La Liga Matchday 19 Odds: Barcelona Clear Title Favorites
Battle “Real” between Madrid and Sociedad
Barcelona Emerge as Clear Title Favorites
It’s a massive weekend in La Liga, as Barcelona’s two most likely title challengers face off in a battle “Real”. Real Madrid host Real Sociedad in their first of two meetings this season. Barcelona currently hold a three-point lead over second place Real Madrid and a six-point lead over Sociedad. If both Sociedad and Barcelona win this weekend, Barcelona will have a six-point cushion over every other team. Their -250 odds to win the title would certainly get shorter but there’s still a long way to go. Let’s take a look at the major La Liga Matchday 19 odds from this weekend.
Games of the Week
Girona vs Barcelona
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Girona were on a seven-match unbeaten run before losing to Villarreal on a late penalty. As a result, the La Liga newcomers should be fired up for their match vs. Barcelona on Saturday. However, center back Santiago Bueno is suspended and defensive partner David Lopez is working his way back from an injury. While keeping Barcelona out of the back of the net is a tough test, it’s even more difficult to score on them. Xavi’s Barça have only conceded six goals in 17 La Liga matches this season.
Visitors and league leaders Barcelona enter Saturday’s match as one-goal favorites. Both Girona and Barcelona come in at -110 to cover the spread but Barça are -185 moneyline favorites. Meanwhile, Girona sit at +440 odds to win. There have only been four meetings between these teams in the last ten years and Barcelona have won three and drawn one. A draw displays +355 odds for the match and Barcelona have an impressive 7-1 record away from Camp Nou this season.
At Camp Nou on Wednesday, Ousmane Dembele scored the game’s only goal to defeat Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey. Barcelona have already won the Supercopa de España this season and are in pole position to win a domestic treble.
They’ll have to make do without La Liga leading scorer Robert Lewandowski for a third straight league match. He’s serving the last match of a three-game suspension and will be back to face Real Betis next week in La Liga next games. Without Lewandowski, Barcelona have eked out two 1-0 league wins. Without Lewandowski, it’s no surprise that under three goals comes in at -140 odds. Marc-Andre ter Stegen has also been a brick wall for Barcelona in net, with 13 clean sheets this season.
Osasuna vs Atletico Madrid
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Osasuna’s solid season continued midweek as they defeated Sevilla 2-1 in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. The Pamplona club advanced to their first semifinals appearance for 18 years.
Osasuna are unbeaten in six matches, in all competitions, in 2023. Ezequiel Avila has also found on the scoresheet in his last two matches. While they’ve only scored 18 goals this season, Osasuna have conceded fewer goals in La Liga than all but five teams.
Their opponents this weekend, Atletico Madrid, are coming off a 3-0 win vs. Valladolid. They’ll also take on rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Thursday before facing Osasuna.
La Liga Matchday 19 odds price Atletico Madrid as ½-goal favorites and they sit at +120 ATS and moneyline odds. Joao Felix and Matheus Cunha have left the club this month but Diego Simeone has brought in Memphis Depay from Barcelona. With the departures, oddsmakers are down on Atletico’s chances to score multiple goals in the match.
They sit at -185 odds to score under 1½ goals. Meanwhile, Osasuna show -140 odds to cover the ½-goal spread and +250 odds to win the match. Still, Atletico have won the last eight meetings in La Liga.
There hasn’t been a draw in this fixture since 2011 but a deadlock shows +220 odds. Although they’re in an impressive seventh place, Osasuna have won just one of their last five matches in La Liga. Atletico are in fourth but seven points behind third place Real Sociedad.
An Osasuna upset win would mean they go level on points with Atletico Madrid. Osasuna have actually been one of the best home teams in La Liga this season, with a 6-3 record. While both defenses have been solid this season, over two goals comes in at -135 odds.
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad
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Real Madrid could get a double-injury boost in the lead up to their crucial match vs. Real Sociedad. Both defender David Alaba and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni are in contention to play on Sunday. First, Real Madrid host Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals on Thursday.
Barcelona knocked Real Sociedad out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as Sociedad’s Brais Méndez picked up a red card. Still, he’s eligible to play on Sunday at Real Madrid. Los Blancos enter Sunday’s match as ½-goal home favorites and sit at -140 ATS and moneyline odds.
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has scored six goals in six matches, in all competitions, since the World Cup break ended. Meanwhile, Sociedad striker Alexander Sorloth has been similarly prolific.
Key Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino missed the midweek Copa del Rey match and his status is worth monitoring. There’s still plenty of creativity in the Sociedad lineup, with David Silva, Mikel Oyarzabal and Takefusa Kubo. However, Sociedad show a +120 price to cover the spread and just +380 odds to win the match.
In the last five meetings, Real Madrid are unbeaten. They’ve won three of those matches, including both last season. The other two have finished in draws and another deadlock comes in at +285 odds. Both teams are favored to get on the scoresheet but Under 2½ goals are priced at -115 odds.
Real Madrid and Real Sociedad are in second and third place in the La Liga standings, respectively. A Real win and Barcelona loss at Girona would put the two sides level on points once again. Currently, defending champions Real sit at just +185 odds to win repeat titles. Sociedad are just six points behind Barcelona but are massive +15000 underdogs to win La Liga.
Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano
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Villarreal have hit their stride under Quique Setien. They’re now five games unbeaten in La Liga following a recent 1-0 win over Girona. Dani Parejo’s 100th minute penalty goal put an end to Girona’s seven-match unbeaten streak in La Liga. Now, Villarreal host a tricky Rayo Vallecano side on Monday. With a 6-1-1 record at El Madrigal, Villarreal have the second-best home record in the league.
Heading into Monday’s matchup, Villarreal are ½-goal favorites and sit at both -140 ATS and moneyline odds. Notably, former Villarreal forwards Arnaut Danjuma and Nicolas Jackson have both left the club in the last week.
Expect reinforcements to come in before the end of the January window but for now, Samuel Chukwueze, Gerard Moreno and Yeremy Pino should be heavily relied on. Andoni Iraola’s Rayo Vallecano have won just one of their last five games but are still in ninth place.
They come in at +120 odds to cover the spread and +405 odds to get their first win over Villarreal since 2016. Villarreal have won the last four meetings and are unbeaten in the last five. Last season, Villarreal outscored Rayo 7-1 over the course of two fixtures. Bettors can also find a draw at +270 La Liga Matchday 19 odds.
Villarreal are currently on a nine-match scoring streak in all competitions. Where Villarreal shine is on defense, though. They’ve conceded just 13 goals this season and only Barcelona have allowed fewer. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano got shut out by Real Sociedad 2-0 last weekend.
They’ve averaged just 0.8 goals per game over their last five but show -165 odds to get on the scoresheet here. Goals could come at a premium in this match, though, as under 2½ goals comes in at -120 odds.
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