Spain’s top-flight re-opens for business this week with FC Sevilla v Real Betis. It is, of course, all happening behind closed doors but the action at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan will be the venue of the first match since the Covid-19 lockdown.
That Seville derby is going to be a big one for the hosts Sevilla who are trying to secure a top-four finish in this season’s league.
There are nine matches left in the season for all of the teams in the division and so there is quite a long way to go with 71% of matches for the season in the bag.
In this La Liga restart preview, we take a look at the big markets for La Liga betting as the season tries to play its way to the conclusion.
First Round of La Liga Matches after lockdown
Thursday, June 11th
Sevilla v Real Betis
Friday, June 12th
Granada v Getafe
Valencia v Levante
Saturday, June 13th
Espanyol v Alaves
Celta Vigo v Villarreal
Leganes v Valladolid
Mallorca v Barcelona
Sunday, June 14th
Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid v Eibar
Real Sociedad v Osasuna
La Liga Title Race
The title race at the end of the day is going to come down to a duel between Barcelona and Real Madrid. It is the Catalans who are the current leaders as they hold a 2-point advantage over their rivals.
Barcelona are the 8/15 favourites* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 22:39 GMT on Monday, June 8th 2020). Barcelona won five of their last six matches before the lockdown, their one upset in that sequence was a 2-0 reverse against Real Madrid which kept the title race pretty lively.
Barcelona picks up their campaign with an away match at Mallorca on June 13th. The Catalans have lost two of their last three on the road. But they have dropped only the two points from 14 home fixtures in La Liga this season.
Title rivals Real Madrid were stuttering just before the break. They only picked up a W1 D1 L2 record from a run of four matches. So they were sliding and so it will be interesting to see if they can rediscover their form out of the gate.
They do have a big chance of getting some momentum going. That is because three of their first four games back after the lockdown are on home soil at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have produced an unbeaten home record this season (W9 D4). Madrid are 7/5 to take the title* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 22:39 GMT on Monday, June 8th 2020).
La Liga Top Four Odds
Sevilla 4/11
Atletico Madrid 2/5
Real Sociedad 15/8
Getafe 23/10
Valencia 17/2
* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 22:39 GMT on Monday, June 8th 2020)
Who gets the other two spots?
Obviously half of the top four places in La Liga are going to be occupied by Barcelona and Real Madrid. Behind that, there is a really close battle happening to fill the other two spots.
Just two points are separating third-placed Sevilla and sixth-placed Atletico Madrid. Valencia are only third points back of Atleti.
So it runs Sevilla 47 pts, Real Sociedad 46 pts, Getafe 46 pts, Atletico Madrid 45 pts, Valencia 42 pts.
So this is a fascinating angle of La Liga betting this season. Sevilla are 2/5 odds-on to book a top-four finish* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 22:39 GMT on Monday, June 8th 2020).
Their run into the end of the season isn’t too bad with the stand out games with them hosting Barcelona on June 21st and then closing the season against Valencia.
The chasing pack
Real Sociedad have three of their first four games on return coming at home, one of those happening against Real Madrid on June 21st.
They do have a tough sequence of games at the end of the season, closing in their final three matches against Villarreal, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid.
Getafe only took one win in their final four games before lockdown (D1 L2). The losses were crucial top-four fixtures against Barcelona and Sevilla so they did come up short there.
So far this season they have lost six of their seven matches against the other sides currently in the top six. Not working in their favour is that they do still have to face Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in their run-in.
Can Atleti regain composure?
Atletico Madrid were stumbling before the lockdown, really losing their way in dropping points left, right and centre. They won only two of their final eight games before they went into the break (D4 L2).
They did go undefeated in their last five matches before their winning touch was deserting them. The away form of Diego Simeone’s men has been troublesome for them this season, winning just three of thirteen on the road.
La Liga Relegation Odds
Espanyol 2/9
Real Mallorca 2/7
Leganes 4/9
Eibar 9/4
Celta Vigo 7/2
Valladolid 3/1
Alaves 10/1
Levante 20/1
Osasuna 50/1
Real Betis 125/1
* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 22:39 GMT on Monday, June 8th 2020)
Espanyol favourites for the drop
Sitting at the foot of the table ahead of the return are Espanyol with only 20 points on the board and six points adrift of safety. There have been four wins recorded by Espanoyl from their 27 matches played this season.
So Espanyol do have a lot of ground to make up to haul themselves to safety. Especially with the poor home form that they have produced, picking up only a W1 D5 L7 record this term on home turf.
There is a tough finish as they have to face Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Valencia among their final seven fixtures and they are the 2/9 odds-on favourites to get the drop* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 22:39 GMT on Monday, June 8th 2020).
Leganes and Mallorca under pressure
Leganes are the second-favourites to go down, as they are three points from safety. They did pick up a crucial win over top-four side Real Sociedad in their final game before lockdown to give them a window of hope.
Mallorca got two wins in their final four games before the La Liga stubborn. So they were starting to pick things up.
Mallorca (who were promoted last season to the top along with Osasuna and Granada) are one point from safety behind Celta Vigo.
Celta Vigo strung together a great five-match undefeated streak of form (W2 D3) and started to climb their way to safety.
They were doing a better job of the two teams directly above them, Eibar and Valladolid. Eibar have lost four of their last five and Vallodlid three of their last four. So those two may pique some interest in La Liga relegation betting odds.
Betfair same game multi
Place a same game multi bet which has combined odds of 4/1 on a football match. If the bet wins then you will collect a free bet matching your stake, up to the value of £25.
How To Qualify
Place a winning Same Game Multi bet at combined odds of 4/1 or better on Football.
Your qualifying bet will be the first winning Same Game Multi at odds of 4/1 or better on any Football match available that settles each week (Monday – Sunday).
If a bet is placed during one week and settles during the following week, it will count for the following week.
Cashed-out bets do not qualify for this offer.
Exchange bets do not qualify for this offer.
18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. See bookmaker for full T&Cs
Key Terms & Conditions
This offer is open to new and existing customers, aged 18 or over, in the UK & Republic of Ireland. If you place a winning qualifying bet (and otherwise comply with the terms of this promotion), you will receive a free bet matching your stake up to a maximum of £25. Your free bets can be used on any sport and will expire in 7 days.
The promotion applies to Same Game Multi bets only and they must be placed on Football to qualify, regular multiples and other bet types do not qualify. Your free bet may only be used on the Sportsbook and will expire in 7 days. Your stake will not be returned with your winnings on free bets.
