La Liga: Deportivo la Coruna- Real Betis

 

Deportivo are in trouble, in 19th place and three points from safety, their last seven starts have seen 30 goals scored in total, but they have played four of the top five in that sequence and will welcome the lesser level of opposition today, but they have conceded a La Liga high 51 goals, which is 2.32 per game, regardless of the quality of opponent. However, they are coming into a good run of fixtures and their next three, against teams placed 11th-16th-15th, two at home, might well be season defining. They were lucky to survive with 36 points last season as that total would have seen them relegated in 9/10 campaigns before that and they need to start picking up points and fast. Betis should be ideal opposition being safe in midtable, the visitors are 11th would move up a spot with a point, to 8th with all three and with only three draws all season (Alaves are the only team with fewer), they will surely feel it is worth gambling for the win. Which should ensure another open game.

Celso Borges and Florin Andone both return from suspension for the hosts and in terms of team news they look in better shape with Real missing suspended right back Antonio Barragan (conceded 13 in four games without him) which compounds the continued injury to central defender Zouhair Feddal (conceded 11 in last four starts he has missed). Seven goal striker Antonio Sanabria remains sidelined but he has not played since November and Betis have scored 12 in their last five, so should be able to find the net again today, but will be even more vulnerable than usual defensively. Home win, both to score, maybe even twice each....3-2.

 

1.25 Deportivo -0.5 ball 2.21 asian line/Sportmarket.