the spanish la liga, like europe’s other top leagues, returns after the international break and the race at the top of the spanish top flight is closer than ever, with the top five separated by just four points after 11 games. there is loads of televised la liga action over the long weekend (friday to monday) so why not check it out and see why pundits and fans rate spanish football so highly? if you fancy a bet we’ve got everything you need right here, from our top value betting tips and match predictions to the best live odds comparison, so read on!
barcelona v sevilla
probably the biggest game of la liga this weekend sees lionel messi continue his quest to become the all-time top goalscorer in spain’s top flight. his barcelona side welcome fifth placed sevilla to the nou camp and this could be a cracker. the home side are priced at betting odds of just 1/4 with coral with the away team out at 11/1 and the draw at betting odds of 6/1 with bet365. barcelona started this la liga campaign so well but suffered back to back defeats before a narrow 2-1 win at lowly almeria before the international break. that said, sevilla have gone off the boil a little of late too and we think the call here is the home side to win to nil, with 2-0 or 3-0 our prediction, both available at nice odds.
eibar v real madrid
eibar’s ground holds just over 5,000 and the tiny basque side is playing in la liga for the first time in its history. this is a genuine david versus goliath clash and whilst goliath doesn’t always win, we fear for the minnows here. they have started the campaign remarkably well and sit a respectable 10th in the table but we predict they will fall away as the campaign goes on and given real madrid have won four of five on the road and are in fine fettle we think an easy away win is the way to go here. betting on madrid -2.5 makes sense at nice odds of 23/18 with unibet, although eibar have already caused a surprise or two this term so you just never know!
athletic bilbao v espanyol
the friday night game sees bilbao, from the basque country, host catalan outfit espanyol and you can be sure that the spanish national anthem won’t be on the song sheet here. bilbao are currently 11th, a point and a place better off than their opponents, and the home side can be backed at odds of 10/11 with sky bet. we predict a close game and the draw certainly offers some appeal at betting odds of 5/2 with betvictor and others. bilbao have performed admirably on home soil, largely thanks to a defence that has conceded just two goals in front of their own fans and as such athletic to win to nil is our betting tip for this one at 21/10 with sky bet.
granada v almeria
moving swiftly forward to monday’s televised action we see almeria visit granada and again the home side are a point and a place ahead of their opponents, granada currently in 14th with 10 points. despite having lost four in a row we think the away side might cause an upset and given their strength at the back and granada’s poor attacking form odds of 3/1 for almeria to win, and even 11/2 to do so to nil, look like good value.
elche v cordoba
another day – sunday – and another televised clash for us to get our betting teeth into. yet again there is little between the teams, making this another contest that is tricky to predict but despite elche being three points ahead of bottom side cordoba, we again think the away side could go well here. cordoba are yet to win but have drawn six games, only losing against top-six teams and as such the stalemate is our prediction here at betting odds of 12/5 with 888sport.
atletico madrid v malaga
the home team are once more going well and making a mockery of those who predicted they would be one-season wonders, especially after they sold diego costa to chelsea. they are currently fourth and with malaga sixth this is another big la liga game. our betting tip here is simple though – the home win, at nice odds of 1/2 with stanjames.
deportivo la coruna v real sociedad
david moyes will take charge of struggling sociedad for the first time and he will have quickly ascertained that this is an underperforming squad with some real talent within it. it will take time for him to get his ideas across – not least because there is little crossover between the basque language and scottish! – but even so, we think they can get a result here at very nice odds of 6/4 against the side directly beneath them in the liga standings.
rayo vallecano v celta vigo
not one for the neutrals we think this clash of styles between the attack-minded home side and the more defensive celta could end a draw. it is hard to predict, especially after the international break, but backing the draw at half time looks a prudent bet at fair odds of 13/10.
levante v valencia
levante are 16th, just three points off the bottom of la liga whilst valencia are surprising everyone and are currently third. valencia are in decent form and score lots of goals on the road and so we think they are worth backing to claim the win here at nice betting odds of 13/10 with unibet.
villarreal v getafe
the last liga clash to receive our attention and prediction sees getafe travel to villarreal in a third game between sides a point and a place apart. the home side have the edge in class and whilst this isn’t a straightforward one to call, our prediction has to be the home win at odds of evens with sky bet, not least because getafe do not travel well.