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Saturday's La Liga predictions including Real Madrid vs. Espanyol

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 March 2023, 06:30
Real Madrid vs. Espanyol (Saturday, 1.00pm)

Real Madrid will continue their pursuit of La Liga leaders Barcelona on Saturday afternoon with a home fixture against an Espanyol outfit that are involved in a fierce battle in the bottom half of the division.

Los Blancos are second in the table, nine points behind Barcelona on the same number of games (24), while Espanyol sit 13th, just two points ahead of the relegation zone in Spain's top flight.

We say: Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol

Real Madrid will have one eye on their Champions League clash with Liverpool, but they simply cannot afford any more slip-ups in the league to stand a chance of catching Barcelona, and we are expecting Ancelotti's side to secure all three points this weekend courtesy of a 2-0 scoreline.

> How Real Madrid could line up against Espanyol

Elche vs. Valladolid (Saturday, 3.15pm)

Elche will be bidding to make it back-to-back La Liga victories for the first time this season when they welcome Real Valladolid to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Saturday afternoon.

The home team will enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 win over Mallorca, while Real Valladolid recorded a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in their last game in Spain's top flight.

We say: Elche 1-1 Real Valladolid

Elche were excellent against Mallorca last time out and will therefore enter this match full of confidence. Real Valladolid were also impressive against Espanyol, though, and we are finding it difficult to separate the two sides here, ultimately backing a low-scoring draw.

Celta Vigo vs. Rayo Vallecano (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Top-six hopefuls Rayo Vallecano will be bidding to triumph in La Liga for the first time since early February when they travel to Celta Vigo on Saturday evening.

Both of these sides will enter the contest off the back of goalless draws, with Rayo picking up a point at home to Athletic Bilbao, while Celta shared the spoils with Osasuna.

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Rayo Vallecano

This is a really difficult match to call, especially as three of the last four league meetings between the two sides have finished level. Both teams will be confident of picking up the win, but we are finding it difficult to separate them here.

Valencia vs. Osasuna (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Valencia's battle to escape the La Liga relegation zone will continue on Saturday evening when they welcome top-six challengers Osasuna to Mestalla.

The home team are currently 19th in the table, two points from the safety of 17th position, while Osasuna occupy eighth, three points behind sixth-placed Villarreal.

We say: Valencia 2-2 Osasuna

Osasuna have only lost three of their 12 away league matches this season, drawing six times in the process, and we can see another draw here. Valencia are certainly stronger at home than they are on their travels, but it is difficult to back Los Che to triumph with any real confidence at the moment.

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