The final matchday for the 2021/22 La Liga Santander season is finally upon us. As per usual at this part of the season, there are a few dead rubber fixtures, and on the flipside, there are always value bets on offer!
The tail end of the table is where the action is, and Villarreal have a lot to play for against Barcelona when they head to the Camp Nou.
Enjoy the final instalment, and let’s cross our fingers on our 6/1 multiple on offer.
Sunday 22 May
2/1 Elche | Draw 2/1 | Getafe 15/10 (18:30)
Three straight defeats see Elche in a very precarious situation heading into the final matchday. Los Franjiverdes need a single point against Getafe to secure their spot in the next season of La Liga, while Getafe’s four straight draws has them in the exact situation. 39 points apiece, 15th and 14th respectively, either side cannot afford a loss. The draw is the likely outcome here, and at 2/1 it’s the play I’m making.
37/10 Alaves | Draw 28/10 | Cadiz 7/10 (18:30)
After tasting a 3-0 defeat away to Real Sociedad, the task seemed insurmountable welcoming Real Madrid to their grounds last time out. 1-1 was the result earning Cadiz a last-ditch effort in getting out of the relegation zone.
Alaves are already relegated and taking their opposition down with them will be a difficult task with their last result being a 3-1 loss to 18th-placed Levante. Get behind the away team.
13/10 Barcelona | Draw 28/10 | Villarreal 17/10 (18:30)
Villarreal have had a weird season, and throwing all their eggs into the Champions League basket could cost them qualification for any European competition for the next campaign.
Barcelona fought to no avail, drawing 0-0 with Getafe. The second spot is a great success for the Catalan’s as their season was saved by Xavi. A win for the fans will leave them hopeful of a brighter future in this dead rubber encounter. Back Barcelona to collect the last three points on offer.
29/20 Real Sociedad | Draw 23/10 | Atletico Madrid 37/20 (18:30)
Real Sociedad confirmed their spot in next season’s Europa League when they defeated Villarreal 2-1 last time out.
Alexander Isak drew Sociedad level, and Martin Zubimendi netted the winner with just under 30 minutes to go. The traveling team tussled it out with Sevilla in battle for third last time out and a draw was the result, but top four is secure for Diego Simeone’s men. It will be a less impactful game when these two sides meet, and Atletico Madrid’s quality in personnel and no pressure is a banker on the Double Chance at 5/10.
13/20 Real Madrid | Draw 33/10 | Real Betis 33/10 (18:30)
Real Madrid clinched the title a few weeks ago, and all preparation will be for their UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool. Last matchday’s 1-1 draw with Cadiz saw them field a watered down starting XI already, and even Eden Hazard made an appearance for the champions.
Real Betis could see themselves pipping fourth spot with a win over Real Madrid and a favorable result in Sevilla’s encounter against Athletic Bilbao. The Copa Del Rey champions have fought under pressure already, and a win for Manuel Pellegrini’s men here caps off a successful campaign. Back the away team to get all three points.
11/20 Granada | Draw 33/10 | Espanyol 44/10 (18:30)
Granada were defeated 2-0 by Real Betis in their last encounter and hang on by a one-point thread in survival for their lives. Espanyol, on the other hand, have nothing left to fight for, and their results are telling.
The away team are winless in their last six and have also had poor results against teams fighting for relegation – a draw with Cadiz, loss to Alaves, and a close 4-3 win over Levante. I believe the fight for survival triumphs over Espanyol, and the odds suggest it too.
12/10 Rayo Vallecano | Draw 26/10 | Levante 2/1 (18:30)
Levante are dead and buried, but they went on and put up a fight to defeat Alaves 3-1 last time out, sinking the opposition with them.
Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, had decent spells throughout the season, but their current form of back-to-back losses preceded by successive draws is not something to boast of. Another fixture simply saying goodbye to the fans should end in a draw, but if you’re looking for a sure bet, back over 2.5 goals at 13/20.
7/4 Valencia | Draw 22/10 | Celta Vigo 33/20 (18:30)
Valencia currently has the worst form in La Liga, winless in eight fixtures – drawing five and losing three.
Celta Vigo fought tooth and nail against Elche, winning 1-0 despite having all but pride to play for last time out. The value play here is surely on the away team, but I’m a little skeptical with Celta Vigo having failed to collect back-to-back wins this year. The draw no bet on the away team at 8/10 is the safe option for me.
3/1 Osasuna | Draw 51/20 | Mallorca 9/10 (18:30)
Mallorca claimed a vital win against Rayo Vallecano in matchday 37. They left it late with a strike form Abdon Prats in stoppage time of the final whistle in a nail biting and tense affair after opening the scoring as early as the 13th minute. Survival is in their hands and all three points will secure their spot in the new season of La Liga.
Osasuna, on the other hand, have failed to win a fixture since their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid, which saw three straight draws and a loss to Athletic Bilbao last time around. Mallorca have won just two of their away fixtures this year, and I cannot see them magically finding the formula needed this time around. Back the draw here.
27/20 Sevilla | Draw 49/20 | Athletic Bilbao 39/20 (18:30)
Sevilla knew that a win over Atletico Madrid last time out would have them finishing third, but a 1-1 draw was all they could muster up. Athletic Bilbao’s 2-0 win over Osasuna put them in a good position to possibly secure Europa League football.
Bilbao are just a point off of Villarreal (who face Barcelona) so the burning desire will be tangible when they arrive in Sevilla. Athletic Bilbao on the draw no bet at 21/20 is one for the multiples.
TREBLE @ 12/1
Atletico Madrid Win/Draw 5/10
Real Betis Win 33/10
Athletic Bilbao Draw No Bet 21/20
