La Liga’s Matchday 13 delivers another compelling slate of action as we kick off on Saturday evening, with Barcelona hosting Athletic Bilbao in a fixture that has traditionally tilted heavily in the Catalans’ favour. Later that night, Villarreal look to extend their formidable home form when they welcome a travel-shy Mallorca to La Cerámica. The weekend rounds off on Sunday with league leaders Real Madrid visiting an Elche side unbeaten at home and intent on causing an upset at the Martínez Valero.
Before we get into the previews, here’s a quick look at the outright title picture: Real Madrid remain firm favourites at 11/25, with Barcelona next best at 2/1. Atletico Madrid sit further back at 25/1, while Villarreal are priced at 50/1. The rest of the field can be found at 200/1 or bigger.
Click here for all the long-term La Liga outright markets
SATURDAY
BARCELONA v ATHLETIC BILBAO – Click here to bet
We start off this weekend’s proceedings in La Liga with Saturday’s early evening fixture, as Barcelona return to competitive action at Camp Nou for the first time in two-and-a-half years when they host Athletic Bilbao. On paper it still feels like a one-sided matchup between a title contender and a side battling for consistency on their travels. Barcelona have dominated this fixture for years, and with the atmosphere back at their traditional home, they’ll be confident of extending that record as they continue their chase of leaders Real Madrid.
Barcelona come into the weekend sitting second on 28 points after a thrilling 4-2 win away to Celta Vigo before the international break, a game that saw Robert Lewandowski net a hat-trick to move to seven goals for the season. Hansi Flick’s men have now won nine of their 12 league matches (W9 D1 L2) and boast La Liga’s best attacking record with 32 goals scored. At home, they’ve been irresistible, winning seven of their last eight across all competitions and scoring 16 while conceding just three in the league. The Blaugrana have hit double figures in goals across their last three home games and look to be gathering serious momentum again. Flick will, however, be wary of fatigue setting in, Barcelona face nine matches in a month leading up to the Christmas break.
Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, travel south in seventh place with 17 points after edging Real Oviedo 1-0 before the break. Ernesto Valverde’s men have been solid at San Mamés but have struggled badly away from home, taking just one point from their last four league trips and winning only once on the road all season. The Basque outfit have scored four and conceded seven on their travels in La Liga, with defensive lapses proving costly. They’ve now gone six matches without an away win in all competitions, conceding two or more goals in three of their last four, and keeping just one clean sheet in that time. Bilbao’s attacking threat, led by the Williams brothers, has flickered in patches, but they’ll need to be far sharper if they’re to trouble this free-scoring Barcelona side.
Head-to-Head
Barcelona have enjoyed total dominance in this fixture, winning their last three meetings in all competitions, including a league double last season (2-1 at home, 3-0 away). At home, the Catalans have been near untouchable against Athletic Bilbao, winning each of the last five league encounters and outscoring the visitors 13-2 in that span. Three or more goals have been scored in four of the last five meetings between these sides at Barcelona.
Betting
Barcelona 47/100
Draw 15/4
Athletic Bilbao 21/4
Verdict
This looks a straightforward assignment for Barcelona, especially with the added lift of returning to Camp Nou. Bilbao’s away form remains a concern, and they’ll need something out of the ordinary to trouble Flick’s side in front of a fired-up crowd. Unless they produce a level we haven’t seen from them this season, another comfortable Barça win feels the most likely outcome.
Suggested Bet: Barcelona to Win & Over 2.5 Goals at 21/20
VILLARREAL v RCD MALLORCA – Click here to bet
Saturday’s late evening fixture sees Villarreal host Mallorca at the Estadio de la Cerámica, with the Yellow Submarine looking to maintain their superb domestic momentum against a Mallorca side still searching for consistency on the road. Marcelino’s men have built an impressive platform in the league, and with Champions League duties at Dortmund looming next week, they’ll be keen to keep things on track before attention shifts back to Europe.
Villarreal come into the weekend sitting third on 26 points after a composed 2-0 win away to Espanyol before the international break. Marcelino’s side have now won four of their last five in all competitions, conceding just once in that run, and remain unbeaten at home in La Liga this season. They’ve taken 16 points from a possible 18 at La Cerámica (W5, D1), scoring 16 and conceding only three. The only blemish in recent weeks was their frustrating 1-0 loss in Europe to Pafos, which drew sharp criticism from Marcelino, but domestically they’ve looked disciplined, efficient, and increasingly confident. With a congested post-break schedule ahead, rotation will be on the manager’s mind, though Villarreal’s form suggests they should still have more than enough here.
Mallorca, meanwhile, arrive in 15th place on 12 points following a narrow 1-0 win at home to Getafe in Round 12. Jagoba Arrasate’s men have improved slightly in recent weeks, losing just once in their last five across all competitions, but their away form remains a major concern. The Islanders have lost five of their six league matches on the road, conceding 12 goals and managing only one victory. They opened the campaign with four straight away defeats and have allowed two or more goals in four of their six matches away from home. With nine of their 12 points earned at Son Moix, Mallorca will need to find a different gear away from home if they’re to challenge a Villarreal side that has been one of the league’s strongest hosts so far.
Head-to-Head
Villarreal have dominated this fixture in recent seasons, completing a league double over Mallorca last campaign, winning 2-1 away before cruising to a 4-0 home victory. They are unbeaten in their last four against Mallorca (W3, D1) and have lost just once in their last 13 home meetings with the Islanders, a span that includes nine wins. Villarreal have also won to nil in four of the last six clashes between these sides at La Cerámica.
Betting
Villareal 47/100
Draw 15/4
RCD Mallorca 11/2
Verdict
Villarreal have been outstanding at home and look well-balanced across all areas of the pitch, while Mallorca’s away struggles remain a worrying trend. If the Yellow Submarine pick up where they left off before the break, they should have far too much quality about them for a Mallorca side that rarely convinces on their travels. Another clinical home performance should see them through here.
Suggested Bet: Villareal to win & Over 1.5 goals at 77/100
Last Leg Bad Luck!
Scratched/Voided markets do not count towards Leg count.
Pre-match bets only.
Free Bets do not count towards this offer.
Refund must be claimed within 24 hours of the game finishing.
Free Bet vouchers received must be used within 7 days.
Max refund per account per day in Free Bets:
Free Bets terms and conditions apply.
Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘Last Leg Promo or, present your ticket to your branch manager within 24 hours of the game finishing.
SUNDAY
CF ELCHE v REAL MADRID – Click here to bet
Sunday’s late evening La Liga fixture sees Elche welcome league leaders Real Madrid to the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with the hosts aiming to extend their impressive unbeaten home run against a Madrid side looking to rediscover momentum after a stuttering couple of weeks. Elche have turned their ground into a genuine asset since returning to the top flight, but they now face one of the division’s most complete and disciplined outfits.
Elche come into the weekend 11th on 15 points after a 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad before the international break. Although Eder Sarabia’s side are winless in their last five league appearances (D2, L3), their season has largely been held together by their strong performances at the Martínez Valero, where they remain unbeaten (W3, D3). They’ve conceded just three goals at home, one of the best defensive home records in La Liga, and 12 of their 15 points have been earned in front of their own crowd. While goals have come in modest supply, Elche’s compact structure and resilience continue to make them difficult to break down on their own turf.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, travel to the southeast sitting top of the table with 31 points after being held to a 0-0 draw away to Rayo Vallecano in Week 12. Xabi Alonso’s side had won four straight league matches prior to that stalemate, but successive flat performances, including a defeat at Anfield in the Champions League, suggest the international break may have arrived at just the right time for Los Blancos. Madrid remain formidable in the league, boasting the joint-best defensive record (10 conceded) and the second-highest goal tally (26), but their recent away form is less convincing with no wins in their last two trips in all competitions. With a vital European fixture against Olympiacos just three days later, rotation and game management are likely to factor into Alonso’s approach this weekend.
Head-to-Head
These sides last met in the 2022/23 season, where Real Madrid completed a dominant league double, winning 3-0 in this fixture before a 4-0 victory at the Bernabéu. Elche have never beaten Madrid at home in La Liga, while Los Blancos are unbeaten in all five of their top-flight visits to the Valero, winning four of them (W4, D1).
Betting
CF Elche 25/4
Draw 17/4
Real Madrid 19/50
Verdict
Elche have been impressively stubborn at home, and their defensive record at the Valero shouldn’t be underestimated. Madrid will feel refreshed after the break and have the quality to edge a controlled, lower-tempo contest, especially with Alonso likely keeping one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League tie. This may not be a high-scoring affair, but Real should still find a way through.
Suggested Bet: Real Madrid to Win or draw (Double Chance) & Under 3.5 Goals at 87/100
Click here for all this weekend’s Spanish Football action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
