfielder Benat (back) and Nosa Igiebor (groin) are minor doubts.

DID YOU KNOW?

Barcelona are on a three-match winless run in all competitions, losing two.

The Catalan side's 7-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich was their heaviest two-legged defeat in European competition.

Lionel Messi has scored in his last 20 Liga appearances for Barcelona.

Betis have won just one of their last six matches in La Liga (W1, D3, L2).

Los Verdiblancos have lost three of their last five encounters with Barca.

Betis' last Liga win at Camp Nou was a 3-1 triumph in May 1998.

Prediction
Barca boss Vilanova will demand a response after getting thoroughly outclassed in Europe and they should return to winning ways against a weakened Betis outfit.

Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 2-1 Betis

04.05. (Sat) 20:00 Real - Valladolid

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID
López
Essien • Varane • Pepe • Coentrão
Khedira • Alonso
Özil • Kaká • Callejón
Benzema

REAL VALLADOLID
Jaime
Rukavina • Rueda • Valiente • Balenziaga
Rubio • Pérez
Ebert • González • Larsson
Guerra

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is likely to miss the Primera Division encounter against Real Valladolid after picking up a hamstring injury in the win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

Defenders Alvaro Arbeloa (back), Marcelo (muscle tear) and Raul Albiol (suspension) are all sidelined, while Cristiano Ronaldo (hamstring) is a doubt.

Real Valladolid have no fresh injury worries for the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Boss Miroslav Dukic could name the same team that played out a 1-1 draw with Sevilla last Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

Real Madrid are on a seven-match winning run at the Santiago Bernabeu in all competitions.

Los Merengues are on a 28-match unbeaten streak on home soil in La Liga stretching back to December 2011.

Mesut Ozil has scored four goals in his last two Liga appearances.

Real Valladolid have won just one of their last eight matches in La Liga (W1, D4, L3).

The Pucela have lost their last four Liga encounters with Real Madrid.

Valladolid's last away win over Madrid was a 1-0 success in May 2000.

Prediction
Valladolid are on a three-match unbeaten run in La Liga but do not travel well, having picked up just one win in their last nine away outings. Madrid have little to play for after their Champions League exit but they should have enough in the tank to put the visitors to the sword.

Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 2-0 Valladolid

Opta Facts La Liga 2012-13 Matchday 33

Rayo Vallecano v Osasuna
Rayo have only scored in one of their last four top-flight meetings with Osasuna, but that was in a 6-0 hammering at home last season.
That 6-0 win remains Rayo's biggest ever La Liga victory, and was also the last game in which Michu netted (twice) for side from Madrid.
Osasuna have only won one their seven trips to Vallecas in the Primera (1D 5L), only scoring in two of those seven games.
Rayo have lost successive league games on home soil; they have not lost three in a row at home since 2002/03, the last season they were relegated.
The Reds have only won one of their last seven league games, losing five of them (1D).
Rayo captain Piti has scored four of his team's last six league goals.
Ex-Rayo player Emiliano Armenteros has had more shots than any other Osasuna player this season (62), but has only scored three goals.
Only Barcelona (70%) average more possession than Rayo Vallecano (57%) in La Liga this season.
Osausna have only scored 26 league goals all season; only in one previous campaign have they ended with fewer goals (24 in 1985/86, when they played only 34 games).

Levante v Celta Vigo
Levante have not lost any of their three top-flight clashes with Celta (1W 2D).
The Galician side have scored exactly one goal in each of their three meetings with Levante in La Liga, with two of them ending 1-1.
Levante have only scored three goals in five games since the departure to the MLS of Obafemi Martins (1D 3L).
Celta Vigo are the only team in La Liga yet to win consecutive league games this term.
Las Granotas have lost three successive league games; they have never lost four in a row under Juan Ignacio Martinez.
Levante have scored a league-low of just two goals in the first 15 minutes of games this season.
Celta, meanwhile, have only scored five set piece goals this term; a league-low.
Only Lionel Messi (55%) has directly contributed to a higher portion of his team's goals than Iago Aspas (52%) this season.

Athletic v Barcelona
Athletic are without a win in six meetings with Barcelona at the San Mames in La Liga (D3 L3), their second-worst ever home run against the Catalans (eight).
Bilbao's last victory over Barcelona in the league, however, was recorded at the San Mames back in May 2006 (3-1).
Barcelona have logged more draws at the San Mames than any other away team in Spanish top-flight history (18).
Athletic Bilbao recorded a legendary 12-1 victory over Barcelona in 1931, their biggest ever home league win.
Only one of the eight goals Lionel Messi has netted against Athletic in La Liga has come at the San Mames, though that did earn his team a 2-2 draw there last season.
Ibai Gomez is one of only two players (with Piotr Trochowski) to have scored against both Barcelona and Real Madrid this season.
Cesc Fabregas (four goals, one assist) and Thiago (one goal, two assists) have contributed to eight of Barcelona's nine goals in Lionel Messi's absence.
Barcelona are unbeaten in six league games, winning five.
Barca have only scored three headed goals all season, a league-low.
Athletic Bilbao have conceded more set piece goals than any other side in La Liga this season (29).

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Atletico are winless in 22 league meetings with Real Madrid (6D 16L), the longest run without a victory by any side in any Spanish top-flight derby.
Real Madrid have won their last five trips to the Calderon in La Liga, their best ever away run against Atleti in the league.
Real Madrid are the only team Atletico have not beaten in the league since their promotion in 2002.
Atletico have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 16 home derbies with Real (2.3 goals per game on average).
The Whites have scored their first goal in the 14th minute of the game on average in their 10 trips to the Calderon since Atletico last won promotion.
Only in 1991/92 (16) have Atletico won more home games than they have in 2012/13 so far (14).
Gonzalo Higuain scored his first La Liga goal at the Calderon in February 2007 (1-1), in the only derby that Fernando Torres netted in for Atletico.
Since that day, only Lionel Messi (202) and Cristiano Ronaldo (143) have scored more La Liga goals than Higuain (104).
Atletico and Real Madrid have been given a joint-high eight penalties this term.
Falcao has become the first player since Diego Forlan in 2008/09 (32) to reach 25 league goals in a single campaign for Atletico.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored six of Real's last 10 derby goals, with five coming from dead ball situations (three penalties, two direct free kicks).
Only Atletico (25) have conceded fewer league goals than Real (30) so far this term.

Zaragoza v Mallorca
Zaragoza have only won one of their last 10 top-flight meetings with Mallorca (D3 L6).
Gregorio Manzano has only won one league game as a manager at La Romareda (D4 L2), but this was in his last visit.
In the last 10 years, at no other away ground have Mallorca won more often than they have at La Romareda (three).
Zaragoza are without a win in 15 league games (D5 L10), they have never gone 16 games without a win in the top-flight.
Victor Casadesus has scored in the last three league meetings between Zaragoza and Mallorca (three goals in total).
Helder Postiga has scored 38% of Zaragoza's league goals this season; only Falcao (45%) and Messi (43%) have scored higher proportions.
Alejandro Alfaro has scored more goals in the last two months (five) than he managed in his previous two seasons combined (four).
Zaragoza are the only team in La Liga to have won more away points (14) than home points (13) this term.
Mallorca have lost a joint-league-high 13 points from winning positions on the road in 2012/13.

Espanyol v Granada
Espanyol have won their last three home meetings with Granada in La Liga, with the last two both ending 3-0.
Granada have only won away at Espanyol once in their La Liga history; 3-2 in 1971/72, when they recorded their joint-best top-flight finish (sixth).
Four of the last five draws between Espanyol and Granada in La Liga have ended goalless, including this season's reverse fixture.
Espanyol are unbeaten in nine home league games (W5 D4), a run that coincides with the arrival of Javier Aguirre.
Granada have only won two of 11 league games with Alcaraz in charge this season (18%), a worse record than they managed under Anquela (five in 23, 24%).
Three of the last four Granada league goals have been headers, with all three logged by different players: Nolito, Aranda and El-Arabi.
Sergio Garcia has scored four of Espanyol's last seven home goals, having scored just once at Cornella all season before this run.
Granada's midfielders have contributed just five goals all season, a La Liga-low figure.

Malaga v Getafe
Malaga have won exactly half of their six home meetings with Getafe in La Liga (W3 D2 L1), with each victory coming by the odd goal.
The side from Madrid are without a win in seven league trips to Andalusia (D3 L4), with their last win coming in December 2010 against Almeria (3-2).
Malaga have only won two home league games in the year 2013, with both ending 1-0 (D3 L2).
Getafe have lost their last two league games; they have not lost three in a row all season.
The only time a Getafe player has scored a brace at La Rosaleda was also the only time the Blues won there in La liga (2-1 with goals from Veljko Paunovic).
Julio Baptista, who has scored each of Malaga's last two league goals, has also scored in his last two against Getafe in La Rosaleda.
Getafe have been shown six red cards in La Liga against Malaga; only against Zaragoza (seven) have they seen more players dismissed.
Malaga have conceded just four goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season; a league-low with Real Madrid.
Of all goalkeepers to have played 10+ games this season, Willy Caballero has the best save percentage (74.5%).

Valladolid v Sevilla
The last time Sevilla won in Pucela in La Liga was back in October 1996; a season in which they were relegated. Since then they have drawn three and lost four.
Valladolid have only won one of their last seven league games (D3).
Sevilla have the second-worst away record in La Liga this season (eight points), and have not won away since September (3D 10L).
Valladolid have scored five of their last six goals against the Andalusians in La Liga before the half-time break.
Beto is yet to manage a clean sheet in 12 games for Sevilla in all competitions (10 league, two cup).
Real Valladolid were shown six yellow cards in their return fixture against Sevilla; the joint-most they have been shown in one game this season.
Jesus Navas (213) and Antonio Rukavina (143) have made the most open play crosses in La Liga this term.
Real Valladolid have scored a league-high three own goals this term.
Unai Emery has faced Valladolid six times as a La Liga coach and has never drawn (W4 L2).

Real Sociedad v Valencia
Real Sociedad have won three successive league games against Valencia; they have not won four in a row against them since 1991/92.
Los Che have, however, won three of their last four trips to the Anoeta in La Liga, losing only their latest trip there (0-1 last season).
Real Sociedad have not won two successive home meetings with Valencia in the top-flight since they abandoned their former stadium Atocha (three between 1990/91 and 1992/93).
The Basque side have only lost one of their last 22 league games (W12 D9) and that was in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid (4-3 in January).
Valencia are winless in four away league games, though they have drawn three of those.
Roberto Soldado has scored four goals against Real Sociedad in La Liga since he moved to Valencia, but all four have come at the Mestalla.
Valencia and Real Sociedad have both won exactly 35 points since Ernesto Valverde took over at the Mestalla.
Valencia have won a league-high eight points thanks to goals netted after the 89th minute this season.

Real Betis v Deportivo La Coruna
Betis have only won one of their last 10 home games against Deportivo in La Liga (D3 L6), failing to score in eight of these games.
The Green-and-Whites have remained unbeaten in seven home league games (W3 D4), their best run on home soil since their most recent promotion.
Deportivo are unbeaten in five league games (W4 D1), they have not gone unbeaten in six in La Liga since 2009.
If they win in Seville, Depor will have won three successive top-flight away games for the first time since 2006 under Joaquin Caparros.
The Blue-and-Whites have conceded a joint-high 64 league goals this season, and have also conceded the most first-half goals (35) and the most headed goals (15).
Real Betis are the only La Liga team yet to have lost a point following a goal scored in the final 10 minutes this term, while Deportivo are the only team yet to win one in this period.
Excluding the own goal by Inigo Lopez, Ruben Castro (seven goals, four assists), Dorlan Pabon (five goals, two assists) and Jorge Molina (four goals) have participated in 19 of Real Betis's last 20 league goals.
Deportivo have lost a league-high 23 points from winning positions this season.