The English Premier League brought quality football back into the spotlight in the first day of 2020. It is now time for the Spanish La Liga and Segunda Division to pick up the task and provide quality entertainment. Games are scheduled on Friday evening in both the top tier and second division, with the French Cup supplying one lopsided match with Bordeaux as the clear favorite.
Sevilla Take on Athletic Bilbao in Champions League Quest
Sevilla took advantage of the draw recorded by Real Madrid and Barcelona in the direct match to remain within striking distance. They now need to take their fate in their own hands and pick up three valuable points at home against Athletic Bilbao. Both teams are trying to secure a place in the Champions League next season, so the direct match is of great importance. Sevilla won half of the matches played at home, while Bilbao prevailed once on the road, hence the odds of 7/10 on the hosts to win at 10bet Sportsbook.
Real Valladolid and Leganes Meet in Relegation Derby
Real Valladolid and Leganes had similar objectives for this season, but so far only the former are on track of achieving their goals. Avoiding relegation is the top priority for these two teams and the direct match will weigh heavily in the balance. Real Valladolid have home pitch advantage and lost a single match in eight games, but they are only narrow favorites to prevail. 888 Sport offers odds of 8/5 on their victory while giving Leganes 21/10 to win the first match away from home.
Segunda Division Teams Chase Elusive Promotion Spots
Zaragoza are back on a place that makes them eligible for promotion to La Liga at the end of the season. They still have a long way to go but the first step is a Friday evening victory over Gijon at even odds. The visitors are fading in the standings and perform poorly on the road, so they would gladly settle for a draw in this match. Splitting points isn’t an option for Extremadura when they welcome Alcorcon, as they are already in the relegation area. We favor the visitors in this fixture, as they’re undefeated in 9 away games.
Bordeaux Open 2020 with Cup de France Fixture
Bordeaux and Le Mans are following a similar downward trajectory, sinking in the standings after a disappointing month of December. They are not yet in danger of relegation, but they need to turn things around and the Cup de France is the best opportunity. Bordeaux have home pitch advantage, a better starting formation and a clear edge in the head to head record. This explains why bet365 Sports only offers odds of 2/5 on the Ligue 1 team to prevail while offering odds of 7/1 on Le Mans.