La Liga Matchweek 31 Betting Preview
Top Four Solidifies in Champions League Race
Barcelona, Atletico Surging
Both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid extended their win streaks to six last weekend and they’ll once again be on the line in La Liga Matchweek 31. Defending champions Atletico and a revitalized Barcelona have been excellent in recent weeks and are striving to put pressure on first-place Real Madrid.
Still, Real Madrid hold a 12-point lead at the top of the table with just eight matches remaining and are heavily favored by the La Liga betting odds to win the title. Los Blancos would need to slip up a couple of times just to open the door to a title fight and Barcelona, with a game in hand, are currently in the best position to challenge them.
It looked doubtful whether second-place Barça would make the Champions League earlier on in the season, but they currently have multiple solid pathways to qualification. Atletico and Sevilla are likely to join them in the top four, but Real Betis and Sociedad aren’t too far off. At the bottom, Levante and Alaves will need miracles to avoid relegation while Mallorca, Cadiz and Granada fight to avoid the drop.
Real Madrid in Driver’s Seat
Karim Benzema returned in a big way for Real Madrid as he converted two penalties in their 2-1 win at Celta Vigo on Saturday. It wasn’t necessarily convincing, but Real will take the three points any way they can get them. Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be focused on their Champions League match vs. Chelsea on Wednesday before hosting Getafe on Saturday.
La Liga soccer predictions heavily favor Real Madrid to bring home the title and they’re also big favorites on Saturday. Interestingly enough, Getafe have shut out Real in the last two meetings, and won 1-0 earlier this season.
It was the first time Getafe scored a goal vs. Real Madrid since 2018 and the team are huge longshots just to score at +260. No on both teams to score at -175 offers better value than Getafe under ½ at -360.
Best of the Rest Take on Teams Near Bottom
Barcelona’s Pedri is still a teenager but he plays like a veteran. The UEFA Golden Boy winner stood out at last year’s Euros and scored the game’s only goal vs. Sevilla to extend Barça’s win streak to six last weekend. Now, he and Barcelona head to 19th-place Levante, who are scrambling to avoid relegation.
The Valencian club picked up a surprising 2-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday, but are still six points from safety. FCB beat Levante 3-0 earlier this season but Levante do boast another impressive recent win over Atletico Madrid. This has the potential to be a trap game for Barça, who have only won one of their last five matches at Levante.
Like Barcelona, third-place Atletico are also on a six-game win streak while their opponents, Mallorca, have dropped their last seven. A win could take 18th-place Mallorca out of the relegation zone, but that’s been incredibly hard to come by in recent weeks. One thing is for certain: One of these streaks will end come Saturday.
Coming off a UCL quarterfinals first leg loss to Manchester City, Atletico should be expected to bounce back. The La Liga betting odds list Diego Simeone’s team at favorable -105 odds on the road.
Sevilla are still hanging on to their top-four status but are winless in their last four matches. With only La Liga to focus on now, their form should pick up. Their opponents on Friday, Granada, are just three points outside of the relegation zone, but have scored late goals in each of their last two matches to pick up points.
Unders in recent Sevilla matches have been a great La Liga betting tip and the O/U goals total of 2½ appears interesting. Sevilla have conceded one goal or fewer in their last eight La Liga matches and haven’t scored two or more goals in their last four.
Betis, Sociedad Still Striving for UCL
Real Betis and Real Sociedad have both spent decent amounts of time in the top four this season, but they now find themselves looking on the outside in. Betis are four points behind Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla and are coming off a 4-1 win over Osasuna. Juanmi is now tied for second in La Liga with 14 goals after scoring a double in the match.
La Liga betting odds favor Real Betis in their match at Cadiz on Saturday, but they’re listed at longer than even odds. These teams drew 1-1 in Seville earlier this season and Cadiz have been very competitive over the last few weeks. They’ve picked up more points than Betis over the last five matches and could certainly manage a result on Saturday.
Real Sociedad’s most potent attacker, Mikel Oyarzabal, is out for the season, which craters their chances of a top-four finish.They’ve still got a great defense that has the potential to carry them going forward. Sociedad have conceded fewer than a goal per game this season and their last three matches have finished with under two goals. Don’t be surprised if the under (2½) hits once again at Elche on Sunday.
