La Liga’s Matchday 12 serves up another intriguing weekend of action, headlined by Atletico Madrid’s clash with Levante at the Metropolitano on Saturday evening. Sunday brings two more compelling fixtures, as Athletic Bilbao look to steady the ship at home to Real Oviedo, before Celta Vigo round off the round against title-chasing Barcelona at Balaídos.
In the outright markets, Real Madrid remain firm favourites at 2/5 to lift the title, with Barcelona priced next best at 5/2. Atletico Madrid are available at 28/1, while the rest of the field can be found at 100/1 or longer.
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SATURDAY
ATLETICO MADRID v LEVANTE – Click here to bet
Saturday evening’s La Liga clash at the Metropolitano sees Atletico Madrid welcome Levante in a meeting between two sides heading in opposite directions. Diego Simeone’s men have been in formidable form both domestically and in Europe, while the visitors arrive in the capital looking to halt a worrying slide down the table.
Atletico enter the weekend fourth in the standings on 22 points (W6 D4 L1) following a 3-0 win over Sevilla last weekend, a result that extended their perfect home record this season. The Rojiblancos have been relentless in front of their own fans, winning seven consecutive home matches in all competitions, while scoring 15 goals and conceding only five in La Liga at the Metropolitano. Their recent displays have been especially dominant, winning three straight matches on the bounce conceding just once during that span, including their 3-1 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise in midweek European action. Simeone’s men have also scored three or more in five of their last six home outings overall, rediscovering the cutting edge that has typified their best seasons.
Levante, by contrast, find themselves just above the drop zone in 16th place with nine points (W2 D3 L6) after a 2-1 home defeat to Celta Vigo last time out. The Granotas have struggled badly in Valencia but have shown commendable resilience on their travels, unbeaten in their last four away league matches (W2 D2) and picking up eight of their nine total points on the road. Julian Calero’s side have scored nine and conceded six away from home, though clean sheets remain elusive, managing just two overall in La Liga this term. Their matches have been open affairs of late, with three or more goals scored in three of their last four games across all competitions.
Head-to-Head
These sides last met in La Liga during the 2021/22 season, when Levante surprisingly went unbeaten against Atletico, drawing 2-2 at home and winning 1-0 at the Metropolitano. However, the most recent encounter came in the 2023 Copa del Rey, where Atletico ran out 2-0 winners away from home.
Betting
Atletico Madrid 1/4
Draw 11/2
Levante 10/1
Verdict
Atletico Madrid look in control right now. They’re defending brilliantly, spreading the goals around, and should have too much for a Levante side that struggles to keep things tight away from home. Another clinical home performance looks on the cards here.
.Suggested Bet: Atletico Madrid to Win to Nil at 21/20
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SUNDAY
ATHLETIC BILBAO v REAL OVIEDO – Click here to bet
Sunday’s La Liga action sees Athletic Bilbao welcome struggling Real Oviedo to San Mamés, with both sides eager to find some consistency after mixed starts to the campaign. The hosts have stuttered in recent weeks, while Oviedo’s focus remains firmly on survival after a difficult return to top-flight life.
Athletic Bilbao enter the weekend sitting 11th in the table on 14 points (W4 D2 L5) after back-to-back league defeats. Ernesto Valverde’s men slipped to a 3-2 loss away to Real Sociedad last time out and have taken just four points from a possible fifteen in their last five outings. Their defensive record will be a concern for Valverde, Los Leones have managed only one clean sheet in their last twelve matches across all competitions. At least their home form has provided some stability, with ten points collected from six league fixtures at San Mamés (W3 D1 L2), scoring seven and conceding six in that run. Having faced Newcastle United away in midweek European action, Bilbao will need to quickly reset and produce a response on home soil as they look to halt their domestic slide and move back into the top half.
Real Oviedo, meanwhile, make the trip north sitting 19th on eight points (W2 D2 L7). Luis Carrión’s side played out a goalless draw with Osasuna last weekend, extending their winless run to five games in all competitions. Since Carrión’s return to the club, Oviedo have shown small signs of improvement, claiming two points from his opening three games, and arrive unbeaten in their last two thanks to consecutive draws. Away from home, they began the season with three straight league defeats on the road, but they’ve steadied somewhat, collecting four points from their last two away fixtures. They’ve scored five and conceded nine on their travels overall, suggesting they can be competitive but often struggle to see games out.
Head-to-Head
It’s been over two decades since these two sides last met in La Liga, with their most recent encounters coming in the Copa del Rey back in 2011, both 1-0 wins for Athletic Bilbao. Historical form offers little insight here, but Bilbao’s pedigree at this level and Oviedo’s relative inexperience suggest the hosts should hold the upper hand.
Betting
Athletic Bilbao 1/2
Draw 13/4
Real Oviedo 6/1
Verdict
Bilbao really need a response here after a difficult spell. San Mamés hasn’t been the fortress it once was, but Valverde’s men usually find a way past bottom-half sides. Oviedo will make them work for it, yet Bilbao’s extra quality up front should see them through.
Suggested Bet: Athletic Bilbao to Win & Under 4.5 Goals at 73/100
CELTA VIGO v BARCELONA – Click here to bet
Sunday’s late kick-off sees Celta Vigo host Barcelona at Balaídos in what promises to be an entertaining affair between two sides in contrasting positions but both showing attacking intent. The hosts are quietly building momentum after a slow start, while the Catalans look to tighten up defensively and keep pace with league leaders Real Madrid.
Celta Vigo come into the weekend sitting 12th on 13 points after an important 2-1 away win at Levante. Claudio Giráldez’s men are now unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions, winning five and drawing two, and have claimed consecutive league victories for the first time this season. Their campaign has been marked by resilience, seven of their eleven La Liga fixtures have ended level, but they’re starting to find a cutting edge. At home, Los Celestes are unbeaten in their last seven in all competitions (W2 D5) but have yet to secure a league win at Balaídos this term (D5 L1), scoring five and conceding seven in their home league matches.
Barcelona, meanwhile, remain second in the standings on 25 points following a 3-1 home victory over Elche last weekend. Hansi Flick’s side boast the best attacking record in the division with 28 goals scored but have shown worrying defensive lapses on their travels, losing their last two away matches and conceding six in the process. They’ve scored 12 and conceded 10 across five league games on the road, failing to keep a clean sheet in any of them. Having travelled to Belgium in midweek for their Champions League clash with Club Brugge, Flick will be hoping for a more disciplined display from his side this weekend.
Head-to-Head
These sides played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in this fixture last season before Barcelona edged the return 4-3. Celta Vigo have won just once in their last six home meetings with the Catalans, though each of the last four at Balaídos has seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals.
Betting
Celta Vigo 15/4
Draw 13/4
Barcelona 63/100
Verdict
Barcelona’s away record makes them hard to trust defensively, while Celta’s strong home run and habit of scoring suggests this could again deliver goals at both ends. Flick’s side should still have enough firepower to edge it, but the hosts won’t go down quietly.
Suggested Bet: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals at 4/5
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
