We examine three La Liga matches taking place this weekend, offering a betting suggestion for each game.
Before doing so, let’s review the outright betting odds for the upcoming season. As expected, Real Madrid are resounding favourites, though at a rather unappealing price of 4/10. Barcelona follow closely at 7/2, while Atletico Madrid are third choice at 10/1. Last season’s surprise package, Girona are available at 20/1, with the rest of the field priced at 25/1 or better.
Click here for all the long-term La Liga outright markets
SATURDAY
VALENCIA v BARCELONA– Click here to bet
After finishing ninth last season, Valencia showed significant improvement from their previous campaign, where they narrowly avoided relegation by finishing sixteenth. This time, they recorded 13 wins, 10 draws, and 15 defeats overall. At the Estadio de Mestalla, Los Che were notably strong, holding the league’s eighth-best home record with 8 wins, 6 draws, and only 5 losses. This weekend, as they host Barcelona, they will undoubtedly aim to make an early statement in the new season.
During the off-season, Valencia strengthened their squad by adding three key recruits to bolster their attack and defence, welcoming centre forwards Rafa Mir and Dani Gómez, along with goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Their preparations for the new season yielded mixed results, as they played seven friendlies, recording 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats.
Barcelona were unable to defend their title last season, finishing second in the league, ten points behind the runaway winners, Real Madrid. The Catalans secured 26 wins, 7 draws, and suffered 5 defeats. Despite this, Barcelona boasted the second-best away record in the league, earning 39 points out of a possible 57 with 11 wins, 6 draws, and 2 losses. They will be keen to continue this strong away form as they open the season on the road against Valencia.
After a series of poor performances, Barcelona decided to part ways with head coach Xavi Hernandez, appointing Hansi Flick as his replacement for the new season. The former Bayern Munich and Germany national team coach is an excellent choice, given his outstanding record at Bayern, which speaks for itself.
In preparation for the new season, Barcelona played five warm-up matches during pre-season, achieving 3 wins and 2 defeats.
Head-to-Head
These two sides drew 1-1 in this fixture last season.
Betting
Valencia 15/4
Draw 29/10
Barcelona 15/20
Prediction
As it’s the opening weekend of the season, it’s hard to gauge the immediate impact Hansi Flick will have at Barcelona. However, I believe Valencia will put up a strong fight and with both teams to score currently priced at 8/10, it represents good value.
Suggested Bet: Both Teams To Score, Yes at 8/10
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SUNDAY
REAL SOCIEDAD v RAYO VALLECANO– Click here to bet
Real Sociedad finished sixth last season, securing a spot in the Europa League with 16 wins, 12 draws, and 10 losses. At home, they averaged 1.36 goals per game and earned 30 points out of a possible 57, which was the ninth-best home record in the league. This Sunday, they face Rayo Vallecano at home, where they have been unbeaten in their last 5 league encounters at the Reale Arena, with 3 wins and 2 draws.
The White and Blues have had a productive transfer period, bringing in Luca Sucic, Javi Lopez, and former Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez.
Real Sociedad head into the new season with mixed results from pre-season, having recorded 2 wins, 1 draw, and 3 defeats in their warm-up matches.
Rayo Vallecano begin the new season having narrowly escaped relegation, finishing seventeenth last year. Despite ending five points clear of the drop zone, they will be eager to avoid a repeat of their precarious position. Last season, the Red Sashes managed just 4 victories, 6 draws and 9 losses on the road, earning only 18 points out of a possible 57. This weekend, they visit Real Sociedad, having earned just 2 points from their last 5 league visits to the Reale Arena, making it a daunting opener for the visitors.
It has been a relatively low-key transfer period for Rayo Vallecano, who have secured four new recruits through free transfers and loans.
Rayo Vallecano managed to secure just one victory from their six pre-season warm-up matches leading up to the new season.
Head-to-Head
Last season, these two sides ended their league encounters with back-to-back draws, including a 0-0 stalemate in this fixture.
Betting
Real Sociedad 4/7
Draw 29/10
Rayo Vallecano 11/2
Prediction
Rayo Vallecano may struggle again this season due to a lack of firepower up front. Betting on unders appears to be an interesting option and with the visitors likely to fall short in the scoring department, there’s a chance to enhance those odds by adding an additional market to it.
Suggested Bet: Totals And Both Teams To Score, Under 2.5 and No at 9/10
RCD MALLORCA v REAL MADRID– Click here to bet
RCD Mallorca finished fifteenth last season, with 8 wins, 16 draws, and 14 losses, resulting in a negative goal difference of 11. This Sunday, they will host current league champions Real Madrid, a fixture that has surprisingly featured relatively low-scoring affairs in the past. Last season, Mallorca’s home record included 6 wins, 8 draws, and 5 defeats, with 16 goals conceded in 19 games overall last campaign.
RCD Mallorca enter the new season with three new recruits, including two signed on free transfers.
Mallorca’s impressive form from the latter stages of last season continued into pre-season, where they achieved 5 wins from 6 warm-up matches. This strong run also includes an unbeaten streak in their final four league games, resulting in 2 wins and 2 draws.
Defending champions Real Madrid had another outstanding season last year, securing their 36th La Liga title and their 15th Champions League trophy. Domestically, they enjoyed a runaway success, finishing well ahead of their closest rivals, Barcelona. Los Blancos suffered only 1 defeat all season, recording 29 wins and 8 draws. Their away form was equally impressive, earning 44 points from a possible 57 with 13 wins, 5 draws and just 1 loss. This Sunday, they visit Estadio Mallorca Son Moix, aiming to continue where they left off last season.
Real Madrid made a significant acquisition just before the season began, signing 18-year-old Brazilian sensation Endrick for €47.5 million.
Real Madrid played four pre-season friendly matches, with mixed results, securing 2 wins and 2 defeats overall.
Head-to-Head
Real Madrid completed a league double over RCD Mallorca last season, winning both home and away with 1-0 victories.
Betting
RCD Mallorca 11/2
Draw 16/5
Real Madrid 11/20
Prediction
The last three encounters between these two sides in this fixture have all ended in 1-0 victories for either team, underscoring how tightly contested this matchup usually is. Considering the lack of goals in previous meetings, betting on the under seems like a solid option.
Suggested Bet: Totals, Under 2.5 at 9/10
Click here for all this weekend’s Spanish Football action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
