Over the past decade, La Liga has proven to be the strongest domestic league in the world. The rise of Spain’s national team has coincided with a rise in the play of the league’s two top teams, who most fans will say are the two best club teams in the world. The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is known around the globe, and one of these two sides has won 13 of the last 14 La Liga titles. It’s no surprise that the El Clasico clubs are the overwhelming favorites to win the league again this season.
Spanish La Liga Betting at BookMaker.eu
FC Barcelona -140
Real Madrid +130
Atletico Madrid +1525
Valencia +12500
Sevilla +25000
Villarreal +50000
Real Sociedad +100000
Real Betis +100000
Celta de Vigo +100000
Union Adarve +100000
Eibar +200000
Espanyol +200000
Getafe +250000
Girona +250000
Alaves +250000
Leganes +250000
Levante +500000
Rayo Vallecano +500000
SD Huesca +500000
Real Valladolid +500000
Barcelona are looking to repeat
Last campaign, Real Madrid’s early season struggles opened the door for Barcelona to cruise to their 25th La Liga title. Barcelona flirted with immortality and posted a record of 28-9-1 on the year, only losing in the final part of the season. They won the league by 14 points and are the favorites to do so again.
Any time you have the best player in the world, it’s hard not to be considered the favorite. Lionel Messi continues to dazzle at the age of 31, and the superstar led La Liga in scoring for the fifth time last year. He tallied 34 goals and set up dozens more last year, helping Barca notch a league-high 99 goals.
In the offseason, the Catalan giants lost a pair of midfielders in Andres Iniesta and Paulinho, but spent over 30 million Euros each on 21-year-old Arthur from Brazil and 23-year-old Clement Lenglet from Sevilla. Arthur will provide some much needed youth to a veteran squad, while Lenglet will help the center of the defense.
Real Madrid are ready to pounce if Barcelona stumble
The big news at Real this offseason was Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Serie A side Juventus. Ronaldo is seen as the best forward in the world by most people, and he had helped lead the club to three straight Champions League titles. No one has quite the same goal scoring touch as No. 7, and it might take some time for the club to find a player that can replace him.
A player the caliber of Ronaldo requires a hefty sum, and Juventus doled out 117 million Euros to land him this offseason. That money will soon be re-invested into the club, and Real seems to have their sights set on two players. Reports have linked Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard to the club over the last few days, and it looks like both players are about to make the move to Spain. Courtois’ move seems certain, while Hazard’s is probable at this point.
Still, there is the question of who will be scoring the goals for Real now. Gareth Bale and Isco are the most likely options, but neither is the proven commodity that Ronaldo was. That will be the big question heading into this year.
Does Atletico have a chance to topple the Spanish giants?
Atletico has been largely overlooked as Real and Barca have dominated both Spanish and European football, but the club has looked strong over the last five years. They were able to win La Liga five years ago, and they have finished as the runners-up in the Champions League twice during that span as well.
Last season, Atletico was able to finish ahead of Real Madrid in the table, and the club got some great news this offseason when Antoine Griezmann announced that he would be staying instead of moving to Barca. Pairing him with Diego Costa up top has the potential to make for a deadly 1-2 combo, while the defense is rock solid at the back with Diego Godin, Sime Vrsaljko and others leading the charge. Atletico allowed just 22 goals in La Liga play last year, one of the lowest marks we have ever seen.
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