The Spanish LaLiga is now well and truly back. Madrid giants Real and Atletico got their campaigns off to a winning start last time out, while Barcelona stumbled to a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou.
This weekend there are a variety of interesting matchups taking place, let’s get to the predictions.
Friday 19 August
5/4 Espanyol | Draw 9/4 | Rayo Vallecano 47/20 (20:00)
We kick the gameweek off with a tie between Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano. The hosts needed a late goal to secure a 2-2 draw away to Celta Vigo last weekend, while the visitors held onto a goalless draw to share the spoils with Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
Rayo Vallecano looked the better side after the opening gameweek, and having completed the league double over Espanyol last season, they’ll fancy taking all three points. The away win is tipped.
6/10 Sevilla | Draw 3/1 | Valladolid 5/1 (22:00)
Sevilla got off to a poor start in LaLiga as they suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Osasuna at the El Sadar Stadium. Julen Lopetegui’s side will aim to bounce back strongly in front of their home support and will fancy themselves against newly-promoted Valladolid. The Castilian-Leon side suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Villarreal last weekend. Back the home win.
Saturday 20 August
21/20 Osasuna | Draw 22/10 | Cadiz 28/10 (17:30)
Seeking to make it two wins from two games in the new LaLiga campaign, Osasuna welcome Cadiz to the El Sadar Stadium on Saturday. The Pamplona-based side claimed a stunning 2-1 win at home to Sevilla last Friday and will look to continue their excellent start to the season.
Cadiz, on the other hand, head into the game on the back of a 1-0 loss at home to Real Sociedad. Having won all four of their meetings with the Andalusian club since they earned promotion in 2020/2021, Osasuna will be confident of claiming all three points. Get on the home win.
39/20 Mallorca | Draw 22/10 | Real Betis 15/10 (19:30)
On the back of a thumping win over Elche, Real Betis will head into their game against Mallorca with victory in their sights as they aim to break into the top four after their near miss last season.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men will be confident of claiming all three points against the Palma-based side who are expected to be involved in another relegation fight this season. Back the away win.
32/10 Celta Vigo | Draw 29/10 | Real Madrid 8/10 (22:00)
Real Madrid beat Almeria 2-1 at the Power Horse Stadium last weekend to get their LaLiga campaign off to a perfect start and will look to continue their winning ways when they take on Celta Vigo.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are unbeaten in their last 16 league encounters with Celta, registering 14 wins. 8/10 about the away win is generous pricing by Hollywoodbets. Get on.
Sunday 21 August
7/10 Athletic Bilbao | Draw 28/10 | Valencia 4/1 (17:30)
Moving onto Sunday’s games now and first up is a clash between Athletic Bilbao and Valencia.
Bilbao were held to a goalless draw at home to Mallorca last weekend, while Valencia beat Girona 1-0 courtesy of a first-half penalty by Carlos Soler. The last four league meetings between these sides have all ended in draws, three of them has seen under 2.5 goals. A repeat of the draw and under 2.5 goals looks appealing at 7/2.
9/10 Atletico Madrid | Draw 49/20 | Villarreal 31/10 (19:30)
Arguably the biggest game of the weekend sees Atletico Madrid and Villarreal square off at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Whenever these teams meet its always a tough game. Both games last season involving these two sides ended with the spoils being shared following 2-2 draws. In fact, four of the last six encounters between the sides have ended in draws. You can follow that trend at 49/20.
23/10 Real Sociedad | Draw 51/20 | Barcelona 11/10 (22:00)
Barcelona face a stern test as they take on Real Sociedad in Sunday’s final fixture. The Catalan giants had to settle for a goalless draw at home to Rayo Vallecano last weekend, while Imanol Alguacil’s side claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Cadiz at the Nuevo Mirandilla stadium.
Barca will be desperate to avoid another hiccup this weekend, and having won each of the last five league encounters with Sociedad, they’ll head into this game brimming with confidence. The away win is tipped.
Monday 22 August
29/20 Elche | Draw 9/4 | Almeria 2/1 (20:00)
Elche and Almeria will both be looking to pick up their first win of the new LaLiga campaign when they square off at the Manuel Martinez Valero stadium on Monday. Both sides started the season on a losing note.
Elche found it difficult against Real Betis after John Nwankwo was shown a red card in the 15th minute and as a result succumbed to a heavy 3-0 loss. Meanwhile, Almeria slumped to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Real Madrid. The two sides faced off in the round of 32 Copa del Rey last season which Elche won 2-1 at the Power Horse Stadium. Not with confidence, but back the home win.
18/10 Girona | Draw 19/10 | Getafe 37/20 (22:00)
We close out the gameweek with a tie between Girona and Getafe. Both sides will be desperate to pick up points from this game after suffering defeat in their opening game of the season. Girona narrowly lost 1-0 at Valencia, courtesy of a penalty converted by Carlos Soler in the 45th minute.
Getafe, on the other hand, were trounced 3-0 in their own backyard by Atletico Madrid. Of the two sides, Girona impressed me most and I’m backing to make home advantage count.
TREBLE @ 67/10
Osasuna Win 21/20
Real Madrid Win 8/10
Barcelona Win 11/10
