Saturday La Liga betting tips including Barcelona & Atletico Madrid games

Eleven Sports from midday

Barcelona v Valladolid

7.45pm

Barcelona resume their Champions League challenge with a trip to Lyon on Tuesday but they are unlikely to be distracted when taking on lowly Valladolid at Camp Nou.

It is over two months since Valladolid last won on their travels and they may be forced to carry out a damage limitation exercise by the leaders, who are unbeaten in 11 La Liga fixtures.

La Liga standings

Dan Childs's recommendation
Barcelona-Barcelona double result
2pts 8-13 Coral, Ladbrokes

Key stat
Valladolid have won one of their last ten fixtures.

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Real Sociedad v Leganes

5.30pm

Real Sociedad have the worst home record among the top 14 teams in La Liga but they can improve it a little by beating Leganes at Anoeta.

The Basque side increased their unbeaten run to eight games with a creditable 0-0 draw at Valencia last Sunday and should not fear Leganes, who have lost seven of 12 league games on the road.

Dan Childs's recommendation
Real Sociedad
1pt 11-10 general

Key stat
Sociedad are unbeaten in their last eight games.

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Rayo Vallecano v Atletico Madrid

3.15pm

A challenging period for Atletico Madrid was eased by the news that Diego Simeone has signed a contract until 2022 and they can get back to winning ways against struggling neighbours Rayo Vallecano.

Los Rojiblancos go into the match following successive league losses for the first time since November 2016, but even with a handful of players on the treatment table, they can justify favouritism.

Atletico had inferior possession in their 3-1 loss in the Madrid derby last time out but equalled Real's shot count of 11 and they have the attacking prowess to carve through a leaky Vallecano defence.

Only Levante (42) have conceded more La Liga goals than Rayo (40) who will be without defensive midfielder Gianelli Imbula, who is nursing a hip injury, while centre-back Emiliano Velazquez is suspended and unable to face his former club.

Atletico have been hampered by defensive casualties themselves but Diego Godin returned from injury to face Real Madrid and the recovering Jose Gimenez should be back to full fitness at the heart of their defence.

With Lucas Hernandez injured, Atletico may have to deploy undercooked Filipe Luis at left-back and Rayo should fancy their chances of notching a consolation.

But Atletico still have too much going forward, with Antoine Griezmann boasting eight goals in his last nine league matches, and they will be after a confidence boost before Wednesday's Champions League clash with Juventus.

Liam Flin's recommendations
Atletico Madrid to win & both teams to score
1pt 100-30 Betfred
A Griezmann to score at any time
1pt 6-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Celta Vigo v Levante

Midday

Celta Vigo claimed the scalp of Sevilla in their previous home match but that was the only game in which they have avoided defeat in 2019, having lost to Bilbao, Vallecano, Valencia, Valladolid and Getafe already this year.

Levante have not fared much better, losing their last four away games without scoring, including a 5-0 hammering by Sevilla, and a need to avoid defeat could see these relegation rivals settle for a point.

Liam Flin's recommendation
Draw
1pt 3-1 Betway

Key stat
Both teams have scored in four of the last five meetings between these two sides.

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

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