Spanish Football 
/ Tobias Gourlay / 24 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Trezegol: Hercules' veteran French striker David Trezeguet usually scores at the Jose Rico Perez
"David Trezeguet has scored in nine of the 10 Liga games he has started at the Jose Rico Perez this season"
Barcelona are running out of steam, while Real Madrid are up against a tight five-man defence. Tobias Gourlay thinks there might be a new (old) hero in Spain this week.
Real Mallorca v Barcelona (Saturday 1900 GMT)
Barcelona have been on the boil for so long they have run dry.
The champions lost their perfect away record in Gijon a fortnight ago, then they were beaten by Arsenal and a few days later were unconvincing against Athletic Bilbao.
Pep Guardiola demands exceptional physical efforts from his players, who must pressure their opponents at all time. In particular, he wanted the squad to be perfectly prepared for a series of difficult-looking fixtures at the end of last year.
Barca won all of those games easily, including el Clasico, and seem to be paying for that now. Dani Alves is often thought to be indefatigable, but look at him failing to track Andrey Arshavin in the buildup to Arsenal's winning goal in London.
This weekend, the league leaders travel to Real Mallorca, whose island home has not been much of a fortress against the Big Two, even if Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw here on the opening day of the season.
Mallorca won this fixture a couple of years ago, when it came very late in the season and Barca were past caring. That game aside, the visitors have taken the three points in each of the last five seasons.
Remember that Barca will have an eye on next week's second leg with Arsenal, but, if you fancy they will still have too much for their hosts, you might like Barcelona -2.5 on the Asian Handicap. It should become available at something close to [3.0] and has been a successful bet in each of their last five away wins.
Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid (Saturday 2100 GMT)
Two bogey grounds in a week for Real Madrid: after the Stade Gerland in Lyon on Tuesday night, the Riazor in rainy, windy northern Spain on Saturday.
Real have only beaten Deportivo La Coruna away once in 18 seasons. The win came just over a year ago, so perhaps the psychological block is broken?
Perhaps it is, but that is not to say they will find it easy this weekend. They have scored twice in their last three away games and will come up against a five-man defence that recently stifled all of Villarreal's considerable attacking threat. In France on Tuesday night, it took Real almost half an hour to register a shot on goal.
Although Miguel Angel Lotina's side conceded seven to Sevilla and Barcelona in the preceding home games, the goalless draw is a contender at [23.0].
Hercules v Getafe (Sunday 1600 GMT)
Two compelling statistics: David Trezeguet has scored in nine of the 10 Liga games he has started at the Jose Rico Perez this season; nine of those 10 games have gone Over 2.5 Goals.
If the veteran French striker is in Esteban Vigo's first XI on Sunday, you know what to do.
For the record, Getafe's last away match finished 2-2 and 6/11 away from home this term have thrown up Over 2.5 Goals.
Michel's visitors are better than their recent history - five defeats in eight, home and away - suggests, but Hercules have won five of their last six home games.
It would have been remiss not to mention it, but the goals bet looks the better one.
Athletic Bilbao v Valencia (Sunday 2000 GMT)
Athletic Bilbao have a terrific record at San Mames this season, winning nine of 12 and seven of the most recent eight. On Sunday night, they entertain Valencia, who are maintaining a good run of form without persuading anyone that they are the best of the rest. That is largely because Unai Emery picks a different team every weekend.
Beware Valencia's late-goal habit, however. It did not happen last weekend, but Los Che have scored result-changing goals in seven of their last nine Liga matches.
Best Bet: Back Over 2.5 Goals at [2.1] in Hercules v Getafe
Recommended Bet: Back 0-0 Correct Score at [23.0] in Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid
You can now follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay
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