25-10-2007 La Liga Betting - Matchday 9 Preview

After both Real Madrid and Barcelona lost last weekend, it is getting cramped at the top of the La Liga table, with five teams covered by just three points. The ‘big two’ have an opportunity this weekend to bounce back with home fixtures, but any further slip-ups could open the door to a host of other teams in the title race. Get up to 60% better La Liga betting odds for all the coming fixtures.

Injury-Hit Barca Still Favoured Over Almeria

On paper, Barcelona’s weekend game at the Nou Camp, against newly promoted Almeria, looks like a three point home banker. The last time Barca lost a home Primera League fixture was on February 5th, 2006, so they should be expected to turn-over a side with limited La Liga experience. However, Barca are suffering serious injury problems with Deco joining Samuel Eto’o, Gianluca Zambrotta, Yaya Toure, Rafael Marquez and Edmilson on the sidelines. At least Henry and Messi are fit, providing a constant goal threat.

The arguments around Ronaldinho’s commitment were reignited when he was dropped for last weekend’s 3-1 defeat by Villarreal, having returned late from international duty. The Brazilian played in the goalless draw at Ibrox on Tuesday, but he seems to still be under a cloud. Almeria have adapted well to the top flight; they are unbeaten in their last five games, conceding no more than a goal in any of those fixtures. They have an identical away record to leaders Real Madrid, but their sole defeat on the road was 3-1 at the Bernabeu, which might be a useful guide to their chances here. PinnacleSports.com price Barcelona 2.04 (-1.5 & -2) with Almeria 1.893 (+1.5 & +2).

Real Madrid Look to Bounce Back From First Defeat

Real Madrid suffered a similar fate to Barcelona last weekend, losing on road, beaten 2-1 by Espanyol, who moved within three points of Los Blancos at the top of La Liga. Real coach, Bernd Schuster, will know that failure to take three points at home to Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday evening could see them knocked off the top of the division. The reigning champions are expected to beat Depor, who are struggling near the foot of the table, with just two victories this season, though one of those wins was away to Seville.

Recent form in this fixture does point to a home win, with Real Madrid recording a 7-1 aggregate score over the last two seasons, but the Galacticos have a number of injuries. Fabio Cannavaro and Mahamadou Diarra are both out with knee trouble, while Gabriel Heinze and Arjen Robben have thigh problems, and Brazilian defender, Pepe, is also sidelined. With this forced reshuffle, it will be interesting to see how Real react to their first defeat of the season. They beat Olympiakos 4-2 in midweek and PinnacleSports.com make them favourites 1.833 (-1 & -1.5) with Deportivo 2.100 (+1 & +1.5).

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