Real Madrid were always in the driver’s seat of La Liga, but now they’re in cruise control. Barcelona are finally making strides on their journey back to former glory, and it makes the league all the more enthralling.
Last matchday we were let down by Sevilla in our 14/1 quad but check out this week’s multiple for some excitement.
Friday 11 March
3/10 Atletico Madrid | Draw 42/10 | Cadiz 9/1 (22:00)
After a rocky season, it looks like we are finally getting to witness the Atletico Madrid we have come to adore. A pretty dominant victory over Real Betis saw Diego Simeone’s men jump up to fourth on the table and tie-on points with. Atletico kick off La Liga proceedings Friday as they are preparing to make a midweek trip to Manchester United’s Old Trafford for the UEFA Champions League. The squad selection will be crucial, but I have no doubt the depth of the squad is capable of getting all three over Cadiz. Yes, the away team were able to get an all-important win in the fight for survival, but against Rayo Vallecano who are in the worst form of any side in the division. There is no value on Atletico Madrid and looking to find it in any exotics will be tricky through squad rotation, so adding them to any multiple is surety enough.
Saturday 12 March
14/10 Levante | Draw 24/10 | Espanyol 19/10 (15:00)
Although Levante sit dead last on the table, in their last five games they have collected seven of a possible 12 points conceding four goals along the way. There has been a real push at the right time in my opinion but being seven points off 17th is still a long shot, and motivation will run dry sooner rather than later. After a poor run of seven winless games for Espanyol, a ray of shining light came in their last matchup as early as the 17th-minute from a Leandro Cabrera strike and just 10 minutes later the pressure mounted on Getafe being forced into an own goal handing Espanyol all three points. While Espanyol may have found something to smile about, they have just one win away from home the entire season. This is a tricky one to call and backing the totals market in favour of the two sides 4-3 result in December of last year, Over 2.5 Goals at 9/10 is decent enough.
12/10 Granada | Draw 9/4 | Elche 47/20 (17:15)
Granada are without a win in nine La Liga fixtures, and Elche are now on a two-game losing streak with a wild 3-0 loss to Levante, and a home defeat to a rampant Barcelona. Both these sides are on a downward spiral but of the two, Elche seem to be in a fraction of better form. Their 1-2 home loss to Barcelona was not taken lying down and were only dispatched with by a Memphis Depay 85th-minute penalty. I am backing Elche to distance themselves from the bottom of the table, but to be safe take Draw No Bet Elche at 13/10.
7/10 Villarreal | Draw 29/10 | Celta Vigo 38/10 (19:30)
I mean, typical Villarreal, after absolutely dominating previous fixtures 1-4 and 5-1 over Granada and Espanyol respectively, a 1-0 loss to Osasuna is classic. The Yellow Submarine is not a side that is going to win every fixture, this we know, but the inconsistency is something that needs to be rooted out by Unai Emery. A home fixture against Celta Vigo who went back and forth in a seven-goal thriller against Mallorca which had absolutely everything including two red cards and a 90th-minute penalty. I know it is reactionary, but I am all behind the goals here, with Both Teams To Score (Yes) & Over 2.5 Goals at 14/10.
29/20 Getafe | Draw 21/10 | Valencia 2/1 (22:00)
Normally, this would be a forgone conclusion just in name, and the table might even suggest that with Valencia ninth on 36 points and Getafe 15th on 27 points, but Getafe need to separate themselves further from the bottom of the table making them a dangerous side to face. The home teams recent run of form is not indicative of wanting progress, winless in four games. However, the Coliseum Alfonso Perez is a fortress for Getafe with one loss, two draws and six wins in the last ten. Valencia on the other hand have made strides in climbing the table after two successive losses with a hard fought away win over Mallorca and a dominating 3-1 home win over Granada, but their last two trips to Getafe have been 3-0 losses. I am backing Getafe to keep up their impressive home soil form.
Sunday 13 March
24/10 Rayo Vallecano | Draw 22/10 | Sevilla 12/10 (15:00)
Last game week Sevilla put us out our 14/1 quad, and I couldn’t be more infuriated. A rather frustrating watch to say the least from both sides who were wasteful in every sense. Yes, the positive is 11 games without defeat for the Sevillistas, but the 0-0 result with Alaves makes it four straight league draws. Rayo Vallecano head back home after a 2-0 loss to Cadiz and their sixth straight defeat with just one goal in just as many fixtures. Despite Sevilla upsetting the flow last time out, bet on the away team to get back to winning ways here at 12/10.
11/10 Real Betis | Draw 47/20 | Athletic Bilbao 47/20 (17:15)
Real Betis got it wrong on home soil losing 3-1 at the hands of Atletico Madrid as well as losing their position in the table. They have the chance to bounce back midweek in their Europa League fixture before taking on Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, but leggy might be the theme if Manuel Pellegrini is unable to accordingly rotate his squad. Athletic Bilbao’s away form seemed as if it took a turn in January with two wins and a draw, but February’s 3-2 loss to Mallorca and 4-0 loss to Barcelona showed their true colours. Get behind Real Betis to win.
5/10 Real Sociedad | Draw 32/10 | Alaves 54/10 (19:30)
When Real Sociedad’s defence is on point, they win, with their last eight wins all including clean sheets. So, when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty against Real Madrid the White and Blue faithful would have been ecstatic. But two quick goals by Eduardo Camavinga and Luca Modric before the halftime whistle left Sociedad demoralized, followed by Karim Benzema’s 20th league goal and Marco Asensio to make the score line a 4-1 humiliation. Alaves have found back-to-back draws after their 3-0 loss to Real Madrid, and I can’t see them getting anything out of this one. The home team come home flying here.
7/20 Barcelona | Draw 4/1 | Osasuna 7/1 (22:00)
As I said last week, Barcelona are back under Xavi Hernandez. 11 undefeated La Liga fixtures now, which started with a 2-2 draw in December last year, so it’s coming full circle for Barca. After two losses to Atletico Madrid (0-3) and Real Sociedad (1-0) Osasuna shocked Villarreal 1-0, but now travel to the Camp Nou where they have only won three time in their history. Barcelona are a sure thing.
Monday 14 March
42/10 Mallorca | Draw 31/10 | Real Madrid 6/10 (22:00)
After Real Madrid lost to Getafe and two draws thereafter, they have bounced back with their opposition also easing the pressure on them with wonky results. Real Madrid will now prioritize their UCL matchup with PSG and rotate out players for their Monday night fixture against Mallorca who have lost their last four La Liga matches. Real Madrid will extend their gap at the top of the table confidently.
MULTIPLE @ 24/1
Atletico Madrid Win 2/7
Elche Draw No Bet 13/10
Getafe Win 14/10
Sevilla Win 12/10
Real Madrid Win 6/10
