La Liga Betting Preview: Why We’re Backing Barca
Barca Start Season as Underdogs Despite Title Win
It was Barcelona who were champions of Spain last season. Hansi Flick’s side proved to be the most consistent performers, although they’re available to back at odds-against when it comes to reclaiming the La Liga title.
The margin of victory last season was four points. The Catalan outfit amassed an impressive 88 points and scored over 100 goals on their way to another crown. Strangely, they lost four times at home but still managed to keep Real Madrid at arm’s length, with many bettors looking to put them in their season-long accas this time around.
Some might be surprised that Barca are the outsiders of the El Clasico rivals. After all, they demonstrated a long-term ability to win matches last term. In truth, there was never much of a title race, with Flick’s team being able to ease down domestically. That’s because they went deep in the UEFA Champions League before losing at the semi-final stage against Inter in what were two highly-dramatic semi-final clashes.
Barca have arguably the world’s best attacking player in Lamine Yamal and continue to operate with the goal-getter that is Robert Lewandowski. Add into the mix the fact that Raphinha is now emerging as a world-class talent and you have a compelling reason for thinking that the Catalan side can do it again.
An extra advantage is that the Spanish champions didn’t feature in the Club World Cup. Therefore, while Real Madrid was looking to land a relatively meaningless trophy, their arch-rivals have enjoyed some much-needed rest and will potentially be better prepared when it comes to the start of the domestic campaign.
Xabi Alonso Brings New Energy to the Bernabéu
Perhaps Xabi Alonso’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu will make a difference to a team who were perhaps going a little stale under Carlo Ancelotti. The former was able to create a German Bundesliga-winning side when Bayer Leverkusen won the title two seasons ago and they actually went the whole campaign unbeaten.
Alonso now returns to another of the teams that he represented as a player. It’s a huge job although he inherits a squad brimming with talent. Kylian Mbappe will be out to post some massive numbers in front of goal and perhaps he will benefit from the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the best ball deliverers in the world.
While Luka Modric has left the club after achieving legendary status, Toni Kroos remains an important squad member and there is also a big shining light in the form of Vinicius Junior. Dean Huijsen has also arrived for big money from Bournemouth and has slotted into a three-man central defence that also contains Antonio Rudiger.
Atléti Hoping to Disrupt Two-Horse Race
The front two in the betting take up most of the market with the best betting sites. However, Atlético Madrid are not easily dismissed and they managed to average two points per La Liga match last term. Although they are regarded as Spain’s third wheel, Diego Simeone’s side tend to display consistent form domestically and they are always hard to beat on home soil. They lost just once at the Wanda Metropolitano last term.
Our La Liga Outright Winner Prediction:
Barcelona @ 2.10 with bet365
La Liga Outright Winner Betting Odds - bet365
Real Madrid 1.80
Barcelona 2.10
Atletico Madrid 9.00
Athletic Bilbao 51.00
Villarreal 51.00
Real Betis 67.00
Real Sociedad 101.00
