Spain: 16/17th Feb

[kompressaur]

Primera Division

Betis Sevilla - Real Madrid	112	4.69	3.32	1.71	16.02.2008 - 20:00
Espanyol Barcelona - Sevilla	110	2.48	3.12	2.65	16.02.2008 - 20:00
Zaragoza - Barcelona FC	111	3.51	3.20	2.01	16.02.2008 - 22:00
Levante - Osasuna	109	2.79	3.15	2.38	17.02.2008 - 17:00
Villarreal - Santander	111	1.80	3.26	4.22	17.02.2008 - 17:00
Almeria - Murcia Real	109	1.83	3.24	4.13	17.02.2008 - 17:00
Valladolid - Mallorca	110	2.20	3.11	3.08	17.02.2008 - 17:00
Huelva - La Coruna	110	2.25	3.10	3.03	17.02.2008 - 17:00
Getafe - Valencia FC	111	2.46	3.12	2.69	17.02.2008 - 19:00
Atletico Madrid - Bilbao	109	1.60	3.47	5.46	17.02.2008 - 21:00

Segunda Division

Ciudad de Murcia - Salamanca	72	2.05	2.89	3.53	16.02.2008 - 18:00
Hercules - Tenerife CD	74	2.24	2.84	3.13	16.02.2008 - 18:30
Gimnástico de Tarragona - Eibar	74	2.14	2.88	3.28	16.02.2008 - 18:30
Celta Vigo - Ejido	73	1.64	3.22	5.11	16.02.2008 - 18:30
Gijon Sporting - Xerez	74	1.76	3.12	4.39	16.02.2008 - 18:30
Numancia - Albacete	74	1.68	3.20	4.84	16.02.2008 - 18:30
Sevilla Atlético - Cordoba	69	2.02	2.91	3.57	17.02.2008 - 12:00
Malaga FC - Castellon CD	74	1.85	3.01	4.11	17.02.2008 - 12:00
Cadiz FC - Alaves	72	2.03	2.90	3.55	17.02.2008 - 17:00
San Sebastian Real - Las Palmas	73	1.77	3.09	4.39	17.02.2008 - 17:00
Ferrol - Elche FC	73	2.65	2.87	2.55	17.02.2008 - 17:00

[kompressaur]

Real Betis v Real Madrid, Saturday, 1900 GMT, Sky Sports 2

Given the circumstances, it's tempting to get stuck into Real Madrid at 4/5, but we'll resist the opportunity, because there's better to come later this weekend.

Betis come into this one on the back of a drubbing at Valencia, and in their last home fixture, were turned over 1-0 by Deportivo - that's a dubious performance by anyone's standards.

The hosts have conceded as many as they have scored on their own patch to date, and with high-flying Madrid about to come calling, that doesn't bode well.

After all, Los Merengues netted seven times last weekend against Valladolid and it's hard to see them firing blanks here, against a side fifth from bottom in La Liga.

Madrid's Champions League commitments next week might lead to changes, which may offer Betis some crumbs of comfort, but an away win still looks nailed on.

Real Zaragoza v Barcelona, Saturday, 2100 GMT, Sky Sports 1

Put yourself in Frank Rijkaard's shoes for a minute.

You're eight points behind the league leaders, and have a Champions League encounter coming up next week. Stick or bust? Well, we'll see, but Real Zaragoza are a cracking bet either way.

Rijkaard's going to have to make some tough decisions over team selection for this encounter, and he'll need to juggle his squad in response to injuries to the likes of Samuel Eto'o, among others.

Combine this with Barca's well-documented away woes, and Zara's excellent home form, and suddenly, 11/4 looks huge about the hosts.

Zaragoza have lost just once on their own patch in the Primera - only Real Madrid can boast better than that particular achievement. The underdogs also score for fun - they've hit 26 goals in 12 home games.

Why are they such a big price? Put simply, the layers usually run scared of Barca. But don't be misled - Zaragoza are a belting bet.

Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao, Sunday, 2000 GMT, Sky Sports 1

This looks to be a prime example of layers losing the plot - the draw is way over-priced at 11/4.

OK, so Atletico Madrid are a handful at home, where they've won seven of 11, but recently, they've gone off the boil - before last weekend's 2-0 win against Racing, the hosts had picked up just one point from three league games.

Madrid also have to recover from the excesses of a trip to Bolton in the UEFA Cup, so they're no good thing here.

Bilbao's away record is certainly unimpressive, with seven defeats in 11 outings, but they've not conceded more than once in their last three games - get on another tight display and back the stalemate here.

Bettingzone

[kompressaur]

[kk_ghost]

I would gladly hear some experts' thoughts about Almeria at home vs poor Murcia.

The hosts have defeated Real, Valencia, Deportivo and Espanyol before collecting a further point away at Mallorca last week; won the reverse fixture and the last 2 mutual home games (3/1/0 last 4, still at home); sit on the top of the form table and have the second best home defense having conceded just 7.

Murcia on the other hand look just a mediocre side. Just 1 victory on their travels out of 12 away games..

I have 1,85 available at Stanleybet and currently considering medium/high stakes on it.

[rcgills]

No time at all to write much, but for what it's worth, on the face of it (and I've not seen any team news or anything like that), Almeria look a good bet to me too, KK

[selectabet]

Anyone else fancy Zaragoza? Bettingzone give the impression that they're worth a punt. Barca might have one eye on this weeks CL game with Celtic - but can they afford to lose anymore ground to RM?

Any thougths RC?

[rcgills]

Not sure really, Selectabet. Wouldn't put you off Zaragoza, although personally I'd be more inclined to lay Barcelona than back Zaragoza. They've only won 3 away this season, against bottom side Levante, a piss-poor (at the time) Valencia, and a decent win in Mallorca. They've failed to beat the likes of Bilbao, Getafe, Valladolid, Racing and Osasuna away from home, but I'd say you're better off having the option of the draw on your side.

Don't really rate the Bettingzone preview much either, to be honest.

Rijkaard's going to have to make some tough decisions over team selection for this encounter, and he'll need to juggle his squad in response to injuries to the likes of Samuel Eto'o, among others.

If anything, they're stronger now than they have been in recent weeks. They've got the likes of Puyol, Deco, Toure and Bojan back. Eto'o is missing, but he's been at the ANC for the last month or so anyway.

Combine this with Barca's well-documented away woes, and Zara's excellent home form, and suddenly, 11/4 looks huge about the hosts.

Zaragoza have lost just once on their own patch in the Primera - only Real Madrid can boast better than that particular achievement.

They may have only lost once, but they've also drawn a lot. They've only won 6 of 12 at home, and 2 of their last 7 (against bottom half sides Bilbao and Murcia). Decent record, but I certainly wouldn't class it as "excellent" home form.

The underdogs also score for fun - they've hit 26 goals in 12 home games.

Can't argue with that bit, and there looks to be a cracking bet there IMO. Barca not to keep a clean sheet is 1.49 on Betfair. Zaragoza have scored 26 in 12 home games (scoring in all 12 games), and have scored in 8 of their last 9 homes against Barcelona, and, admittedly less relevant, they've also scored in their last 7 aways v Barcelona too.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by kk_ghost

I would gladly hear some experts' thoughts about Almeria at home vs poor Murcia.

Had a chance to look at it properly now, and it looks an excellent bet. Murcia missing quite a few players - Mejía (D, 18 played) and Peña (D, 22 played) are suspended, Baiano (S, 17 played, top scorer with 5 goals), Ochoa (D, 10 played) and Jofre (M, 5 played) are injured, and Movilla (M, 17 played) is dropped. Pignol (D, 8 played) and Marañón (D, 1 played) are back.

Almeria haven't conceded in their last 5, and they've won 5 of their last 6 homes, all to nil. Murcia as KK says have won just 1 of 12 aways.

It's Almeria for me as well for tomorrow I think .

[jimmyt]

What about Villareal at home against Santander any reason not to back the home witn ?

[kk_ghost]

Originally Posted by rcgills

Had a chance to look at it properly now, and it looks an excellent bet. Murcia missing quite a few players - Mejía (D, 18 played) and Peña (D, 22 played) are suspended, Baiano (S, 17 played, top scorer with 5 goals), Ochoa (D, 10 played) and Jofre (M, 5 played) are injured, and Movilla (M, 17 played) is dropped. Pignol (D, 8 played) and Marañón (D, 1 played) are back.

Almeria haven't conceded in their last 5, and they've won 5 of their last 6 homes, all to nil. Murcia as KK says have won just 1 of 12 aways.

It's Almeria for me as well for tomorrow I think .

Thanks for sharing your views mate!
According to the news you provided the pick looks more solid.
GL!!

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by jimmyt

What about Villareal at home against Santander any reason not to back the home witn ?

They're without Capdevila, Guille Franco, Marcos Senna, Matías Fernández and Fabri Fuentes, Jimmy, and that together with the long trip back from Russia during the week is enough to put me off them. Good luck if you go with them though.

[allthethings]

Spain Primera
Soccer - Valladolid/Mallorca - total Over 2½ (-101)
for the regulation time held on Feb 17 at 11:00am [pending]

These two played a 4-2 game earlier this year, and Mallorca always score and concede on their travels. V just got hammered 0-7 by Real, so you have to think they'll be highly motivated...especially if they fall behind.

[kompressaur]

Spain - Primera Division
FT Espanyol 2 - 4 Sevilla
FT Real Betis 2 - 1 Real Madrid
FT Zaragoza 1 - 2 Barcelona
FT Almeria 1 - 0 Real Murcia
FT Levante 2 - 1 Osasuna
FT Recreativo Huelva 3 - 2 Deportivo La Coruna
FT Valladolid 1 - 1 Mallorca
FT Villarreal 0 - 0 Racing Santander
FT Getafe 0 - 0 Valencia
FT Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Athletic Bilbao

Spain - Segunda Division
FT Granada 74 0 - 0 Salamanca
FT Celta de Vigo 2 - 1 Poli Ejido
FT Gimnastic 2 - 1 Eibar
FT Hercules 2 - 1 Tenerife
FT Numancia 1 - 0 Albacete
FT Sporting Gijon 2 - 0 Xerez
FT Malaga 3 - 1 Castellon
FT Sevilla Atletico 2 - 1 Cordoba
FT Cadiz 2 - 0 Deportivo Alaves
FT Racing Ferrol 1 - 0 Elche
FT Real Sociedad 4 - 0 Las Palmas