Deportivo v Barcelona predictions

Match	Date	Selection	Bet	Odds	Bet now
Deportivo v Barcelona predictions Primera Division Spain, Spain	20/10/2012 22:00	asian handicap	Barcelona -1.5	1.975	Bet at B
Betting prediction was written by Matt

Deportivo v Barcelona predictions and preview: Betting stats

Deportivo are 18^th in La Liga with 6 points from their opening 7 fixtures (W1 D3 L3). They began the season unbeaten after four games, albeit with 3 draws, but have since gone on a 3 game losing streak; form reading DDLLL. Their record at home is fairly indifferent with a win, followed by a draw, followed by a defeat. Their games average 3.29 goals with 3 games over 2.5 goals and the other 4 (including all 3 home games) all having 2 goals.

Barcelona are top of the pile so far this season with 19 points. Their 100% winning record was ended at home to Real Madrid and they are so far W6 D1 L0 with a form of WWWWD. Away from home they are 3 from 3 although never entirely convincing and unable to keep a c lean sheet. Their games average slightly higher at 3.71 goals a game with 5 of the 7 exceeding 2.5 goals.

Head-to-head in A Coruña actually sees Deportivo come out on top but in recent seasons (apart from last year when they were in the Segunda Division) they haven’t been able to cope with Barcelona, the Catalans taking three of the last four matches at an aggregate score of 10-1 (1-3, 3-0, 0-4, 0-0). As you can see the most recent meeting was a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou but that can be pretty much discredited as Barca had already won the league and fielded a severely weakened side.

Team News and Run of Play

Defender Manuel Pablo has been out for Deportivo since the start of the month and looks unlikely to take part in this game. Barcelona’s injury worries are also defence-based. Pique and Puyol remain out of action and once again it may be up to the makeshift pairing of Mascherano and Adriano to try and keep a first away clean sheet of the La Liga season.

Deportivo probably expected to be around about where they are in the table so far. They can’t complain they have had difficult fixtures aside from the obvious against Real. Despite an unbeaten start they only turned a good run of form into 6 points from a possible 12 and haven’t won since their opening day fixture. If was a supporter of Deportivo I might be a little concerned for their Primera status come next May.

Barcelona have been ‘solid if unspectacular’ this season so far. They have ground out results in a way only the top teams can manage. Complacency has crept into the squad it seems with their last 3 games needing either late goals or a comeback to see them finish the games with their desired results. In particular their last away game saw them 2-0 against Sevilla yet come back to win 3-2. I suspect the international break will see their players come back hungry to comprehensively beat a team and I feel for Deportivo when Barca are in that sort of mood.

The usual Barcelona attack plan will be in force for this game. Pass the ball around, keep the ball, feed the ball into the path of a striker or attacking midfielder when a suitable gap opens. It’s safe to say they’ll control possession with Xavi, Iniesta and most likely Busquets covering their weakend backline. If Deportivo get anything above 30% possession I’d be very surprised.

Deportivo v Barcelona predictions: 1X2 betting preview

Needless to say there isn’t much value in backing a win here but if I was going to back either side it would obviously be Barcelona. They have far too much class for Deportivo and their hosts won’t be allowed a sniff of the ball to scare them. An away win is 1.33 with Pinnacle and looks an OK bet if you like to keep your winnings small.

Follow me to Pinnacle if you agree Barcelona will maintain their position at the summit of La Liga.

Deportivo v Barcelona predictions: Asian Handicap preview

For me, Barcelona should win fairly comprehensively here. It is therefore a superb price of 1.975 with bet365 for Barcelona (-1.5) that should be the bet. Just a two goal cushion will win you the money at almost Evens and I think there aren’t many better things to stick your cash on this weekend.

If you agree with that nap then head on over to bet365.

Deportivo v Barcelona predictions: Total Goals preview

There isn’t much value in over 2.5 goals here but personally I can’t see Deportivo scoring. I think even a second or third thing centre back partnership has their frontline easily matched. So perhaps a 3-0 win for Barca would see both over 2.5 goals and the handicap win here. It’s 1.57 with BetVictor but for me that represents a fair price.

If you see Barcelona grabbing a few then back it with BetVictor.