What the stats say ahead of LaLiga matchday 18

Celta de Vigo v Villarreal CF
8 January, 2021

Celta de Vigo have won three of their last four matches against Villarreal in LaLiga (L1), after losing the previous four against them in the competition.

At home, Celta de Vigo have won only one of their last eight games against Villarreal in LaLiga (D3 L4), 3-2 in March 2019, with Iago Aspas scoring a brace.

With their defeat in the last matchday against Real Madrid, Celta de Vigo ended a six-game streak without losing in LaLiga (W5 D1). They haven’t played two consecutive games without scoring in the competition with Eduardo Coudet as coach.

Villarreal have won only two of their last eight games in LaLiga (D5 L1), including the last one, 2-1 against Levante, and haven’t won two games in a row in the competition since early November (two in a row).

Villarreal have drawn eight of their first 17 games in LaLiga 2020-21, their most draws at this stage in the competition’s history.

Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Celta de Vigo have won only one of the 16 matches they have played in LaLiga without Iago Aspas (D4 L11), scoring an average of 0.6 goals in those matches without him in the competition while netting 1.4 goals in games with Aspas in this period.

Villarreal player Dani Parejo has scored six goals against Celta de Vigo, more than against any other opposition in the competition, but he hasn’t scored in any of his last three league games against the Galicians.

Only Lionel Messi (19) scored more goals in LaLiga in 2020 than Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno (18).

Villarreal coach Unai Emery hasn’t won in any of his three visits to Celta de Vigo in LaLiga (D2 L1), all with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016.

Eduardo Coudet has earned 16 points in his first eight games as Celta de Vigo coach in LaLiga (W5 D1 L2). The last coach to earn more points in his first nine games with Vigo in the top-flight was Miguel Ángel Lotina in 2002 (17 points).

Sevilla FC v Real Sociedad
9 January, 2021

Sevilla haven’t lost in their last five games against Real Sociedad in LaLiga (W3 D2) after losing four of the previous six against the San Sebastian side in the competition (W1 D1).

At home, Sevilla have won their last three games against Real Sociedad in LaLiga and haven’t had four or more wins in a row against them at home in the competition since 1995 (4).

Sevilla have scored eight goals in total in their last two games at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán against Real Sociedad, one more than in their previous seven home games against Txuri-Urdin in the competition (7).

Sevilla have lost only one of their last nine games in LaLiga (W6 D2), 0-1 against Real Madrid in December 2020, after losing their three games in the competition prior to this run.

Real Sociedad have won only one of their last eight LaLiga matches, 0-1 against Athletic in their last road game (D4 L3), after winning their previous six in the competition.

Real Sociedad have won three of their last four visits to Andalusian teams in LaLiga (L1), keeping a clean sheet in the last two, after losing the previous five.

Sevilla have failed to win their first home game of the year in each of the last three seasons (D2 L1), after winning each of the previous five such home games in the competition.

Sevilla player Lucas Ocampos has only scored three goals in LaLiga this season, with each from the penalty spot (3/3); he hasn’t scored with any of his 25 shots in open play in 2020-21.

Real Sociedad player, Mikel Oyarzabal, has scored in each of his last two visits to Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in LaLiga (three goals in total).

Real Sociedad coach, Imanol Alguacil, hasn’t won any of his four matches against Sevilla in LaLiga (D1 L3). In addition, only against Barcelona (4) has he suffered more defeats than against Hispalenses (3) in his career as LaLiga coach.

Club Atlético de Madrid v Athletic Club
9 January, 2021

Atlético de Madrid haven’t lost any of their nine home matches against Athletic Club in LaLiga with Diego Pablo Simeone as coach (W8 D1), keeping a clean sheet in five of them.

Athletic Club haven’t kept a clean sheet in a LaLiga away game against Atlético de Madrid since May 2015, with Ernesto Valverde (0-0), and they haven’t won since January 2011, with Joaquín Caparrós (0-2).

Atlético de Madrid haven’t lost any of their last 11 opening games of the year at home in LaLiga (W9 D2); their last defeat in his home debut in a calendar year was against Athletic in January 2009 (2-3).

Atlético de Madrid have played 19 consecutive games without losing at home in LaLiga (W15 D4), the best current unbeaten streak at home in the competition.

Athletic haven’t won in their last seven away games in LaLiga (D3 L4), their worst away streak since November 2019 (GP8 - D4 L4), last winning against Eibar on September.

After scoring in each of his first three league matches against Athletic Club (five goals), current Atlético de Madrid forward Luis Suárez hasn’t scored in any of his last six games against Biscayan side in LaLiga.

Athletic Club striker Iñaki Williams has scored four goals against Atlético de Madrid in LaLiga, including a brace at Metropolitano in November 2018, the only visiting player to achieve that in Atlético’s new venue.

Luis Suárez has scored nine goals in his first 12 games with Atlético de Madrid in LaLiga. The last two players to reach 10 goals in their first 13 matches with a club in the competition were Zlatan Ibrahimovic with Barca and Cristiano Ronaldo with Real Madrid, both in 2009 (11 goals each).

Only against Getafe (W16 D2 L0) has Diego Pablo Simeone won more official matches as Atlético de Madrid’s coach than against Athletic Club (W15 D3 L2).

Athletic coach Marcelino García Toral has won in only one of his nine visits to Atlético de Madrid in LaLiga (D2 L6), a 1-0 win with Villarreal in December 2014.

Granada CF v FC Barcelona
9 Januray, 2021

Granada have lost seven of their last eight games against Barcelona in LaLiga, with their 2-0 victory at Los Cármenes in September 2019 the only points they’ve collected in this run. Blaugranas are the opponent against which the Andalusian team have recorded their highest percentage of defeats in the competition (79.2 per cent - 38/48).

Barcelona lost in their last visit to Granada in LaLiga, 2-0 in September 2019, they haven’t failed to win in two consecutive away games against Granada in the competition since March 1970 (D1 L1).

Barcelona have lost on two of their last four visits to Andalusian teams in LaLiga (W1 D1), after losing only one of their previous 12 away games against such sides in the competition (W9 D2).

Granada have lost only one of their last nine games at Los Cármenes in LaLiga (W6 D2), 1-3 against Real Valladolid on November, after losing three of their previous four at home in the competition (D1).

Barcelona have won three consecutive LaLiga away games for the first time under Ronaldo Koeman.

Granada have scored 32 per cent of their goals in LaLiga this season via headers (6/19), the highest percentage in the competition.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has been involved in 15 goals in 12 matches against Granada in LaLiga (12 goals and three assists), although just three of them (three goals) have come in his six visits to Los Cármenes in the competition.

Granada’s Jorge Molina has scored two goals in his last three home games in LaLiga, after not scoring in his previous nine at home in the competition.

Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann has been involved in four goals in total in his last five visits to Los Cármenes in LaLiga (three goals and one assist).

Following his 2-0 victory in September 2019 at Los Cármenes (2-0), Granada's Diego Martínez may become the first coach to win his first two home matches against FC Barcelona in LaLiga since Fabio Capello with Real Madrid, who won 2-0 first in 1996 and also in 2006.

Club Atlético Osasuna v Real Madrid CF
9 January, 2021

Osasuna have lost their last five games against Real Madrid in LaLiga and only once in their history have they had a longer losing streak against Los Blancos in the competition (six between 2006 and 2009).

At home, Osasuna are winless in their last five games against Real Madrid in LaLiga (D2 L3), losing the last two, after winning two of the previous three against them in El Sadar (D1).

Osasuna haven’t won in their last five matches at El Sadar in LaLiga (D2 L3), their worst run without a victory at home in the top flight since 2017 (GP15 - D5 L10).

Real Madrid haven’t lost in their last seven LaLiga games, winning six of them (D1), their best such run this season, they’ve lost just one of their last 14 road games in the competition (W9 D4), 4 -1 against Valencia on November.

Osasuna have conceded only 4 per cent of their goals in LaLiga this season via headers (1/25), the lowest percentage of the competition.

Real Madrid have been leading for 660 minutes in LaLiga this season, longer than any other team.

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has been involved in seven goals in his last eight LaLiga games against Osasuna (four goals and three assists), after not being involved in goals in his first four games against Navarrese side in the competition.

Real Madrid’s Lucas Vázquez has scored in each of his two visits to El Sadar in LaLiga, a goal in February 2017 and another in February 2020.

Osasuna’s Jonathan Calleri has been involved in two goals in total in his last three LaLiga matches (one goal and one assist), as many as in his previous 22 matches in the competition (one goal and one assist).

Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate has lost four of his five games against Real Madrid in LaLiga, with the only exception being his win in August 2014 as Real Sociedad coach at Reale Arena (4-2).

Levante UD v SD Eibar
10 January, 2021

Levante have drawn 60 per cent of their matches against Eibar in LaLiga (6/10), their highest percentage of draws against the same opponent in the top flight (minimum four matches played).

Levante have lost only one of their last six games against Eibar in LaLiga (W1 D4) although it was their most recent one, 3-0 at Ipurua in February 2020, and they have failed to score in two consecutive games against them for the first time in the competition.

Levante have played five home matches in LaLiga against Eibar without losing (W2 D3), their joint-highest number of matches at home against the same opponent without losing in the competition (also five against Racing Santander - W3 D2).

Levante haven’t lost in their last six games at Ciutat de Valencia (W3 D3) winning the last three, and only once have they won four or more in a row at home under Paco López - their first five with him between March and May 2018.

Eibar have lost just one of their last seven LaLiga away games (W3 D3), 2-1 against Alavés on matchday 15, although they haven’t won in their last three (D2 L1), their longest streak without an away win in the current campaign.

Eibar have scored 43 per cent of their goals in LaLiga this season in the first 15 minutes of the second half (6/14), the highest percentage of any team, and they are one of the two teams that are yet to concede in that period (alongside Atlético de Madrid).

In the last league game against Villlarreal, Levante’s Nemanja Radoja, gave his first assist in his 38th game with Granotas in LaLiga, his third assist in 153 games in the competition.

Levante’s José Luis Morales has been involved in nine goals in 10 matches against Eibar in LaLiga (five goals and four assists), more than against any other rival in the competition.

Eibar’s Sergi Enrich has been involved in at least one goal in each of his last three games against Levante in LaLiga (two goals and two assists).

Eibar coach, José Luis Mendilíbar, has lost only two of his 15 games against Levante in LaLiga (W8 D5), his lowest record against an opponent he has faced at least 10 times in the top flight.

Cádiz CF v Deportivo Alavés
10 January, 2021

There have been two clashes between Cádiz and Alavés in LaLiga, both in 2005-06 and ended in goalless draws.

Cádiz haven’t lost in their last seven games against Alavés in all competitions (two in LaLiga and five in Liga Smartbank) but five of them ended in a draw (W2).

Alavés have won only one of their last 13 games against Andalusian rivals in LaLiga (W1 D5 L7), but that victory was away, 2-1 against Real Betis in July.

Cádiz haven’t won in their last three home games in LaLiga against Basque rivals (D2 L1) after winning three of the previous four (L1).

Cádiz have won only one of their last eight games at Ramón de Carranza in LaLiga (D3 L4), 2-1 against Barcelona in December, and have failed to score in four of their last five.

Alavés have lost three of their last five LaLiga games (W1 D1) after not losing any of their previous six in the competition (W2 D4).

Cádiz have an average possession of 33.2 per cent in LaLiga this season, the lowest percentage by a team in a season in the top-flight since at least 2005-06.

Álvaro Negredo has been involved in four of Cádiz's last seven LaLiga goals (two goals and two assists).

Nine of Alavés’ 14 goals (exc. own-goals) in LaLiga this season have either involved Lucas Pérez (4 goals and 2 assists) or Joselu Mato (2 goals and 1 assist).

Alavés coach Pablo Machín hasn’t won in his two games in all competitions against Cádiz, both in the Liga Smartbank with Girona (D1 L1).

Elche CF v Getafe CF
10 January, 2021

Elche have lost only one of their four LaLiga matches against Getafe (W1 D2) but it came in the last one, 0-1 in April 2015.

Getafe have only lost one of their eight visits to Elche in all competitions (W2 D5), two in LaLiga, five in Liga Smartbank and one in Segunda B - 1-0 in LaLiga in April 2014.

Elche haven’t won in their last five matches against Madrid teams in LaLiga (D1 L4), failing to score in three of them, since a 2-0 home win against Rayo Vallecano in February 2015.

Elche haven’t won in their last 10 LaLiga matches (D6 L4) after winning three of their previous four in the competition (D1) – it’s their worst winless streak in the top-flight in the 21st century.

Getafe have only won one of their last 11 LaLiga matches (D4 L6), 0-2 against Cádiz in December and have lost the last two without scoring. They haven’t lost three in a row in the competition since April 2016 (3).

Elche have earned the joint-fewest points with goals scored in the second half of games (three, tied with Osasuna) and Getafe (1) have lost the second fewest points with goals conceded in that period after Atlético de Madrid (0).

Elche's Nino scored his only hat-trick in LaLiga in April 2010, against Getafe, at Heliodoro Rodríguez López as a Tenerife player.

Fidel Chaves has been involved in six of Elche's last 11 goals in LaLiga (four goals, two assists).

Getafe have scored three of their last four LaLiga goals from outside box and have netted the joint-most goals from outside the area this season alongside Real Madrid and Real Sociedad (four each).

Getafe coach José Bordalás hasn’t lost in his last five meetings against Elche in all competitions (W3 D2), all of them in Liga Smartbank, one with Alcorcón, two with Alavés and two with his current team.

Real Valladolid CF v Valencia CF
10 January, 2021

Real Valladolid haven’t won any of their last 10 games against Valencia in LaLiga (D5 L5), since a 2-1 away win in March 2009 with José Luis Mendilíbar as coach.

At home, Real Valladolid are currently enduring their worst winless streak against Valencia in LaLiga (D4 L4). Their last win against Los Che was a 1-0 victory in April 2003, which was Valencia's 700th loss in the top-flight.

Real Valladolid have won two of their last four home matches in LaLiga (D1 L1), as many victories as in their previous 11 at home in the competition (W2 D5 L4).

Valencia have won only one of their last 19 away games in LaLiga (D6 L12), 1-0 against Real Sociedad in September, and have kept only two clean sheets in those 19 games.

Valencia have lost 11 points with goals conceded in the second half of games in LaLiga this season, more than any other team in the competition.

Real Valladolid are one of the three teams that haven’t scored from the outside box in LaLiga this season alongside Athletic Club and Cádiz. Valencia are the team with the highest percentage of goals conceded from the outside box (24 per cent - 6/25).

Valencia player Maxi Gómez has been involved in three goals in total in his three games against Real Valladolid in LaLiga (two goals and one assist).

Shon Weissman has scored three of Real Valladolid’s last five goals in LaLiga and is the second Israeli player to score three or more goals in his first 13 matches in the competition after Tomer Hemed (5).

Carlos Soler has assisted three of the last six assisted goals for Valencia away from home in LaLiga, two of those assists were for headed goals (Guillamón against Alavés and Diakhaby against Barcelona).

Valencia coach Javi Gracia hasn’t lost in his two matches with Real Valladolid in LaLiga, both with Osasuna (W1 D1) and his team didn’t concede in those clashes.

SD Huesca v Real Betis
10 January, 2021

In two LaLiga clashes between Huesca and Real Betis, the home side has won both with the same scoreline (2-1).

Huesca have won only one of their six clashes against Real Betis in all competitions, two in LaLiga and four in Liga Smartbank (D2 L3), winning the last one played at home, 2-1 in the top-flight in January 2019.

Huesca have recorded the most draws in the five major European leagues this season, with nine (W1 L7).

Real Betis have lost five of their last six away games in LaLiga, with the only exception being their win against Osasuna in December, conceding an average of 3.4 goals in those five defeats.

Real Betis have conceded 31 goals in LaLiga after their first 17 games this season, they haven’t conceded more at this stage in a season in the top-flight since 2013-14 when they were relegated (36).

Huesca have led for the fewest total minutes in LaLiga this season (198), while Real Betis are the side with the most minutes trailing (588 - 420 of them away from home, also the highest record).

Real Betis’ Borja Iglesias scored the first of his three braces in LaLiga at El Alcoraz against Huesca in October 2018 as an Espanyol player.

Only Celta de Vigo’s Iago Aspas (37) has created more chances in LaLiga this season than Huesca’s David Ferreiro (36).

Real Betis’ Sergio Canales, who could play his 300th game in LaLiga in this game, has scored in his last two games in the competition (three goals in total) and he has never scored in three matches in a row.

Manuel Pellegrini, Real Betis coach, will manage his 350th LaLiga match (W173 D77 L99). Among the current coaches in the competition, he has taken charge of the second most matches after José Luis Mendilíbar (415).

Source: Opta