Saturday, August 27, 2011

Eredivisie Preview - Round 4

Saturday 
RKC - NAC
Twente - VVV
NEC - Heracles
Utrecht - Roda 
Sunday 
De Graafschap - ADO Den Haag
Feyenoord - Heerenveen
Groningen - AZ
PSV - Excelsior



RKC - NAC
  • RKC impressed with a 2-0 away win over Roda on matchday three
  • The Waalwijk side are the league's number nine
  • NAC were held to a 2-2 draw by Groningen last weekend
  • The guests sit 15th in the table
  • Previous meeting: RKC 0-1 NAC
Twente - VVV
  • Twente heavily beat Heerenveen 5-1 by last Saturday
  • The Enschede outfit are the Eredivisie's number one with nine points from three games
  • VVV held Ajax to a 2-2 draw in Venlo last Sunday
  • The Venlo club sit 14th in the table at the moment
  • Previous meeting: Twente 2-1 VVV
NEC - Heracles
  • NEC were heavily defeated 4-0 by AZ weekend 
  • The home side sit 10th in the table with four points
  • Heracles threw away a 1-0 lead against Feyenoord and eventually drew 1-1
  • The away club are the Eredivisie's seventh-placed side
  • Previous meeting: NEC 1-1 Heracles
Utrecht - Roda
  • Utrecht were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Vitesse on matchday three
  • The home side are the league's number 12 with only two points
  • Roda were shocked 2-0 by RKC last Friday evening
  • The away side sit 11th in the Eredivisie table with one win from three games
  • Previous meeting: Utrecht 1-1 Roda
De Graafschap - ADO Den Haag
  • De Graafschap recorded a 1-1 draw against Excelsior last weekend
  • The hosts sit 13th in the table with two points
  • ADO Den Haag were left without a chance by PSV last week as they lost 3-0
  • The away side sit 17th in the Eredivisie table
  • Previous meeting: De Graafschap 1-0 ADO Den Haag
Feyenoord - Heerenveen
  • Feyenoord struggled against Heracles last Sunday, but held out for a 1-1 draw
  • They sit third in the Eredivisie table with seven points
  • Heerenveen were hammered 5-1 by Twente last Saturday
  • The Friezen sit rock bottom in the table and still await their first win
  • Previous meeting: Heerenveen 0-1 Feyenoord
Groningen - AZ
  • Groningen had to settle for a 2-2 draw versus NAC last weekend
  • The hosts are the Eredivisie's number eight
  • AZ recorded a 4-0 win over NEC on Sunday
  • They sit fifth in the league table at the moment
  • Previous meeting: Groningen 2-0 AZ
PSV - Excelsior
  • PSV put in an impressive display against ADO last Sunday and won 3-0
  • They are the league's number six with six points from three games
  • Excelsior picked up their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw versus De Graafschap
  • The Rotterdam minnows currently sit 16thin the Eredivisie table
  • Previous meeting: Excelsior 2-3 PSV

Premier League Opta Stats 27-28 August


Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Aston Villa have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League matches.
Only one of the six Premier League meetings between Villa and Wolves has ended as a home win.
Matt Jarvis scored in both games against Aston Villa last season.
The Villans have lost just one of their last nine Premier League matches at Villa Park, but that was a 0-1 loss to Wolves back in March.
Darren Bent has scored seven goals in his last 10 Premier League matches.
Eight of the last nine Premier League goals Villa have scored have been netted in the first half and five of the last eight in the opening 17 minutes.

Wigan Athletic v QPR

There have only been nine goals scored in the six league meetings between QPR and Wigan.
Wigan are unbeaten in their last five home matches, but three of those have been draws.
Roberto Martinez's side have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League ames at the DW Stadium.
Wigan are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games, though they have won just two in that run.
Neil Warnock's side have kept a clean sheet in eight of their last 12 away matches in league competition.
Wigan have drawn their opening two games of the season in the Premier League; only seven teams have drawn their first three matches in the history of the competition.

Blackburn Rovers v Everton

Everton have won three of the last four Premier League games with Blackburn and have lost just two of the last 12 against Rovers.
Blackburn have failed to score in seven of the last 12 Premier League matches with the Toffees.
Rovers have won just two of their last 16 Premier League matches and just one of the last eight at Ewood Park.
The last three Premier League games involving Everton have all ended with a 1-0 scoreline.
David Moyes' side have won just two of their last 10 Premier League away matches.
Everton haven't scored a first half goal in their last seven Premier League games.

Chelsea v Norwich City

Chelsea have won the last four games against Norwich in all competitions, scoring at least three goals in each game.
The Canaries have failed to score in five of the last seven matches against the Blues.
Chelsea have won seven and lost none of their last eight Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
The Canaries have lost just five of their previous 21 Premier League matches in the month of August.
Chelsea have scored an average of 1.9 goals a game in the month of August; better than any current Premier League side.
Norwich City have lost only one of their last nine away games in league competition.

Swansea City v Sunderland

Swansea have won four and lost none of the last six league meetings with Sunderland, but the last meeting was in March 1983.
Sunderland have kept just two clean sheets in their last 18 Premier League matches.
The Black Cats have lost 11 and won just three of their last 16 Premier League games.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last three away games, but have only ever gone more than three unbeaten once before in their Premier League history, in November 1999 when they had a run of six on the road without defeat.
The Welsh outfit are currently unbeaten in nine successive home games in league competition.
Phil Bardsley's dismissal last weekend means that Sunderland have been given 15 red cards in the Premier League since the start of 2009/10; five more than any other side.

Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers

Liverpool have won the last nine straight Premier League games against Bolton.
The Trotters have failed to score in six of the last nine league games against the Reds.
Liverpool have won 11 and lost none of their 12 Premier League games against Bolton at Anfield and won the last nine in a row.
Kevin Davies has found the net in three of the last four Premier League games between Bolton and Liverpool, two for Bolton and one own goal.
Bolton's win over QPR on the opening day ended a run of 12 games in which the Trotters took just one point from a possible 36 on the road.
The win over QPR also saw Bolton end a run of 26 Premier League matches without a clean sheet away from home.

Newcastle United v Fulham

Newcastle have failed to score in their last three Premier League games against Fulham, including the last two at St James Park.
Fulham have won three and lost just one of their last six Premier League trips to St James Park.
Newcastle have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League home matches, but three of the last four have been draws.
The Magpies have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games, but five of those have been draws.
Newcastle are the only Premier League side yet to concede a goal this season.
The Magpies have won just one of their last 10 Premier League home matches against clubs from London.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

Manchester City have only scored one goal in their last four Premier League meetings with Spurs and that was a Peter Crouch own goal.
There have only been two goals netted in the last three matches between City and Spurs, both scored by Crouch, but one for each side.
Tottenham have won 11 and lost just two of the last 16 Premier League games against Man City.
Manchester City have already attempted 39 shots in the Premier League this season (excl. blocked), more than any other side and a tally that took them five games to reach in 2010/11.
Spurs have lost just once in their last 30 Premier League home games.
None of Man City's last seven away games have ended level, losing four and winning three.

West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City

Stoke have won seven and lost none of their last eight league games against West Brom.
Stoke have won both Premier League trips to the Hawthorns without conceding a goal.
West Brom have kept just one clean sheet in their last 38 Premier League games.
West Brom have scored in their last 15 consecutive league matches, their longest run in the Premier League and the longest current run of any side in the top flight.
Shane Long has scored with his only two shots on target in the Premier League this season.
The Baggies have won only three of their previous 20 Premier League matches in the month of August.
Stoke City have averaged fewer than a goal a game in the month of August in the Premier League; netting just 11 goals in 12 matches in this month.

Manchester United v Arsenal

Arsenal have scored just eight goals in 19 Premier League visits to Old Trafford.
Man Utd have won six and lost one of their last eight matches against Arsenal in all competitions.
Arsenal have won only four of the last 18 Premier League meetings with Man Utd.
Wayne Rooney has scored in three of his last five appearances against Arsenal and missed a penalty.
United have won 21 and lost none of their last 22 Premier League matches at Old Trafford.
Arsenal have won just one of their last eight Premier League away matches, versus relegated Blackpool.

Championship Opta Facts 27-28 August


Brighton v Peterborough

In both clashes last term, Brighton scored three goals, and Peterborough had a player sent off.
Brighton have scored in all but one of their last 15 home league games against the Posh.
Peterborough have scored in all of their last 16 league matches.
The Seagulls are undefeated in the league, and have won three of their four league matches.
Brighton have conceded a 90th minute goal in their last two league games.
The Posh have scored and conceded in all four league games this term.

Crystal Palace v Blackpool

The Tangerines have scored in all but one of their last 13 clashes with Palace.
The last two times these clubs met in 2009/10 saw nine goals scored in total.
Blackpool have scored in six of their last seven League matches.
Palace have won their last three league games on the trot.
Blackpool striker Kevin Phillips has already scored four goals this term - as many as he scored in each of his last two seasons with Birmingham.
Kevin Phillips is currently the top scorer in the Championship, having scored two braces already.

Derby v Burnley

Burnley have not lost to Derby their last four meetings, and have won three of those.
The Rams have scored in all five of their matches this season.
Derby are undefeated this term, and are joint-top of the league with Southampton.
Steve Davies has scored in three of Derby's four league games this season.
Burnley have yet to record a victory in the League this term.
Burnley have failed to score in five of their last six away league games, but the one they did score in was a 4-2 win at Derby last term.

Doncaster v Bristol City

Doncaster's Billy Sharp has scored four goals in his last three appearances against Bristol City, and has scored Rovers' only League goal this season.
Doncaster have lost to Bristol just once in their last five clashes, and have won three times.
Rovers have failed to score in their last three League games.
All three of Bristol City's League goals this season have been scored by Nicky Maynard.
The Robins have netted all three of their league goals on their travels this term.
Doncaster have not won in their last 11 league matches at home, and have lost six.

Hull v Reading

Five of the last seven encounters between these clubs have ended 1-1.
The Tigers have not beaten Reading at home in their last eight clashes in Humberside in all competitions.
This is the worst start Hull have had to a season since 2006/07, when they finished 21st in the League.
Hull have failed to score in all three home games they have played this term in all competitions.
Reading have lost just one of their last 11 away matches in the League, including play offs.
The away side has scored exactly two goals in three of Reading's last four League matches.

Ipswich v Leeds

Leeds have not beaten Ipswich in their last eight encounters, and have lost four times.
Ipswich have kept just two clean sheets in their last 13 matches, both against Bristol City.
Ross McCormack has already netted three goals in all competitions for Leeds this term.
The Tractor Boys have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions.
Ipswich have conceded 12 goals in their last two matches.
Leeds have only won one of their last seven away league games.

Leicester v Southampton

Southampton have won six of their last seven clashes with Leicester in all competitions , including the last four.
The Foxes have failed to score in seven of their last nine matches with Southampton.
The Saints have scored exactly two goals against Leicester in five of the last six clashes.
Southampton have scored 14 goals in their five games this season, for an average of just under three goals per game.
The Saints are unbeaten this term, and are joint-top of the league with Derby.
In eight of the Foxes' last 10 matches in all competitions, the away side has scored at least two goals.
Leicester have conceded two goals in each of their last four matches.

Middlesbrough v Coventry

The away side has not won in the last eight meetings between these sides in all competitions.
The home side has failed to score in just six of the total 44 clashes between 'Boro and Coventry.
'Boro have scored exactly three goals in their last two league games.
Coventry have yet to earn a single win in the league.
The Sky Blues have scored more than one goal in a match just once in their last nine games.
Middlesbrough have now gone nine league games in the Championship without defeat, winning five of them.

Millwall v Barnsley

The home side has won four of the last clashes between these sides.
Both meetings last season saw the home side win and keep a clean sheet.
Millwall have scored exactly two goals in three of their four League fixtures this term.
The Lions have scored in all but one of their six matches this season in all competitions.
Barnsley have won and kept a clean sheet just once in their last 22 matches.
The Tykes are unbeaten in three away league games, winning one and drawing two.

Portsmouth v Cardiff

Cardiff has won four of their last six clashes with Pompey.
The last six meetings between these clubs have seen the winning team keep a clean sheet.
Three of Portsmouth's last four matches have ended 1-0, with them being on the winning side just once.
The Bluebirds have scored in all but one of their last 14 regular league matches, including every game so far this season.
Four of Cardiff's last five league goals have come in the first half.
Pompey have failed to score in three of their last four matches in all competitions.

Nottingham Forest v West Ham

Both of the last two clashes between these clubs ended 3-2 in favour of West Ham.
The Hammers have won five of their last seven meetings with Forest in all comps, losing just one.
Forest have drawn their last four home matches in all competitions.
Carlton Cole has scored in both of West Ham's last two League games.
The home side has not kept a clean sheet in the Hammers' last eight league matches.
Including playoffs, four of the last six league games at the City Ground have seen one side reduced to 10 men.

Watford v Birmingham

The Brummies have not lost in their last five clashes with Watford, and have won four of those.
Birmingham's Cameron Jerome scored both times these clubs last met in the 2008/09 season.
Watford have failed to score in their last three League matches.
The Hornets have yet to win a match this term.
Watford have won just one of their last six home fixtures.
Birmingham have not won in their last nine away matches in the league, and have lost seven of those.
The Blues have scored exactly one goal in all three league matches this term.

SPL Opta Facts - August 27-28


Dunfermline v Motherwell

Dunfermline won their last meeting with Motherwell in May 2007, having lost their previous three that season.
There have been four red cards in the last three matches between the Steelmen and Dunfermline.
Motherwell have scored in their last eight league meetings with the Pars.
Dunfermline are the first newly-promoted side to take eight points from their first four SPL games.
Motherwell have their highest-ever points total (10) after five games of an SPL season.
Motherwell have only scored twice in their last four SPL games combined.
In their last 10 league games, Motherwell have conceded three or more goals on five occasions.
However on the other five they have conceded just one goal in total.
Dunfermline are yet to win at home in the league this season (two draws).

Inverness CT v Kilmarnock

Liam Kelly has scored in Killie's last two league games against Caley Thistle.
There have been only two clean sheets in the last 18 SPL clashes between these sides.
The two teams have met 21 times in the SPL, each winning seven and drawing seven and each scoring 37 goals.
Inverness have won four of their last five league games at home to Kilmarnock.
Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their opening four SPL games for only the second time (after 2008/09).
This is Inverness' second-poorest start to an SPL season (five defeats from five games in 2007/08).
Killie have scored the joint-most goals from outside the box in the SPL (three).
Three of the four goals Inverness have scored in the league this season have come in the final 15 minutes of games.

St Johnstone v Dundee United

The Saints are without a win in their last 12 league meetings with Dundee United.
St Johnstone have failed to score in their last four league clashes with the Terrors.
United have conceded the most goals to shots from outside the area in the competition this season (four).
St Johnstone have taken only one of the last 18 points available at home to United in the SPL.
The Saints have won only one of their last 10 league games at McDiarmid Park, scoring just twice in this run.
St Johnstone have failed to score in 14 of their last 19 league games.
The Terrors have lost four of their last five league games on the road.
Not since 03/04 have United scored as few goals in their opening five league games as this season.

St Mirren v Celtic

St Mirren are the only side to have come from behind to win an SPL game in 2010/11.
All six of Celtic's goals against St Mirren last season were netted by a different player.
The Bhoys have won 16 of their last 18 league games against the Buddies.
St Mirren are only team to have beaten Celtic by a four-goal margin in the SPL since Rangers in 2000, winning 4-0 at home in March 2010.
Celtic have won their last four league away games, keeping a clean sheet in each match.
Celtic have lost one of their opening four SPL matches for the fourth time in seven seasons.
This is St Mirren's best-ever start to a season in the SPL (eight points from five games).
The last four SPL matches at St Mirren have produced only three goals.
Anthony Stokes has opened the scoring in three of Celtic's four league games this season.

Rangers v Aberdeen

Aberdeen have never won at Ibrox in the SPL (20 defeats, three draws).
The Dons have never scored more than once at Ibrox in the SPL.
Rangers won all four league meetings with Aberdeen last season.
Rangers are unbeaten in 14 consecutive SPL matches, winning 12.
In those 14 matches the Glasgow side have conceded just three goals in total.
However they have won only three of their last six on home turf.
The Gers are the only side to have scored more than one headed goal in the SPL this season (three).
Aberdeen have failed to score in six of their last eight league matches.
The Dons have only won two of their last eight league games.

Hearts v Hibernian

There have been seven red cards in the last nine Edinburgh derbies.
Stephen Elliott scored in two of the Jambos' three matches against Hibernian last season.
Hearts are unbeaten in seven league meetings with Hibernian, their best-ever run in the SPL.
Hibernian have scored only three goals in their last eight league matches at Tynecastle.
None of the last 14 Edinburgh derbies have been won by more than a one-goal margin.
The Jambos have won only one of their last 13 league games.
In their last seven games at home, Hearts have either scored three times (three occasions) or failed to find the net.
This is Hibernian's poorest league start since 2002/03 (no points from four games).
Garry O'Connor has scored all three of Hibs' goals this season in the league.
Hearts have conceded the most headed goals in the SPL this season (two).

La Liga Opta Facts - 27th - 28th August


Athletic Bilbao - Rayo Vallecano

Last season Athletic scored the most headed goals in LigaBBVA (17).
The Basque side have lost just one of their last seven matches on the opening day of the season.
Rayo come into this campaign on the back of 13 consecutive matches without a win in their last top-flight season.
Rayo have finished in the bottom four in six of their 12 top flight campaigns.
Athletic have won nine of their 12 matches at home to Rayo in Primera (one defeat).
Both sides have scored in the last 12 clashes between Rayo and Athletic in the top flight.
Fernando Llorente scored the most headed goals in LigaBBVA last season (nine), the most by a player in Primera since Raúl in 2000/01.
Athletic-Rayo was the second game of the season in 1996/97, with the hosts winning 3-2.
Athletic lost just one game after taking the lead at home in LigaBBVA 2010/11 (13 games, 12 wins).

Atlético Madrid - Osasuna

Osasuna have drawn their last four matches on the opening day of the season.
Atlético lost just one home game last season after taking the lead in the league.
The rojiblancos failed to win in the Vicente Calderon last season after conceding first in the league.
Atletico have kept a clean sheet on the last four occasions that their opening league game has been at home.
Osasuna are unbeaten in their last seven league matches away from home on the opening day of the season.
Since 06/07, Atletico have won 49% of their league games with Aguero starting, compared to just 32% without him.
Atletico have won their last three league meetings with the rojillos.
Osasuna won just three games on the road in LigaBBVA 2010/11, but all of them came in their last six games.
Atletico only managed one clean sheet in their last nine league games at home in 2010/11.

Barcelona - Villarreal

Barcelona are on a run of six league games without a defeat against Villarreal, and have won the last three.
Barça's win over Villarreal last season ended a run of three seasons without beating the Yellow Submarine at the Camp Nou.
In their last league meeting, Barcelona ended a run of eight games without keeping a clean sheet against Villarreal.
Villarreal have beaten Barcelona eight times in the league, compared to just two over Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola's men have won by the same scoreline on the last two opening days of the season (3-0).
Barcelona were the only side not to concede a single goal in the opening 15 minutes of league matches last season.
Lionel Messi and Giuseppe Rossi both scored 33% of their sides' league goals last season, the second-most after Cristiano Ronaldo (39%).
David Villa was caught offside more than any other LigaBBVA player last season (2.12 times per game).
Villarreal have only won two of their 12 matches on the opening day of Primera.
Since their promotion to the top flight, no side has won more often at the Camp Nou in the league than Villarreal (three).

Getafe - Levante

Getafe are starting a top-flight campaign at home for the first-time ever.
Getafe and Levante have met eight times in LigaBBVA, with three Getafe wins, three draws and two defetats.
All three of the azulones' wins against Levante have come at home.
Getafe benefitted from the second-most own goals last season in the league (three).
The Madrid side conceded the most goals from penalties in LigaBBVA last season (10).
Levante have never won on the opening day in the Spanish top flight (three defeats, three draws).
If only the second round of matches had counted in LigaBBVA last season, Levante would have finished sixth.
The granotas received the most yellow cards in LigaBBVA last season (126).
Levante won 37% of their league matches when Caicedo played last season, compared to just 18% without him.
Rafael Jordá found the net just twice in 17 league appearances last season.

Granada - Real Betis

Granada were last relegated from Primera 35 years ago on the back of five straight defeats.
In their last top flight season, Real Betis took the joint-most penalties at home (five).
Granada have won just one of their last 14 top-flight meetings with Betis, drawing six times.
However the verdiblancos have failed to score on their last four trips to their Andalucian rivals in Primera.
Granada won the last meeting between the sides in the second division 3-0 at home.
Granada are unbeaten in their last 18 games against other sides from Andalucia in Primera.
Betis are on a run of 16 games without keeping a clean sheet against other sides from Andalucia in the top flight.
Granada lost just one of their last 20 games at home in Segunda in 2010/11 (15 wins).

Mallorca - Espanyol

Pochettino's men have won just one of their last 10 league matches, drawing three.
Espanyol conceded the most goals from corners in LigaBBVA 2010/11 (11).
On the last five occasions that Espanyol have scored in the league, Osvaldo has found the net in the game.
Last season, the periquitos averaged the same number of goals per game with Osvaldo playing as without him (1.21).
Last season Mallorca scored the joint-fewest goals in the first 15 minutes of both halves in LigaBBVA matches (four each).
Espanyol also scored just four goals in the first 15 minutes of LigaBBVA matches in 2010/11.
The Catalonian side also conceded the most goals between the 16th and 30th minutes.
Webó, who left for Eskisehirspol in the summer, was the only Mallorca player to score more than five goals in LigaBBVA 2010/11 (11).
Espanyol have visited Mallorca 23 times in Primera, but have managed just three wins and five draws.

Real Zaragoza - Real Madrid

Real Zaragoza and Real Madrid have only once before met on the opening day of the season, drawing 1-1 in 1940.
Real Madrid have not lost at La Romareda in the league since 01/02 (1-2).
Since then they have notched up four draws and three wins there.
Real Zaragoza won their last league match against Real Madrid, becoming one of only three teams to win at the Bernabéu in Liga BBVA in 2010/11.
This match also ended a run of 14 league matches without a win for the maños against Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have only failed to score on one of their last 29 trips to Real Zaragoza in the league.
The merengues have lost none of the last 60 league games in which they have taken the lead, the last time they dropped points was against Osasuna on the last day of the 2008/09 campaign.
Just three sides (Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia) conceded fewer goals on the road in the league last season than Real Zaragoza.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 39% of his side's goals in LigaBBVA last season, a higher proportion than any other player.
Real Madrid scored an average of 4.8 goals per game in their last six league matches of 2010/11.
The merengues have won none of the last two league matches on the opening day of the season when they have been away.

Sevilla FC - Málaga

Alvaro Negredo hit the woodwork more than any player in LigaBBVA last season (eight times).
In two seasons in Ligue 1, Spahic did not concede a single penalty.
Sevilla have won six of their last eight league matches on the opening day of the season.
The last four wins by the nervionenses at home to Málaga have been by a two-goal margin.
Manuel Pellegrini has won just three of his 13 games against Sevilla as a manager in Primera (four draws).
Malaga won 45% of their league matches when Julio Baptista played last season, compared to 30% without him.
Malaga dropped more points from winning positions than any side in LigaBBVA last season (24).
Enzo Maresca's goal after 22 seconds vs Atlético Madrid last season was the fastest goal by a substitute in Liga BBVA last season.
Malaga have only once before won away from home on the opening day of La Liga in 16 attempts.
Sevilla have only won one of their last nine league games at home to Malaga.
The nervionenses have failed to score in seven of these nine matches.

Sporting - Real Sociedad

Sporting are on a run of 10 games without a win over Real Sociedad in the league (six defeats and four draws).
The last four meetings between the sides ended in defeat for the Asturians.
Real Sociedad are unbeaten at El Molinon in Primera since 93/94 (three wins and two draws).
The donostierras have won on 11 occasions at Gijon in Primera (as with Sevilla and Bilbao), their best record on the road.
Sporting's last four league campaigns in Primera have seen them defeated in their opening game.
The txuri-urdin have won just one of their 33 matches away from home on the opening day of the season in the top flight (1994 in Compostela).
No side lost more matches after taking the lead in LigaBBVA 2010/11 than Real Sociedad (six).
Last season the donostierras became the first side not to receive a red card in a top-flight campaign since Sevilla in 1989/90.
Real's goalkeeper Claudio Bravo conceded more goals per game than any other netminder in LigaBBVA 2010/11 (1.74).
Sporting were unbeaten in their last 10 league games at home last season, winning seven and conceding only four goals.

Valencia - Racing de Santander

Valencia have won their opening game in each of the last three seasons.
It is 60 years since Valencia finished in the top three in Primera for three consecutive seasons.
Los che won six games from losing positions in LigaBBVA 2010/11, two more than any other side.
Emery's men scored 12 goals from corners in the league in 2010/11, no other side scored more than seven in this way.
The racinguistas have not won on the opening day of the season in the top flight since 2003.
In seven games since then on day one they have scored just two goals.
Racing conceded the most goals in the opening 15 minutes of league matches in 2010/11 (11), but the joint-fewest in the last 15 (five).
Racing's last six league visits to Mestalla have produced just one win for the side playing at home.
Valencia did not lose a single league match at home after scoring first last season.
Racing lost just one game after scoring first in LigaBBVA 2010/11.