This weekend, we take a closer look at three exciting La Liga matchups, offering you some betting insights as well as selections to consider.
Before we proceed, let’s take a quick look at the latest odds for the title race. Barcelona remain the clear favourites at 5/6, with Real Madrid closely behind at 1/1. Atlético Madrid are now priced at 18/1, while the rest of the pack are long shots, sitting at 250/1 or higher.
Click here for all the long-term La Liga outright markets
SATURDAY
BARCELONA v LAS PALMAS – Click here to bet
Barcelona, currently leading the La Liga table with 34 points, will be eager to bounce back from a slight dip in form when they host Las Palmas at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Saturday. Hansi Flick’s side have picked up just one point from their last two league games, including a frustrating 2-2 draw away to Celta Vigo, where they squandered a 2-0 lead. Despite this hiccup, the Blaugrana remain a dominant force at home, boasting 11 consecutive league wins on their turf. They’ve scored 18 goals at home this season, while conceding just three in five matches.
Home Form:
At home, Barcelona have been flawless, winning all 5 of their league matches to date. They have averaged 3.6 goals per game and conceded just 3, showing their dominance in front of their own fans. With the added motivation of extending their lead at the top, Barcelona will certainly look to deliver a statement performance against a rather depleted Las Palmas side this weekend.
Las Palmas have had a tough season, currently sitting 17th in the La Liga standings with just 12 points from 14 matches. Their struggles have been most apparent on the road, where they’ve lost five of their first seven away games, conceding 14 goals at an average of 2 per match. A 3-2 defeat to Mallorca at home last weekend further compounds their woes. With their defensive vulnerabilities laid bare against stronger teams, Las Palmas will face a tough challenge at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys this weekend.
Away Form:
Las Palmas’ struggles on the road have seen them pick up just 6 points from a possible 21. Despite scoring 9 goals, their defensive vulnerabilities have been heavily exposed away from home, and unsurprisingly, they have yet to keep a clean sheet in these matches. They will need to raise their level considerably if they are to avoid a heavy defeat in this fixture.
Head-to-Head
Barcelona have been dominant in recent meetings with Las Palmas, winning 7 of their last 8 encounters, including a double last season, with their most recent victory ending 1-0. The Blaugrana have also kept three consecutive clean sheets at home against Las Palmas. Given their strong form, Hansi Flick’s side will be confident of extending that run to four straight victories this weekend.
Betting
Barcelona 2/11
Draw 15/2
Las Palmas 12/1
Verdict
With Barcelona’s home form and attacking prowess, it’s hard to see Las Palmas causing an upset. Expect the hosts to return to winning ways with a comfortable victory, potentially keeping a clean sheet.
Suggested Bet: Barcelona To Win to Nil, Yes at 12/10
Get your money back if your team loses to an injury time penalty.
Introducing Tough Luck Insurance from World Sports Betting. Bet on football matches with confidence, and if your team loses to an injury time penalty, we’ll return your stake as free bets.
*Valid for Pre-Match and Live in Play events up to 90 Mins.
T’s & C’s apply. Refund/Payout limited to R5000. Single/Straight bets only.
Free Bets do not qualify for this offer. Limited to 1 refund per customer per event.
Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘ Tough Luck Insurance ’
REAL VALLADOLID v ATLETICO MADRID – Click here to bet
Real Valladolid face a formidable task this Saturday as they welcome Atlético Madrid to the Estadio José Zorrilla. Rooted to the bottom of La Liga with just 9 points from 14 games, Valladolid are in dire need of a turnaround. Their troubles deepened last Friday with a 2-0 defeat away to Getafe, their third league loss in four matches. Paulo Pezzolano’s side finds themselves in a precarious position, and with survival hopes dwindling, they will be desperate to spark a revival—starting this weekend.
Home Form:
Despite their poor season, Valladolid’s survival hinges on their home form. They have picked up 6 of their 9 points at the Estadio José Zorrilla, securing 1 win and 3 draws from 7 matches. However, they will need to improve their goal-scoring tally, having found the net just 5 times at an average of just 0.71 goals per game while conceding 7 at home.
Atlético Madrid come into this fixture in excellent form, sitting 3rd in La Liga with 29 points, just five behind leaders Barcelona. Diego Simeone’s side is riding a six-match winning streak across all competitions, including a dominant 6-0 victory over Sparta Prague in the Champions League earlier this week. Known for their defensive resilience, Atlético have added a sharper attacking edge this season, scoring 21 goals while conceding only 8 in the league so far.
Away Form:
Atlético Madrid have been solid on the road this season, winning 3 of their 7 away league games and losing just once. They have scored 7 goals, conceded 5, and average exactly 1 goal per game on their travels. Impressively, they have also recorded 3 clean sheets.
Head-to-Head
Atlético Madrid have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning their last 5 encounters with Valladolid. Their most recent visit to the Estadio José Zorrilla resulted in a 5-2 victory for Simeone’s side.
Betting
Real Valladolid 5/1
Draw 3/1
Atlético Madrid 6/10
Verdict
Atlético Madrid’s recent form and superior quality make them clear favourites against a struggling Valladolid side. While the hosts have shown glimpses of resilience at home, Atlético’s well-rounded performances and ability to grind out results should see them secure their sixth consecutive win over Valladolid.
Suggested Bet: Result and Totals, Atlético Madrid and Over 1.5 at 1/1
SUNDAY
REAL MADRID v GETAFE – Click here to bet
Real Madrid host Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu this Sunday, where they will be hoping to continue their strong La Liga campaign. Currently sitting 2nd in the standings with 30 points from 13 matches, Los Blancos trail leaders Barcelona by 4 points but have a game in hand. Carlo Ancelotti’s men were clinical last weekend, securing a dominant 3-0 victory away to Leganés, extending their win-to-nil streak to two consecutive league matches. With Barcelona setting the pace at the top, Real Madrid will be determined to keep the pressure on their rivals by securing another commanding performance at home.
Home form:
The Bernabéu has been a fortress for Real Madrid this season, with Los Blancos winning 6 of their 7 home matches in La Liga. Ancelotti’s side averages an impressive 2.57 goals per game on home turf while conceding just 1 per game across those fixtures. With their impressive defensive record and growing confidence, Real Madrid will look to maintain their unbeaten run at home as they prepare for a demanding December schedule.
Getafe come into this match in dire need of points, sitting 15th in the La Liga standings with just 13 points from 14 games. José Bordalás’ side returned to winning ways last Friday, securing a 2-0 victory over Valladolid and ending their two-game losing streak in the league. Away from home, the Azulones have failed to register a single win from their six matches, scoring only 3 goals and conceding 7. With just one point from a possible 15 in their last five league away games, Getafe will face an uphill battle when visiting Madrid this weekend.
Away form:
Getafe’s performances on the road have been lacklustre, averaging just 0.5 goals per game and failing to keep a single clean sheet, while conceding an average of 1.16 goals per game. Their defensive vulnerabilities and lack of firepower upfront make this an especially daunting trip to the Bernabéu, where Real Madrid have been formidable all season.
Head-to-Head
Real Madrid have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning 5 of their last 6 meetings with Getafe. The most recent clash ended in a clinical 2-0 victory for Los Blancos in the reverse encounter last season. Getafe’s last win over Real Madrid came in January 2022, further underlining the difficulty of their task this weekend.
Betting
Real Madrid 4/11
Draw 4/1
Getafe 8/1
Verdict
Real Madrid’s current form, combined with Getafe’s struggles, points to a comfortable win for the hosts. Carlo Ancelotti’s side can ill afford to drop unnecessary points if they are to continue making inroads at the top of the table. This fixture presents an ideal opportunity for the hosts to secure their third consecutive league win, likely with another clean sheet.
Suggested Bet: Real Madrid to win to nil, yes at 19/20
Click here for all this weekend’s Spanish Football action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
