La Liga Weekend Betting Preview, 26-27 September
This weekend’s La Liga action kicks off a little differently, with our coverage starting on Friday before moving into two key fixtures on Saturday. Here are my thoughts, with suggested bets included for all three matches.
Looking at the latest La Liga outright market, Barcelona and Real Madrid are joint favourites at 9/10 to lift the title. Atlético Madrid, whose lacklustre start to the season is reflected in their price, have drifted out to 50/1, while the rest of the field sits at 65/1 or higher.
Click here for all the long-term La Liga outright markets
FRIDAY
GIRONA v ESPANYOL – Click here to bet
Girona have endured a miserable start to their La Liga campaign, still searching for their first win of the season and sitting rock bottom in 20th with just two points from six matches (D2, L4). Scoring only three goals while shipping sixteen, it’s no surprise they are already fighting to stay afloat. Tuesday’s 1-1 draw away at Athletic Club offered a faint glimmer of hope, but it’s overshadowed by their recurring domestic inconsistencies. Stretching back to last season, Michel’s men have taken just nine points from their last sixteen league outings (W2, D3, L11) which is a worrying trend that they’ll be desperate to reverse. Home advantage has also been non-existent, with all three league games at Estadi Montilivi ending in defeat, producing just one goal for and nine against.
Espanyol, meanwhile, have made one of the stronger starts to the season, collecting three wins, two draws, and just a single defeat to sit fourth in the table with 11 points. Like Girona, they were in midweek action, drawing 2-2 at home to Valencia after twice coming from behind and snatching a stoppage-time equaliser to preserve their unbeaten home record (W3, D1). Friday’s trip to Girona will be only their third away game of the campaign, but the road has been less kind so far, yielding just a draw and a defeat at Real Madrid on Matchday five. That weakness away from home is nothing new as last season they managed only three league wins on their travels, the second-worst return in the division, losing 13 of 19 in total.
Head-to-Head
Girona are unbeaten in their last six league meetings with Espanyol (W4, D2). They claimed a home win in this fixture last season before playing out a 1-1 draw in the reverse encounter.
Betting
Girona 29/20
Draw 95/40
Espanyol 39/20
Verdict
Girona’s struggles show little sign of easing, with their home form a major concern. Espanyol have started far more positively and look the more reliable outfit, even if their away record leaves room for improvement. With Girona winless and low on confidence, the value lies with Espanyol Draw No Bet to at least avoid defeat, providing protection should the game end in a stalemate.
Suggested Bet: Draw No Bet – Espanyol at 11/10
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 ’
SATURDAY
ATLÉTICO MADRID v REAL MADRID – Click here to bet
Atlético Madrid made hard work of their midweek outing, edging Rayo Vallecano 3-2 at home to climb into eighth place with nine points from six matches (W2, D3, L1). Diego Simeone will be pleased to see his side grinding out results, but defensive fragility is becoming a major concern. Traditionally famed for their steel at the back, Atlético have kept just one clean sheet all season, conceding seven while scoring nine. Their away form has been disappointing, still winless on the road, but at the Metropolitano they remain unbeaten with two wins and a draw. A quick turnaround from Wednesday’s clash into this blockbuster derby leaves little recovery time, and with a crucial Champions League trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday, Simeone will need to carefully balance intensity and rotation.
Real Madrid, by contrast, have made the perfect start under Xabi Alonso, winning all six of their league matches to sit top of the table on 18 points. They underlined their dominance with a resounding 4-1 victory away at Levante in midweek, extending a run that has seen them score 14 goals while conceding just three. Los Blancos have been particularly ruthless away from home, winning all three games on their travels with a combined scoreline of 9-2. With the attacking flair of Vinícius Júnior and current league top scorer Kylian Mbappé firing on all cylinders, Real look a formidable force. Like Atlético, they also have European commitments next week, travelling to Kazakhstan to face Kairat, though their winning start to the continental campaign leaves them under far less pressure.
Head-to-Head
These two sides clashed four times last season, twice in La Liga and twice in the Champions League. Both league encounters ended 1-1, while in Europe, Real Madrid edged a 2-1 win at home before Atlético struck back with a 1-0 victory, only to bow out on penalties.
Betting
Atlético Madrid 39/20
Draw 26/10
Real Madrid 27/20
Verdict
Derbies in Madrid rarely disappoint, and this one promises to be another tense and competitive affair. Atlético’s home record ensures they can’t be written off, but their defensive vulnerability is difficult to ignore against a Real Madrid side brimming with confidence and goals. Los Blancos may not have it all their own way at the Metropolitano, yet their form suggests they should take something from the contest.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance and Both Teams to Score – Draw|Real Madrid and Yes at 23/20
VILLARREAL v ATHLETIC BILBAO – Click here to bet
Villarreal could not have asked for a better start to their season, sitting third in La Liga with 13 points from six matches after a dramatic 2-1 midweek win away at Sevilla. The Yellow Submarine have four wins, one draw, and just a single defeat to date, scoring 12 goals at an average of two per game while conceding only five. At home, Marcelino’s men boast a perfect record, winning all three fixtures so far with nine goals scored and just one conceded at Estadi de la Cerámica. Saturday’s clash against Athletic Bilbao, however, promises to be their toughest home test yet, with the visitors also enjoying a relatively strong opening run and having held Villarreal to a draw in this fixture last season.
With just three points separating the sides, Athletic Bilbao head to Villarreal sitting fifth in La Liga with 10 points. It has been a positive start overall for Ernesto Valverde’s men, but recent results suggest a dip in form, with two defeats in their last three league outings followed by a 1-1 home draw against Girona on Tuesday night. While that midweek result offered some stability, the Lions will be eager to avoid slipping to a third defeat in four. Their record so far stands at three wins, one draw, and two defeats, scoring and conceding seven goals apiece. On the road, they have taken one win and one loss, underlining that away form remains an area of concern.
Head-to-Head
Athletic Bilbao are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Villarreal, recording two wins and two draws. Last season, the Lions took four points from a possible six, winning 2-0 in the reverse fixture before playing out a goalless draw in this matchup.
Betting
Villarreal 11/10
Draw 12/5
Athletic Bilbao 27/10
Verdict
Villarreal’s strong home form makes them tough to oppose, but Bilbao’s recent record in this fixture means it’s unlikely to be one-way traffic. With both sides carrying a goal threat and little to separate them in the table, this looks set up for a lively, competitive encounter.
Suggested Bet: Both Teams to score – Yes at 8/10
La Liga – Suggested Bets
-
Girona v Espanyol
👉 Draw No Bet – Espanyol at 11/10 -
Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid
👉 Double Chance & Both Teams to Score – Draw | Real Madrid and Yes at 23/20 -
Villarreal v Athletic Bilbao
👉 Both Teams to Score – Yes at 8/10
Click here for all this weekend’s Spanish Football action
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
