[Mario]

Spain La Liga
11/30/2014

Cordoba vs Villarreal

Home - Cordoba
Last away matches - D-W-L-D-L-D

Cordoba is not ready to participate among the best clubs in the country and maybe they will get relegated really quick back to Segunda, while in the same time Villarreal will again be fighting for the top places and a position at least in the Europa League next season. Cordoba was one of the really nice surprises in Segunda last season, as no one expected them to be among the clubs that will be fighting for the promotion, so what to talk about the fact that they had managed to win the playoffs, beating the favorite Las Palmas and getting a place in the Primera Division for this season, which was without any question a huge success for the club. But in the summer they did not had the needed money to invest in good players and to be on a good level for the new season, as the difference between Segunda and Primera is huge and you just cannot compete with the same players you played with a season ago in the lower league. And the results proves that the class of the club and the players does not look good enough to be participating in the top flight in Spain, as Cordoba remains the only club who is yet to win a single match in the league after the first twelve rounds, having drew a whole seven times so far (0-7-5), but with those just seven points collected, they are at the rock bottom of the table and I cannot see them getting out of this position anytime soon, at least with this display.

Away - Villarreal
Last away matches - D-L-L-W-D-D

Villarreal in the same time quickly came among the leaders in Spain after their promotion from Segunda two years ago and the club have a lot to show, as during the recent years they had managed to transfer some really good players, as well as even when they relegated from La Liga three years ago, still managed to keep a lot of their best players, so when coming back to La Liga, they did not need to adapt the squad that much. So far the team is doing ok in the league, being at number sixth in the ranks so far, with eighteen points collected (5-3-4), but a whole three of those defeats so far for them came at home, while on the road they had suffered just one single defeat in the six games played (2-3-1) and in Cordoba I expect to see their third victory away from home.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+0.25)
Away - (-0.25)
Pick - Cordoba (+0.25)
Odds - 2.56
Stakes - 9/10
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Spain La Liga
11/30/2014

Valencia vs Barcelona

Home - Valencia
Last away matches - L-W-L-D-W-D

Valencia is around the top of the standings which was quite expected because of the strength of this team, but somehow it seems that are not as good as they used to be at the beginning of the season which is backed up with the results. Heavy defeat by Deportivo could be classified as a bad day, but shortly afterwards they for the first time missed to win at home and drew with Bilbao 0-0, and then in the last round they were defeated in the derby by Levante by 2-1. It is too bad that they hadn’t won that match, because they would be even closer to Barcelona which would additionally motivate them.They shouldn’t allow to receive the second goal just a minute after they equalised the result, which in fact cost them the defeat. The first striker Alcacer didn’t play, which was certainly a major handicap, but Parejo had returned and he even scored a goal after he came off the bench in the second half. Alcacer should be ready now, although it is not certain whether he will start the match or not. Parejo should therefore also be a starter, while the rest of the team should stay the same.

Away - Barcelona
Last away matches - W-W-W-L-W-L

The crisis is a past tense in Barcelona, and this team is now again in a victorious series. They had a brief critical period when they were defeated by Real, which Celta used that and took points from the Nou Camp. They missed many chances in that match and we cannot say that they played poorly, but then they started again to win and are currently in a series of four victories. Two away victories come from the Champions League where they defeated Ajax and Apoel, who were objectively much weaker teams. In La Lige they had barely defeated Almeria at home, but then have overrun Seville in the last round by 5-1.Messi had marked that match with three goals and a new record in La Lige, and then in Cyprus on Tuesday have scored three new ones against Apoel, which made him the top scorer in the history of the Champions League. So, Messi is again in a great shape and when it is so then Barcelona also play well. Suarez is better and better so there is no winter in the attack. It is occasionally squeaking in defence, although are still a team with the least received goals in the league. The great news is that Iniesta has recovered who will join the team in Valencia.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+1.25)
Away - (-1.25)
Pick - Barcelona (-1.25)
Odds - 2.19
Stakes - 10/10