Deportivo Alaves vs Getafe
Estadio de Mendizzoroza, Vitoria-Gastiez
Saturday, 26-09-2020 @2pm
Deportivo Alaves host Getafe at the Estadio Mendizorroza in the third round of matches as La Liga season continues.
Deportivo Alaves hope new boss Pablo Machin will earn his first points against Getafe. Getafe hope for another season of challenging for Europe, and look to make it two wins from two.
Despite the season being only two games in, Alaves are already facing another relegation battle as they are 19th while Getafe continue their great form from last season with an opening day win leaving them seventh in the table.
Deportivo Alaves were perhaps unlucky to concede an injury-time winner in a 1-0 loss to Real Betis in their season opener, but they looked absolutely bereft of ideas in a 2-1 loss away to Granada in their most recent game.
Joselu’s bullet of a free kick levelled things for Alaves after Roberto Soldado had given Granada an early lead, but Darwin Machis eventually ensured Granada’s dominance paid off, with his goal in the 79th minute ensuring a 2-1 win for the hosts.
With their season opener against Real Madrid postponed, Getafe’s first La Liga action took place last Saturday, with Pepe Bordalas’ men reverting to their usual, gritty fare. A typically ugly goal by Jamie Mata in the 54th minute was initially given offside, only for VAR to intervene and give Getafe the lead and eventual victory.
The pair have only played together in La Liga for the last three seasons, resulting in a total of eight games including a Copa del Rey tie.
Overall, Alaves have the slight edge, with three wins to Getafe’s two, while there have been three draws.
Both of last season’s games were stalemates, with a 1-1 draw followed by a goalless game at the Mendizorroza in July.
Valencia vs Huesca
Estadio Mestalla, Valencia
Saturday, 26-09-2020 @5pm
Despite a summer exodus, in which Ferran Torres, Rodrigo Moreno, Francis Coquelin, Ezequiel Garay and Dani Parejo all left the Mestalla without being replaced, Javi Gracia still has plenty of quality in his squad and has thus far overseen an opening-day victory and a recent defeat to Celta Vigo.
The Bats enter this contest against Huesca with a favourable record, having won both their La Liga encounters against the newly-promoted club two seasons ago, with an aggregate scoreline of 8-3, including a 6-2 win at El Alcoraz in May 2019.
Much has changed in that time, with Huesca dropping down to the Segunda Division and returning at the first time of asking, winning the 2019/20 campaign as champions, while Valencia have seen a raft of star players leave the club and now have former Watford manager Gracia in the dugout.
The hosts have only lost one of their last 12 home La Liga games against newly promoted clubs, so will fancy their chances against Huesca, but Michel’s men come up against a Valencia side still very much recovering from that summer cull and may yet pull off an upset.
Eliaquim Mangala remains sidelined for Valencia, meaning Gracia is likely to stick with his centre-back pairing of Mouctar Diakhaby and Gabriel Paulista.
Yunus Musah, Uros Racic and Carlos Soler are also doubtful for the hosts.
Elche vs Real Sociedad
Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, Elche
Saturday, 26-09-2020 @7:30pm
Sociedad have lost only one of their last eight league games. Just three of Elche’s final 13 league games last season featured three or more goals. Sociedad have kept clean sheets in two of their last four league matches, including against champions Real Madrid last time out.
Elche return to La Liga after five seasons without top-flight football but they could have had an easier starting point than a home clash with Real Socidead.
Elche finished sixth in the Segunda Division last season and only secured their promoted via the playoffs.
Given Juan Jose Rojo Martin’s men won only eight of their 21 home games in the second tier last term and failed to score in four of their final six games on their own patch, there is every reason to expect the test of Sociedad to be a step too far.
Sociedad have already played twice this term, drawing both La Liga fixtures with Real Valladolid and champions Real Madrid.
The visitors finished sixth in La Liga last season after losing only one of their final six games. That run included victory at Villarreal and draws with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.
Real Betis vs Real Madrid
Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville
Saturday, 26-09-2020 @10pm
Real Betis are unbeaten in their last three league meetings with Real Madrid. Both teams scored in 15 of Real Betis’s 19 home league games last season. Betis scored two or more in 11 of their 19 home outings last term.
Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw at Real Sociedad in the opening game of their title defence and another tough assignment is in store at Real Betis.
Real were a revelation following the re-appointment of manager Zinedine Zidane and they won ten of their final 11 league games to clinch the title and finish five points ahead of Barcelona.
However, Real won six of those 11 games by a single goal and their final away game last season saw them held to a 2-2 draw at Leganes.
It is worth noting that Real have won only two of their last six meetings with Betis, failing to win any of the last three fixtures.
Betis picked up four points from two rivalries with Real last season, winning 2-1 on their own patch, and should be full of confidence after getting their new campaign underway with a comfortable 2-0 win over Real Valladolid last weekend.
The other La Liga games this weekend
Sunday, 27-09-2020
-Osasuna vs Levante @1pm
-Eibar vs Athletic Bilbao @3pm
-Atletico Madrid vs Granada @5pm
-Cadiz vs Sevilla @7:30pm
-Real Valladolid vs Celta Vigo @7:30pm
-Barcelona vs Villarreal @10pm
