29-11-2007 La Liga Betting Betting - Matchday 14 Preview

Sevilla were only successful representative of a quartet of Spanish sides involved in midweek Champions League action, guaranteeing their progress to the knockout phase along with Barcelona. Real Madrid still have work to do while Valencia must focus on La Liga have already been eliminated. All eyes now return to domestic matters, and as ever PinnacleSports.com will be offering up to 60% better La Liga betting odds.

El Derbi Barcelones – the Barcelona Derby – between third Barcelona and fourth placed Espanyol, is the pick of the weekend’s Spanish action. There is little love lost between the Catalan rivals, who have very contrasting ideas of which side is the true representative of Catalan spirit. Purely from the football perspective this is an important game in the title race and the jostling for Champions League berths. Victory for the Parakeets at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, would allow them to leap-frog Barca, and put further pressure on Frank Rijkaard, who has guided the Blaugranes to just one away win this season.

Rijkaard has at least been given a huge boost by the return to training of Samuel Eto’o after three months on the sidelines, while after minor injuries, Ronaldinho and Lilian Thuram were on the bench for the midweek draw with Lyon and may start here. It is not all good news however for Barca, as Thierry Henry didn’t travel to the Gerland Stadium, and is unlikely to start here, joining Deco in the treatment room. Injuries may force Barcelona to abandon their attacking style on the road, hinted by their formation against Lyon. Espanyol are unbeaten in nine league fixtures, including a home win over Real Madrid, and won this fixture last season 3-1, however PinnacleSports.com still make Barcelona favourites 2.150 (-0.5) with Espanyol 1.800 (+0.5).

Real Madrid Defending Top Spot & 100% Home Record

With a 100% home record the Galacticos of Real Madrid are understandable favourites for the visit of Racing Santander on Saturday. However, the visitors must regarded as one of the form sides in La Liga. Santander are unbeaten in nine fixtures and have kept clean sheets in nine of those games, which must rate them as one of the most defensively sound sides in the Primera Division. Their form has seen them rise to seventh in the table beating Valenica last weekend, while holding Barcelona to a goalless draw on the first day of the season.

Real Madrid may be slightly deflated after their 3-2 defeat in Bremen. Coach, Bernd Schuster was looking to wrap up Champions League qualification, but his side must now avoid defeat at home to Lazio to ensure their progress. Los Blancos lead at the top of the table is slim, with just one point separating them from Villarreal, and Barca two points further behind. Madrid can be expected to enjoy a great deal of possession, and probe for cracks in a Santander defence that has only conceded six times on the road, though the problem for coach, Marcelino, is that Racing have scored just four away goals. PinnacleSports.com make Real Madrid favourites 1.971 (-1 & -1.5) with Racing Santander 1.952 (+1 & +1.5).

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