Betting can be a fickle business, so it's without hesitation that we unashamedly side with Osasuna barely a week after dragging their name through the mud as we cashed in on them suffering a humbling 90 minutes against Atletico Madrid.

 

Sevilla v Real Mallorca
Sunday
When Alvaro Negredo burst through unmarked in the final minute at La Romareda last weekend, snatching three points from a game that appeared to have gotten away from them, it was a sure sign that tide is turning for Sevilla under Gregorio Manzano.

The Andalusians were forced to weather a late onslaught against Zaragoza, having been reduced to ten men shortly after conceding an equaliser, but the hosts over-committed, costing the manager his job and presenting the visitors with more than they had bargained for.

So Sevilla are on bonus time and the players would be foolish to unpick their good fortune with a sub-standard display against a team the manager knows only too well.

Manzano clearly has the inside track on Mallorca having spent the previous four seasons at San Moix and you'd expect a tactician of his calibre to devise a plan that make things straightforward at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

The islanders have fared reasonably well under new man Michael Laudrup but we see nothing in their sole smash-and-grab away victory against an out-of-sorts Valencia to suggest they will upset the applecart in this one.

The 1.65 (at Betsson) about Sevilla is a fair offer but we'll pass it up by virtue of the fact we've got enough to get out teeth into this weekend.

 

Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid
Sunday
Atletico Madrid started a comforting sequence of fixtures with a routine 3-0 victory over Osasuna at the Vicente Calderon last weekend but they would be well-advised not to take Real Sociedad for granted at Anoeta.

The Colchoneros have started slowly, their season punctuated by points dropped at Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal and Real Madrid, leaving them nine points adrift of third place.

But now the fixture list presents them with an opportunity to make up ground and head into the winter break with some momentum and the manner in which they brushed aside Jose Antonio Camacho's men would suggest they mean business.

However, we'll refrain from snapping up 2.50 quotes (at Bet365) on the away win out of respect for the form shown by Martin Lasarte's men in San Sebastian.

Aside from a slightly unfortunate 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in week 3, the Basques have won four out of four at home without conceding a goal and they did the business for Bettingzone followers against Racing Santander a fortnight ago.

All things considered, the layers have probably got this one about right, so it's probably a game to sit back and enjoy rather than punt for punting's sake.

Best of the rest:

The live action doesn't offer a great deal to set pulses racing but we see a couple of decent opportunities for punters to get involved on Sunday afternoon, starting with an Osasuna and Espanyol double at better than 3.70 with Bet365.

Betting can be a fickle business, so it's without hesitation that we unashamedly side with Osasuna barely a week after dragging their name through the mud as we cashed in on them suffering a humbling 90 minutes against Atletico Madrid.

The rojillos went down 3-0 at the Vicente Calderon, allowing us to collect on an Atletico 'win to nil' wager, but they're a different proposition in Pamplona and now we're now willing take them at 2.00 for the visit of Sporting Gijon.

Jose Antonio Camacho's men boast a greater than 50 per cent win ratio against bottom-half opposition at the Reyno de Navarra over the past six years andcomfortable victories over Real Sociedad, Malaga and Hercules in recent weeks suggest they should be too strong for the Asturians.

Manuel Preciado's men seldom reward their magnificent supporters with success on the road and they remain winless in five away matches, stretching a dismal record to W4 D8 L24 over the past two years.

Meanwhile, Espanyol also make the cut at even money against Hercules.

The Pericos are one of three sides still protecting a 100 per cent home record and their penchant for clean sheets could serve them well against a team that relies heavily on a couple of players for creative inspiration.

Indeed, inspiration seems to be a general problem for Esteban Vigo because the likes of Royston Drenthe and David Trezeguet only ever turn on the style in the glamour games and we oppose them reassured by the memory of recent 3-0 defeats at Getafe and Osauna.

Finally, take some of the 8.00 on no goalscorer in the Deportivo versus Malaga clash at the Riazor.

Miguel Angel Lotina's men are no strangers to boring the pants off opponents, having played out four goalless encounters already, and it might just suit Manuel Pellegrini to play them at their own game as he looks to inject some much-needed tactical discipline into his new troops.

It often requires a great deal of quality and perseverance to carve open the negative Galicians and though we don't deny that the visitors possess some pretty unpredictable individuals, a point wouldn't be considered a bad result and it could suit their Chilean coach to stick rather than twist.

PICKS:
Espanyol and Osasuna double at 3.70 at Bet365.
No goalscorer Deportivo La Coruna v Malaga at 8.00 at Bet365.