Game Week 1 of the 2019/20 La Liga season saw Barcelona suffer a shock defeat away to Athletic Bilbao and that means we have the unusual situation of seeing the Spanish champions perched in fifteenth place.
As you might expect, they are still favourites to win the La Liga title although a failure to beat Real Betis this weekend and there might be talk of a crisis in the Catalan side of Spain, with Ernesto Valverde already under pressure after last season’s Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool.
Gareth Bale was supposedly out in the cold for Real Madrid despite the hot summer in Spain, although the Welshman played 75 minutes of his team’s opener away to Celta Vigo, helping Los Merengues to a 3-1 victory at the Balaidos.
Now Zinedine Zidane’s side open their account at the Bernabeu, with Ladbrokes offering a best price 2/9 about a win for the royal side of Spain which is likely to be a popular accumulator pick.
Luka Modric was sent off last weekend and will be suspended, while Eden Hazard might still be a week away from featuring for his new club, although it won’t stop the visitors being a warm order.
Valladolid started the season with a 2-1 victory away to Real Betis and will therefore be in confident spirits for this clash, although the team only just finished above the drop zone last term.
It would be a big surprise if they were able to create much against a team who will look to make a fast start and we’ll back Real to lead at half-time and full-time.
BETTING TIP
Real Madrid HT FT @ 3/4 with Coral
Leganes began the season with a home reverse against Osasuna and now have the tougher task of trying to get something out of a clash against an Atletico Madrid team who continue to be made of stern stuff.
While Diego Simeone has lost the services of Antoine Griezmann who will go down as a legend of the Wanda Metropolitano, the acquisition of Joao Felix already looks to be a smart piece of business, with the Portuguese wizard causing untold havoc against Getafe in his team’s opener.
The £113 million signing from Benfica looks to be an incredible talent and might end up helping his new club mount a title challenge, especially after Barcelona dropped points in their opening clash.
Atleti are no stranger to winning matches by a single goal and so it proved last weekend, with Alvaro Morata’s goal proving to be the difference between the two sides, while Kieran Trippier endeared himself to his new club by supplying the cross for the former Chelsea forward.
We’ll keep it simple and recommend the visitors to win this encounter, with Felix clearly going to cause further problems against a team who looked fairly toothless in their first match.
Leganes will look to keep the match low-scoring and it’s worth noting that only 35 goals were scored in 19 home matches last term, with the team actually racking up seven wins.
BETTING TIP
Atletico Madrid to win @ 5/6 with Coral
Can Barcelona really cope when Lionel Messi isn’t on the pitch? The jury is out considering that the Argentine was nowhere to be seen as Athletic Bilbao delivered a sucker punch to the Catalan club last weekend, with the ageless Aritz Aduriz providing a late goal to ensure it was the home side who claimed the spoils.
Ernesto Valverde was therefore involved in some early soul-searching, with Antoine Griezmann making a losing start to life for his new club, although he might get all the plaudits from the Nou Camp this weekend and Barca are massive favourites to overcome Real Betis.
It remains to be seen whether Messi is passed fit for this clash and Luis Suarez also appears to be a doubt after coming off in the first half of last weekend’s clash, with Ousmane Dembele and Rafinha potentially deputising for the south American stars.
There was a distinct lack of shots from Barcelona throughout the match at San Mames, with the visitors managing to get two on target, although we can be sure they will be more dangerous in front of their own fans.
Betis were surprisingly beaten in their opener at home to Valladolid and we’re happy to back Barcelona at odds of 4/5 with Coral to lead at half-time and full-time in this encounter.
BETTING TIP
Barcelona HT FT @ 4/5 with Coral