Almería vs Sevilla
Both teams to score – 19/20 (1.95)
Almería have yet to celebrate a victory in their first season in the top-flight since 2015. They took the lead in both their first two games against Real Madrid and Elche, but Los Blancos managed to turn the game around and Francisco’s side netted an equaliser.
Their fans will head to the Power Horse Stadium on Saturday with the intention to push their team to their first win this term in an Andalusian derby against a stronger side.
Sevilla have gotten off to a slow start with a road 2-1 defeat to Osasuna and a home 1-1 draw against Real Valladolid, who converted their only chance in the duel into a goal. Julen Lopetegui saw both his starting centre-backs Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos depart this summer, with his starting left-back being suspended for this game after being sent off against Valladolid.
Understandably, their defence has yet to gel and the four men that will play at the back against Almería have not started a single official game alongside each other again in the past. Sevilla have conceded in all but one of their last 10 away games across all competitions and they drew 1-1 with all three newly-promoted sides last season.
Both teams have scored at least one goal in their first two games of the season and they will expect to find the back of the net again on Saturday in their bid to secure their first victory of the 2022/23 campaign.
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Mallorca
Rayo Draw No Bet – 2/5 (1.4)
Rayo have taken many by surprise in this first stretch of the season with their performances in Catalonia, where he drew 0-0 with Barcelona and beat Espanyol 2-0. The Madrid-based club have not spent a single euro in the summer transfer window, but they have retained their backbone.
Andoni Iraola’s men may have deserved to lose at the Camp Nou, where Barcelona lacked a finishing touch, but they grabbed an impressive victory at Espanyol, securing their second clean sheet in two matches. This will be their first home game of the season, as fans return to a renovated Estadio de Vallecas where one can experience one of the best atmospheres in Spanish football.
The stands are expected to be packed for the Mallorca clash following a season where Rayo went nine home games unbeaten before experiencing a drop in form in the second half of 2021/22. In fact, their last home win was a 1-0 victory over Mallorca in the Copa del Rey, as Rayo faced their upcoming opponents twice last year, winning both duels.
As for Mallorca, they were lucky to avoid defeat away Athletic Bilbao, who hit the post twice and produced a total of 24 shots in their LaLiga opener, but they lost at home 2-1 to a poor Betis side in their last game. They have registered no defeat in their last three games on the road but they had previously lost all their previous nine games away from home.
Home support is expected to push Rayo to the victory in their first home duel this season against a Mallorca side who have failed to convince in their first two games of the campaign. Odds for Rayo to win are tempting at 2.0, but Rayo Draw No Bet at 1.4 is a safer option.
