Live on Skysports 4: Sat 19.00 & 21.00: Barca have a history of drawing after international breaks and could find it tough at Villarreal.
Under Pep Guardiola, Barcelona have won just five times in thirteen games immediately following an international break and with the La Liga leaders amidst what for a team of their quality could be constituted as a crisis in that they are no longer hammering everybody, they’re way too risky at 4/6 with William Hill as they head to Villareal.
The home side, Coral’s 9/2 outsiders, are extremely strong at El Madrigal, where they have won an impressive eleven of their 15 matches, conceding just nine times in the process and as Barca drew their last away match, against weaker opposition in the shape of Seville, it’s easy to see El Submarino Amarillo getting a result in this one.
As the visitors simply don’t lose, even when in something of an unconvincing run, Stan James’ 3/1 marked against the draw is the best bet while in the handicaps, Villareal are available at 6/5 (bet365) when kicking off with a goal start and for punters seeking a banker, Sportingbet give the hosts a two-goal cushion at 9/20, that wager paying out on every result better than and including a defeat by one.
Second-placed Real Madrid have a hundred percent record at the Bernabeu and that doesn’t look under threat as Jose Mourinho’s side host Sporting Gijon. Madrid are 1/5 (888Sport) to collect maximum points against a team with just one away win to their name all season and as Gijon tend to struggle on the road, they will find it tough to break down Real’s watertight home defence. Subsequently, a home win ‘to nil’ is the eye-catching bet in the Spanish capital at 5/6 with Paddy Power.
Recommended Bets:
Villareal and Barcelona to draw – 3/1 (Stan James)
Real Madrid to beat Sporting Gijon ‘to nil’ – 5/6 (Paddy Power)
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