What the stats say ahead of LaLiga matchday 28

Real Betis v Levante UD
March 19, 2021

Real Betis have lost four of their last five games against Levante in LaLiga (W1), conceding at least three goals in those four defeats, after not losing any of their previous eight against Granotas in the competition (W6 D2).

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At home, Real Betis have lost only one of their last six games against Levante in LaLiga (W4 D1), 0-3 in August 2018, in what was Levante manager Paco López’s first meeting with the Verdiblancos in the competition.

Levante have won only one of their last seven visits to Andalusian teams in LaLiga - 1-2 against Granada on December 2019 (D2 L4) - although they have drawn the most recent two.

Levante haven’t lost any of their last five games played on Friday in LaLiga (W1 D4), while Real Betis have won only one of their last six on this day in the competition (D3 L2).

Real Betis have won their last two home games in LaLiga, while the last time the Verdiblancos won three or more matches in a row at home in the competition was in April 2018 under Quique Setién (four).

Levante have lost only one of their last five games in LaLiga (W2 D2), 1-0 against Real Sociedad. They won their last match against Valencia (1-0), and will be looking to record consecutive victories in the competition for the first time since July 2020.

Real Betis’ Sergio Canales has scored five goals against Levante in LaLiga; his joint-most against an opponent in the competition (also five against Espanyol), while he has netted three goals in his last two games against the Granotas.

Levante’s José Luis Morales has scored six goals against Real Betis in LaLiga; his joint-most against an opponent in the top-flight (also six against Eibar). They are also the only opponent he has scored more than once brace against in LaLiga (2).

Roger Martí has scored six goals in his last eight games for Levante in LaLiga, one more than in his previous 15 league games this season (five goals). His team haven’t lost any of the five league games in which he has been on the scoresheet in 2021 (W2 D3).

Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini has managed six home games in LaLiga against Levante without losing (W5 D1), picking up wins in each of the last four.

Athletic Club v SD Eibar
March 20, 2021

Athletic have lost only one of their 13 matches against Eibar in LaLiga, while this defeat came away from home in August 2015 (W7 D5). They have failed to score in only three of these previous meetings.

Athletic have lost their last two Basque derbies in LaLiga, failing to score in both, while Eibar haven’t won any of their last 12 (D5 L7) since a 2-1 win against Alavés in November 2018.

Athletic haven’t lost any of their last four home games in LaLiga, despite conceding in each of them (W2 D2) - their longest unbeaten streak at San Mamés so far this season.

Eibar haven’t won any of their last 10 LaLiga matches (D3 L7), and could equal their longest winless streak in the top-flight, set between January and April 2015 (G11 W0 D2 L9).

Eibar are the team with the highest percentage of their goals scored from corners in LaLiga this season (five of 21, 24%) and one of the two teams - alongside Alavés – who have scored the fewest goals from open play (12).

Eibar are the only opponent that Athletic’s Unai López has scored more than once against in LaLiga, following a brace in this season’s reverse fixture. Eibar could become the first opponent he has netted home and away against in a single LaLiga campaign.

Kike García has scored in his last two games for Eibar against Athletic in LaLiga (two goals in total), although they were both at Ipurúa and his team failed to win both games (D1 L1).

In the run of 184 games that Iñaki Williams has played consecutively in LaLiga (since April 20th 2016), Iago Aspas (111), Gerard Moreno (88) and Mikel Oyarzabal (81) are the only Spanish forwards who have been directly involved in more goals than Williams (60, 36 goals + 24 assists).

Eibar coach José Luis Mendilibar has visited Athletic 11 times without beating them in LaLiga (D2 L9) – his joint-most away games without winning in the competition against an opponent (also 11 against Barcelona, D1 L10, and Real Madrid, D1 L10).

Athletic coach Marcelino García Toral hasn’t won any of his last four LaLiga games against Eibar (D2 L2), and has won only one of four he has manged against the Armeros at home in the competition (D2 L1).

RC Celta de Vigo v Real Madrid CF
March 20, 2021

Celta de Vigo haven’t won any of their last 13 matches against Real Madrid in LaLiga (D2 L11), since a 2-0 win in May 2014 under Luis Enrique.

Real Madrid haven’t lost in their last six visits to Celta de Vigo in LaLiga, winning five of them (D1), while they have scored at least three goals in each of their five wins in this streak.

Celta de Vigo haven’t lost in their last four league games at home (W1 D3), while they last had a longer run under Oscar García between December 2019 and February 2020 (6 - W2 D4). They could draw 0-0 in consecutive home games in the competition for the first time in 23 years (August - September 1998).

Real Madrid haven’t lost any of their last nine away games in LaLiga (W5 D4) – they last went 10 or more away games in succession without defeat in a top-flight campaign in May 2016 (G11 - W8 D3).

For players to have completed 25+ dribbles in LaLiga this season, only Nabil Fekir (69%, 69 out of 100) has a higher dribble success rate among forwards than Celta de Vigo’s Iago Aspas (64.4%, 47 out of 73).

Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos has scored six LaLiga goals against Celta de Vigo, at least four more than against any other opponent. The German midfielder has been involved in four goals (three goals and one assist) in six visits to Balaídos in the competition.

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has scored four braces in LaLiga this season. Only in two previous seasons has he scored more for the club: 2018/19 (5) and 2011/12 (6).

Balaídos is, alongside the RCDE Stadium, the stadium where Real Madrid player Lucas Vázquez has been involved the most goals in away games across all competitions (three, two goals and one assist).

Real Madrid are the team that have seen the fewest number of yellows cards (42) in LaLiga this season, while only Getafe (86) have been shown more than Celta de Vigo in the five major European leagues this season (76, as OM).

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has managed nine games against Celta de Vigo in LaLiga without losing any of them (W7 D2). His team have scored 30 goals in total across these matches(3.3 goals per game on average), and have conceded only eight.

SD Huesca v Club Atlético Osasuna
March 20, 2021

The only previous meeting between Huesca and Osasuna in LaLiga was in the first round this season and ended in draw (1-1). In the Segunda División, Huesca were unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Navarrese side (W2 D1).

Huesca have lost two of their last three matches at El Alcoraz against Osasuna in all competitions (W1), two in Liga Smartbank and one in Copa del Rey.

Huesca have won only one of their last seven home games in LaLiga (D2 L4), 3-2 against Granada on February.

Osasuna have won their last two away games in LaLiga, both by a 0-1 scoreline, and haven’t won three straight away games in the top-flight since May 2006 (3).

Only one of the previous 45 teams that had at most 20 points in their first 27 games of a LaLiga season have avoided relegation, although they were an Aragonese side: Manolo Jiménez's Real Zaragoza in the 2011/12 season, who had 19 points at this stage.

Huesca’s Rafa Mir has scored in his last two LaLiga games, and he has never previously scored in three in a row so far in the competition.

Osasuna's Jonathan Calleri scored his only brace in LaLiga in March 2019 against Huesca as an Alavés player, in what was his only league visit to El Alcoraz so far.

Kike Barja has been directly involved in a goal in Osasuna's last two away games in LaLiga (one goal and one assist, both coming from the bench) after being involved in only one (assist at Camp Nou) in his previous 14 in the competition. He could be the first player to score or assist as a substitute in three consecutive away games in LaLiga this season.

Osasuna are the only team in LaLiga this season that haven’t scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Along with Huesca, they are also two of the four teams in the competition this season with the fewest goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half (two).

Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate hasn’t won in any of his three visits to Huesca in all competitions (D1 L2), all of which came in Liga Smartbank.

Real Valladolid CF v Sevilla FC
March 20, 2021

After two wins in a row between 2010 and 2012, Real Valladolid haven’t won any of their last eight games against Sevilla in LaLiga (D4 L4), while they have never gone nine without a win against them in the competition.

Real Valladolid haven’t won any of their last four home games in LaLiga against Sevilla (D2 L2), since a 2-1 win in April 2010. They have lost the last two without scoring a goal.

Real Valladolid haven’t lost any of their last three games in LaLiga (W1 D2) and haven’t gone four without defeat in the top-flight since the end of last season, in July 2020 (W1 D3).

Sevilla have won eight of their last 10 LaLiga matches (L2), keeping a clean sheet seven times, with their two defeats coming in the games where they conceded at least two goals.

Sevilla have conceded just 20 goals after their 27 first games in LaLiga this season, equalling their fewest at this stage of a top-flight campaign (also 20 goals in 2002/03).

Only against Real Betis (5) has Real Valladolid’s Fabián Orellana scored more goals in LaLiga than against Sevilla (4). The Chilean has scored those four goals in his last five meetings against them in the competition.

Sevilla’s Lucas Ocampos has scored two penalty goals against Real Valladolid in LaLiga, more than against any other rival, while they are the only opponent he has been sent off against in the competition (November 2019).

Luuk de Jong has scored in his last two away games in LaLiga for Sevilla (at El Sadar against Osasuna and at Martínez Valero against Elche). The last Dutch player to score in three or more away games in a row in the competition was Ruud Van Nistelrooy (five games for Real Madrid between May and October 2008).

Sevilla are one of the two teams that have won the most points in LaLiga in the 90th minute (including injury time), along with Valencia (four each). Real Valladolid, meanwhile, are one of the three teams that have lost the most points in this period (three, same as Levante and Villarreal).

Real Valladolid coach Sergio González has won only one of his nine games in all competitions against Sevilla (D2 L6), 3-1 in the Copa del Rey with Espanyol in January 2015.

Getafe CF v Elche CF
March 21, 2021

After not winning any of their first three matches against Elche in LaLiga (D2 L1), Getafe have won their last two against them in the competition.

Five of Getafe’s eight home games against Elche in all competitions have ended in a draw, with the Azulones winning two and Elche winning one.

Elche have won only in one of their last 14 visits to Madrid teams in LaLiga (D2 L11), 2-3 against Rayo Vallecano on September 2014, losing the last three.

Getafe have won only one of their last nine LaLiga games - 3-0 against Valencia in matchday 25 (D2 L6) - and have failed to score in six of them.

Elche have lost their last six away games in LaLiga, their worst away streak in a single season in the top-flight since June 1989 (12).

Getafe’s Ángel Rodríguez has scored in two of his three games against Elche in LaLiga (two goals), although all three appearances have been at Martínez Valero; this will be his first match at home against Elche in the competition.

Only Jonathas in 14/15 (21 - 14 goals and 7 assists) and Coro in 13/14 (8 - 5 goals and 3 assists) have been directly involved in more goals for Elche in a single LaLiga campaign in the 21st Century than Fidel this season (7, 4 goals and 3 assists).

Getafe haven’t won a single game this season in LaLiga without Allam Nyom appearing (P3 D1 L2). Indeed, the Azulones have won only once without him in the competition (seven absences) since his arrival at the club last season (D3 L3).

Fran Escribá took charge of Getafe in 32 matches in LaLiga in the 2015/16 season – the only time he has been relegated to the Segunda División. The Valencian is the coach with the second highest percentage of defeats with the Azulón club in LaLiga (18 of 32, 56.25%), after Pablo Franco (64.3%).

Getafe coach José Bordalás hasn’t lost any of the last six games he has managed against Elche in all competitions (W4 D2), one in LaLiga and five in Liga Smartbank.

Valencia CF v Granada CF
March 21, 2021

After going 15 games without losing against Granada in LaLiga (W12 D3), Valencia lost in their last meeting in the competition – 2-1 earlier this season. They could lose both matches in the same LaLiga campaign against Granada for the first time in their history.

Valencia have played 24 home games in LaLiga against Granada without losing any of them (W21 D3), their most home games against an opponent without suffering a defeat in the top-flight.

Valencia haven’t won any of their last six LaLiga games against Andalusian rivals (D2 L4), since their 2-1 win over Real Betis in February 2020.

Valencia haven’t lost any of their last five matches at Mestalla in LaLiga (W3 D2), winning the last three; they haven’t won four or more in a row at home in the competition since April 2018 (5).

Granada haven’t won any of their last seven away games in LaLiga (D2 L5), conceding at least two goals in each of them. The last time the Granadians conceded two or more goals in eight or more away matches in the competition was in April 2015 (11 - D1 L10).

Valencia have earned only 30 points after 27 games in LaLiga this season (W7 D9 L11), equalling their worst record at this stage of a season in the 21st Century - also 30 in 2016/17, when they finished in 12th position.

Valencia’s Kevin Gameiro has both scored and assisted in two games against Granada in LaLiga (two goals and two assists in total), both with Sevilla in 2014. Only against Levante has he scored and assisted in a game in LaLiga on more occasions (3).

Valencia’s José Luis Gayá could make his 200th LaLiga appearance in this game, while teammate Gonçalo Guedes is in line to make his 100th appearance in the competition.

Granada’s Jorge Molina has scored in his last two LaLiga games against Valencia (three goals in total), including his last brace in the competition (in February 2020 with Getafe).

Valencia coach Javi Gracia has won only one of his six LaLiga games against Granada (D3 L2), 2-1 with Málaga on October 2014.

Villarreal CF v Cádiz CF
March 21, 2021

Villarreal have played three games in LaLiga against Cádiz and all three ended in a draw, only against Huesca have they played more in the competition drawing 100% of their games (4/4).

In all competitions, Villarreal have only lost one of their 11 games against Cádiz (W7 D3), with that defeat coming away from home (1-0 in the Smartbank League in September 1971). At home, they have won four of their five games against Cadiz in all competitions (D1), keeping a clean sheet in each victory

Villarreal haven’t won any of their last four matches at La Cerámica in LaLiga (D2 L2), losing the last two. They last lost three at home in a row in the top-flight in May 1999 (4).

Cádiz have only won one of their last nine LaLiga matches (D3 L5), the only game in which they kept a clean sheet (1-0 vs Eibar). In addition, they have not won in their last nine away games (D4 L5), their worst run in the competition since their last 12 away games in the 1992/93 season (D2 L10).

Cádiz has drawn their last two games away from home in LaLiga (at Barcelon and Alavés) and have not drawn in three in a row since February-March 1992.

Villarreal have not won any of the five league games against Andalusian opponents this season (D3 L2), since a 2-0 away win in July 2020 against Real Betis.

No other team have scored more penalty goals this season in LaLiga than Villarreal (8) while no team has conceded more penalty goals this term than Cádiz (6).

Only Lionel Messi (28), Karim Benzema (20) and Luis Suárez (20) have been involved in more goals in LaLiga in 2021 than Villarreal´s Gerard Moreno (19 – 15 goals, 4assists). The Catalan has been involved in 19 of the 37 goals scored by his team this season in the competition (51.3%).

Álex Fernández has scored Cádiz’s last two goals at home in LaLiga, both from penalties. The Madrilenian has been involved in four goals in his last seven games in the competition (three goals and one assist).

Villarreal manager Unai Emery has not lost any of his five games against Cádiz in all competitions (W2 D3), the only one of them in LaLiga a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture this season.

Atlético de Madrid v Deportivo Alavés
March 21, 2021

Atlético de Madrid have not lost in their last 11 games against Alavés in LaLiga (W7 D4), after losing the previous three in the competition. It’s their longest run without a defeat against them in the top-flight.

At home, Atlético de Madrid have only lost one of their 10 games against Alavés in LaLiga (W7 D2), the only one in which they failed to score against them in the competition, 0-1 in May 2003 with Luis Aragonés as manager.

Atlético de Madrid have not lost any of their last 25 home games against Basque opponents in LaLiga (W20 D5), since a 1-0 loss in March 2013 to Real Sociedad.

After eight consecutive league wins, Atlético de Madrid have only won three of their last eight in LaLiga (D4 L1).

Only in their last title winning season in 2013/14 have Atlético de Madrid collected more points (64) after their first 27 games than they have this term (63). 70.4% of the teams that have earned at least 63 points at this stage have won the title (19 out of 27, counting three points per win).

Alavés have not won in their last eight away games in LaLiga (D2 L6) and the last time they went more without winning away in the same campaign in the competition was in May 2006 (9 - D4 L5).

Atlético de Madrid´s Luis Suárez has been involved in 14 goals in eight games against Alavés in LaLiga (seven goals and seven assists), scoring one goal in each of his last four against them in the competition.

Joselu has scored five of Alavés' last seven goals in LaLiga, scoring one goal in each of his last two. He has never scored in three in a row in the top-flight.

Alavés have scored 23 goals in LaLiga this season, but have an expected goals (xG) tally of 29.3, meaning they’ve scored around six goals fewer than expected based on the quality of chances they’ve had. In addition the Vitorians have a shooting accuracy of 39.5%, their second worst record of their last six LaLiga seasons after 36.4% in 2018/19.

Alavés manager Abelardo Fernández has only won one of his eight LaLiga games against Atlético de Madrid (D1 L6), 2-1 for Sporting de Gijón in March 2016. His team’s have failed to score in six of those eight games.

Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona
March 21, 2021

Real Sociedad have not won any of their last nine games against Barcelona in LaLiga (D2 L7), since a 1-0 win in April 2016 thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal´s goal.

At home, Real Sociedad have lost two of their last three matches against Barcelona in LaLiga (1D), as many defeats as in their previous 12 home matches against them in the competition (W6 D4).

Barcelona have not lost in their last five away games against Basque teams in LaLiga (W3 D2), alternating between a win and a draw and winning the last one (3-2 against Athletic last January).

Barcelona have won their last eight games away from home in LaLiga, keeping six clean sheets. They could level their third best consecutive winning run on the road, and would only be behind their 12 wins in a row between May 2010 and January 2011 and 10 between August 2012 and January 2013.

Real Sociedad have won their last three games at Reale Arena in LaLiga and could reach four home wins in a row for the first time in more than a year (four in February 2020).

Barcelona and Real Sociedad are two of the only three LaLiga teams that have scored more than one goal from a direct free-kick this season (two each).

Barcelona´s Lionel Messi has been involved in 21 goals in 22 games against Real Sociedad in LaLiga (14 goals and seven assists), scoring and or assisting in 14 of them.

Antoine Griezmann has scored 150 goals in LaLiga (40 for Real Sociedad, 94 for Atlético de Madrid and 16 for FC Barcelona). He is the second French player with the most goals in the competition, only surpassed by Karim Benzema (184).

Alexander Isak has scored 21 goals in 60 LaLiga games for Real Sociedad, an average of 0.35 per game, just like Darko Kovacevic (52 in 143). Since 1998/99, only Nihat Kahveci (0.44, 58 in 133) and Willian José (0.36, 52 in 143) have a better ratio for the club in LaLiga (min. 3 games).

Barcelona are the opponent that Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil has faced the most times in all competitions without ever winning (6 – D2 L4).