Sunday
Betis - Mallorca (12:00 CET)
Racing Santander - Levante (16:00 CET)
Rayo Vallecano - Zaragoza (18:00 CET)
Osasuna - Sporting de Gijon (18:00 CET)
Espanyol - Athletic Bilbao (22:00 CET)
Sunday 11th September
Betis – Mallorca
(1200 CET)
Betis – Mallorca(1200 CET)
- Betis were the victors the last times these two sides met at the Benito Villamarin. On that occasion Damia, Pavone and Emana all scored in a 3-0 drubbing of Mallorca.
- Last year’s Segunda B Champions had an impressive scoring record at home; failing to score on just one occasion whilst netting two or more goals 14 times – a record beaten by only one team.
- Mallorca registered just three wins on the road all of last season.
- Mallorca briefly reached the dizzy heights of sixth last year before a poor finish saw them drop to 17th by the end of the season.
Team News
Real Betis will be without defenders Nelson and Mario (thigh) for the visit of Mallorca on Saturday, whilst third-choice goalkeeper Fabricio is also a doubt. First-choice goalkeeper Dudu Aoute suffered bruising to his ribs whilst on international duty, and is expected to be replaced by Juan Calatayud in goal for Mallorca, who has recently recovered from a fractured finger. Jose Marti, Emilio Nsue (both muscular) along with Michael Pereira (knee) are doubts for the game.
Marvin Ogunjimi’s transfer from Belgian club GENK has yet to be ratified by UEFA after the paperwork failed to be processed before the deadline due to a technical error.
Racing Santander – Levante
(1600 CET)
- Racing drew six games at home last season; only bottom of the table Almeria (10) picked up a single point at their own ground more often.
- Racing were 3-1 up against Valencia in their opening fixture of the campaign before capitulating to a 4-3 defeat, when Roberto Soldado completed his hat-trick in injury time.
- Levante secured a 1-1 in this fixture last season, one of their 14 points earned away from home.
- The Granotes picked up three wins away throughout the entirety of the last campaign.
Team News
Marc Torrejon, Francis and Christian Stuani are all expected to return after missing Racing’s dramatic 4-3 defeat to Valencia. Uruguayan Stuani will return to the starting line-up to play against his former club, whilst Gonzalo Colsa is out of contention for the match against Levante. Julian Luque and Tono are both doubts for the game, meanwhile.
Levante have no fresh injury worries, and Juan Ignacio Martinez maybe able to welcome back Ruben Suarez (neck) and Miguel Pallardo (ankle) who both missed the match against Getafe.
Levante have no fresh injury worries, and Juan Ignacio Martinez maybe able to welcome back Ruben Suarez (neck) and Miguel Pallardo (ankle) who both missed the match against Getafe.
Rayo Vallecano – Zaragoza(1800 CET)
- Rayo Vallecano scored in all but one of their home games last season.
- Sandoval’s team have beaten Zaragoza in la Liga on two occasions, both at the Estadio del Rayo Vallecano.
- Zaragoza suffered a defeat heavier than last season's on the opening day; a 6-0 routing at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
- The Aragon club occupied 20th place in la Liga last season more than any other team, apart from Almeria who finished bottom of the league.
Team News
Jose Sandoval has a full squad to choose from for the visit of Zaragoza on Saturday night as the newly promoted side search for their first victory after Rayo draw against Athletic Bilbao on the opening day. Zaragoza’s Edu Oriol is a doubt for the trip to Rayo with a broken fibre as Javier Aguirre’s side look to recover from their opening day 6-0 mauling to Real Madrid. Helder Postiga and Luis Garcia could be paired together in Zaragoza’s attack in their pursuit of a win at the Estadio del Rayo Vallecano.
Osasuna – Sporting de Gijon
(1800 CET)
- In a tight match between these two teams last season, Osasuna were the winners, scoring the only goal of the game.
- Osasuna finished above their opponents last season due to their superior head-to-head record; both teams finished on 47pts.
- Sporting de Gijon inflicted one of two losses against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last season, a minor success in an otherwise horrific away record which returned just two wins.
- Los Rojiblancos managed 11 goals against teams in the top half last season, the worst record in the league.
Team News
Osasuna will be without Javad Nekounam who picked up a knee injury whilst on international duty with Iran, whilst Xavi Annunziata (thigh) is also a doubt. Meanwhile, ‘keeper Asier Riesgo and Ion Echaide were absent from training and both are expected to either be withdrawn from the squad or declared fit at the latest possible moment. Alberto Lora (hamstring) is the sole injury worry for Manuel Preciado as Sporting look to pick up their first points of the season following a 2-1 defeat at home to Real Sociedad.
Espanyol – Athletic Bilbao
(2200 CET)
- Espanyol lost more games than they won last season, the highest placed team in la Liga to do so.
- This fixture heavily favours the home side, with only one win coming for the away side in the last 26 games.
- Athletic Bilbao conceded 35 goals in away games last year, more than any other team that finished in the top ten.
- 2-1 was a popular scoreline away from home for Bilbao – the games finished 2-1 a total of eight times last season; five losses and three wins.
Team News
Espanyol will be without Rui Fonte (shoulder) for the visit of Athletic Bilbao after the midfielder picked up the knock whilst on international duty ruling himself out of Saturday’s match, along with Jordi Amat. Felipe Mattioni will be out for six months following cruciate ligament damage in his right knee has ruled the winger out until February at the earliest.
Athletic Bilbao have no serious injury worries but Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez, who featured whilst on international duty with Spain, maybe fatigued.
