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La Liga Betting: Struggling Las Palmas unlikely to trouble Barcelona

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There's a packed schedule of La Liga action over the next few days, all available to watch on Betfair Live Video, and our man Jack Lang is back to pick out the value...

Ronaldo to continue fine scoring form

Espanyol v Real Madrid
Tuesday, 19:00
Live on Sky Sports Mix and Betfair Live Video
2018 hasn't been kind to Espanyol so far: they've won just once in La Liga since Christmas and have slipped down to 15th in the standings. They should have enough points in the bag to avoid any real peril in the weeks ahead, but it's a disappointing state of affairs for a side that showed real glimpses of quality under Quique Sánchez Flores last term.
Los Periquitos were held by Deportivo La Coruña at the weekend - their fourth draw on the spin - and must now steel themselves for the visit of a newly-buoyant Real Madrid side, enjoying their best form so far this season. The reigning champions have won five consecutive games, racking up 20 goals in that run, and will be in confident mood after taking Alavés apart at the Bernabéu.
There were plenty of positives to take from that one, including a rare clean sheet and a goal for Gareth Bale, who has been in and out of the side. But it was the contribution of Karim Benzema - two assists and a late penalty, generously donated by Cristiano Ronaldo - that must have been most pleasing for Zinedine Zidane. Benzema has been listless for much of the campaign, but can still be a major weapon in the Champions League if he rediscovers his mojo.
Madrid usually enjoy themselves against Espanyol: they've won the last 11 meetings (all competitions) and haven't lost since 2007. Ronaldo especially seems to enjoy these occasions, with eight goals in his last three visits to the RCDE Stadium, and will be hopeful of continuing his recent scoring spree.
Recommended Bet
Back Cristiano Ronaldo to score at 1.90
Getafe should win at a canter
Getafe v Deportivo La Coruña
Wednesday, 18:30
Live on Betfair Live Video
Getafe have been good to this column all season, especially at home, and we're more than happy to side with them at close to evens against Deportivo on Wednesday night.
Los Azulones were desperately unlucky not to get something from their trip to Villarreal, missing two penalties, and will be keen to bounce back in front of their own fans. Only Sevilla, Real Madrid and Barcelona have won as visitors to the Coliseum in La Ligathis term, and if Getafe can reproduce the kind of display they turned in against Celta Vigo (3-0) in their last home game, they'll win this at a canter.
Depor have tightened up since the arrival of Clarence Seedorf, conceding just twice in three games, but are having all sorts of issues at the other end. The Galicians are without a goal in four and will probably struggle against the league's third best defence, meaning one moment of inspiration from Ángel or Jorge Molina might be enough for Getafe.
Recommended Bet
2pts Getafe at 1.96

Barca to keep it tight on the island

Las Palmas v Barcelona
Thursday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video
If Barcelona needed to shake off a little dust after a few less-than-stellar displays, they did so in style against Girona. Portu's early goal for the minnows seemed to wake them up at Camp Nou, and the response was emphatic: four first-half goals to take control and a couple more after the break to add gloss. The Girona defenders will be having nightmares about Luis Suárez for a while, one suspects.
There may be a bit of frustration in the Barça camp that this game is being played on Thursday night, given that Atlético Madrid are coming up on Sunday - not least because Atleti have an extra 24 hours' rest. And that game at Camp Nou will almost certainly play on Ernesto Valverde's mind as he takes his charges to Gran Canaria.
Las Palmas have not exactly been reborn since the arrival of Paco Jémez in December, but there have been signs of improvement. Home wins over Valencia and Málaga lifted the islanders off the bottom, and creditable draws against Athletic Club and Leganés have underlined that there is grit in this squad for someone who knows how to access it.
Will they make a game of it here, though? Probably not: the Catalans have won every one of the meetings between the sides since Las Palmas returned to primera in 2015, the last three by an aggregate score of 12-1. The visitors are just 1.23 to win, though, so instead we'll back them to keep their ninth away clean sheet against against a side with four goals in eight games.
Recommended Bet
Back Barcelona to keep a clean sheet at Evens (Sportsbook)

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