La Liga Predictions For Matchday 38

Atletico Madrid (18-15-4, 3rd) vs Real Sociedad (16-7-14, 6th)

Sunday July 19, 2020

Atletico Madrid were a disappointing team through much of the 2019-20 Liga season, but they managed to turn things around when they needed it the most and finished in third place of the standings. They don’t have anything to play for in this matchup, however, so their motivation might be lacking. The same can’t be said about Real Sociedad, as Los Donostiarras need a win at all costs to book their place in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

By all accounts, this is Real Sociedad’s biggest game in the last few years. With Getafe, Valencia and Granada all chasing them, Los Blanquiazules have their backs against the wall. They arrive this matchup in decent form, however, having lost once in their last five matches and riding a two-game undefeated streak (W1, D1). That form and the motivation should be enough to escape with the win here at the Wanda Metropolitano. They will take advantage of the fact Atletico have absolutely nothing at stake.

Sevilla (18-14-6, 4th) vs Valencia (14-11-12, 8th)

Sunday July 19, 2020

Sevilla are in a similar position to Atletico Madrid, as they clinched the fourth place in the standings already and have booked a ticket in next year’s UEFA Champions League. They are, however, within shot of a third-place finish -- something they might accomplish with a win and an Atletico Madrid loss. Valencia also have a lot at stake here -- they need to win and wait for a few results to go their way if they want to play in next year’s UEFA Europa League.

That won’t be the case, though. Valencia have underachieved all year long and it’s highly unlikely they will gear it up in the final game of the season when they need it the most. Both Sevilla and Valencia have also seen under 50 percent of their league matches to finish with more 2.5 goals, so it wouldn’t be safe to expect a goalfest here, either. Sevilla should secure the win while keeping the match as a low-score contest.

Espanyol (5-9-23, 20th) vs Celta de Vigo (7-15-15, 17th)

Sunday July 19, 2020

Espanyol have nothing to play for but their pride -- which could be really important in a team that last got relegated nearly 30 years ago. They have been condemned to play in the Liga SmartBank ahead of the 2020-21 season, but Los Pericos will attempt to end the season in a strong note despite missing key names such as Bernardo Espinosa and Raul de Tomas ahead of the season finale. Celta de Vigo, on the other hand, sit one point above the red zone and things are simple for them -- a win will keep them in the top flight for, at least, one more year.

Both Espanyol and Celta have each seen 15 or fewer of their matches to go over the 2.5-goal threshold. However, that’s likely to change here. Espanyol won’t sit back in the final game of the season, while Celta have enough potential to break opposing defenses if needed, like they showed in their 3-3 draw against FC Barcelona. Despite what the numbers seem to indicate, this is a game that looks bound to finish with three or more total goals.

Real Madrid (25-8-3, 1st) vs Villarreal (17-6-13, 5th)

Thursday July 16th, 3:00pm ET

Real Madrid are one win away from lifting their 34th league title -- and first since the 2016-17 campaign. All they need to do is defeat Villarreal, but that might be easier said than done. El Submarino Amarillo have been one of the best teams in the league over the past few weeks and own a W6, D1, L3 mark over their last 10 games. Real Madrid, however, have a stronger W9, D0, L1 record during that same stretch.

Los Merengues should be treated as favorites to secure the three points and, in the end, lift the Liga title once it’s all said and done. Villarreal deserve praise for what they’ve done this season and for keeping themselves alive in the race for a 2020-21 UEFA Europa League berth, but Real Madrid are unstoppable at the moment and have conceded just three goals during their ongoing nine-game winning run. Los Merengues should secure the win, albeit by a small margin in what’s likely to be a low-scoring affair. Five of Madrid’s last six games have produced under 2.5 goals.

Real Sociedad (16-6-14, 7th) vs Sevilla (18-12-6, 4th)

Thursday July 16th, 3:00pm ET

Real Sociedad are coming off a huge 2-1 away win over Villarreal the last time out and are seventh in the standings with 54 points, just three points behind the fifth spot that earns a berth in the UEFA Europa League group stage. They won’t have an easy matchup Thursday, though, as they will take on a Sevilla side that remains in contention for third place in the standings and that’s coming off four straight wins.

Four of Real Sociedad’s last five games have ended with over 2.5 goals, and the same thing has happened in two of Sevilla’s last five. The hosts have a bigger tendency at getting involved in high-scoring contests -- two-thirds of their 36 matches this season have featured three or more total goals. That’s not expected to change in this one, especially considering both sides have a lot at stake in the final two weeks of the season.

Barcelona (24-7-4, 2nd) vs Osasuna (12-12-12, 11th)

Thursday July 16th, 3:00pm ET

Barcelona have their backs against the wall -- they need to defeat Osasuna and wait for a Real Madrid loss against Villarreal to keep their title chances alive heading into the final week of the 2019-20 campaign. Los Blaugranas should be massive favorites ahead of this contest, but their fate will be solved in both the Camp Nou and the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Considering their superiority, Osasuna’s tendency to get involved in high-scoring games -- three of their last five matches have ended with more than 2.5 total goals -- and what Barcelona have at stake, it’s easy to think Los Blaugranas should win this contest rather comfortably. They shouldn’t have problems to surpass the three-goal threshold on their own, as all signs point towards a comfortable, high-scoring win in their home finale.

Atletico Madrid (16-15-4, 3rd) vs Real Betis (10-11-14, 13th)

Saturday July 11, 2020, 4:00pm ET

Atletico Madrid are in third place of the standings and arrive into this contest in a good position to clinch a 2020-21 UEFA Champions League berth. Diego Simeone’s men are coming off a 1-1 draw against Celta de Vigo, but they’re undefeated in their last 13 league games (W7, D6). Betis, on the other hand, are winless in their last 10 away games this season (D5, L5) and have won just once in their last four contests (W1, D1, L2). Atletico are favorites, but the value in this matchup lies beyond the final outcome of which team gets the three points.

Eight of the last 10 league matches between these two sides have ended with under 2.5 goals in total, although one of the exceptions came in this season’s previous meeting where Atletico Madrid edged Los Beticos by a 2-1 score. Still, Atletico’s game have shown a tendency to not feature many goals -- 24 of 35 matches have registered two or fewer goals. Plus, Betis have scored under 1.5 goals in eight of his last nine away fixtures. If we mix those two stats with the fact Atletico average just 0.58 goals conceded per home tilt, then we could be in line for a low-scoring affair.

Villarreal (17-6-12, 5th) vs Real Sociedad (15-6-14, 7th)

Monday July 13, 2020, 1:30pm ET

Villarreal and Real Sociedad are among the teams that are vying for a 2020-21 UEFA Europa League berth. Sitting in fifth and seventh place respectively, both clubs are bound to play in Europe next season but this fixture is key to take another step in the right direction. While Villarreal are 3-1 win at Getafe, Real Sociedad continue to trend in the opposite way and have now lost three of their last five contests following their recent defeat against Granada at home.

However, if there is one thing where both Villarreal and Real Sociedad stand out, is the fact their matches tend to be filled with goals. Both sides rank in the Top 3 when it comes to contests with over 2.5 goals -- El Submarino Amarillo pace the entire league after seeing that outcome in 23 of their 35 games, while Los Donostiarras are second in the league in that department -- along with FC Barcelona -- with 22 matches ending in such way, including three of the last four. If that holds true, and looking at both teams’ needs, then this duel could go down the same route.

Granada (14-8-13, 9th) vs Real Madrid (24-8-3, 1st)

Monday July 13, 2020, 4:00pm ET

Real Madrid took another step towards winning the Liga title with a big 2-0 win over Alaves at home. Los Merengues have a four-point lead over FC Barcelona in the standings with three matches left to play, and a win here against Granada -- plus a loss to Barcelona -- could allow Los Merengues to lift the trophy. Granada are just one point away from the Top 7, however, so they’re not going to be an easy opponent. They’re coming off a 3-2 win over Real Sociedad and have gone three straight matches without defeat (W2, D1).

Real Madrid should be considered as massive favorites ahead of this matchup despite playing on the road, and they should be extra motivated for this contest since a win could put them quite close to win the Liga title. As such, it’s safe to believe Los Merengues are likely to grab an early lead and hold things down until the final whistle. Real Madrid have won the 13 matches where they’ve taken the lead before the halftime break. Meanwhile, Granada have taken points in just two of the 10 games where they’ve been down after the first 45 minutes. All signs point towards Madrid winning here after grabbing the lead, as they’ve gone five straight matches without conceding.

Celta Vigo (7-14-13, 16th) vs Atletico Madrid (16-14-4, 3rd)

Tuesday July 7, 4:00pm ET, VIEW GAME DETAILS

Celta Vigo are coming off a 1-1 draw against Real Betis and have gone undefeated in five of their last six matches since the Liga restarted last month. The same can be said about Atletico Madrid, as Los Colchoneros defeated Mallorca 3-0 the last time out and are on a run of five wins across their last six Liga matches. Their lone exception was a thrilling 2-2 draw at Barcelona in Round 33. However, each side’s recent form might not matter much ahead of this contest given what might happen.

Celta Vigo have seen 22 of their games produce under 2.5 goals and only three teams in the league have seen that outcome more times -- one of those, however, it’s Atletico Madrid, as 23 of their games have not reached the three-goal plateau. Plus, a staggering 76.5% of their away fixtures have also produced under 2.5 total goals. If we also include the fact that four of the last five H2H matches have ended with three or fewer goals, then all signs point towards another low-scoring affair.

Barcelona (22-7-5, 2nd) vs Espanyol (5-9-20, 20th)

Wednesday July 8, 4:00pm ET, VIEW GAME DETAILS

Barcelona were under massive pressure last week following recent results but washed those concerns away with a 4-1 win at Villarreal that kept them alive in the title race, although it might be just for a few days. They enter as massive favorites ahead of this contest in the Derby of Catalunya against Espanyol, which also happens to be our “Game of the Week”. Los Pericos are in relegation danger and enter this matchup winless in their last six games (D1, L5) and sit dead last by four points in the standings. A loss here could be the nail in the coffin for them.

Barcelona are massive favorites but, aside from seeing them getting the three points, this could be a goal-filled contest. Barca’s last three matches have produced over 3.5 total goals and they have also found the back of the net at least twice in their last three H2H contests against Espanyol. If we also add the fact Los Blaugranas average 2.94 goals scored at home in 2019-20, then all signs suggest they could win here by a sizable margin.

Athletic Bilbao (12-12-10, 8th) vs Sevilla (16-12-6, 4th)

Thursday July 9, 4:00pm ET

Athletic Bilbao have been playing well of late despite their 1-0 loss to Real Madrid last week and remain alive in the race for a 2020-21 UEFA Europa League berth. The same can be said about Sevilla, as they have not lost a game in quite a while and remain a strong candidate to play in the UEFA Champions League next season. If we look at the recent games from both clubs, we can see both clubs are coming off strong performances in recent days as well.

Athletic Bilbao have only lost to Barcelona and Real Madrid since the league restarted last month, going W3, D2, L2 in that stretch while remaining strong defensively as they were earlier in the 2019-20 season. Sevilla have done quite well, too, going undefeated in their last seven matches since the restart (W3, D4) and 13 overall in all competitions (W5, D8) -- they haven’t lost since Feb. 9 when they dropped an away fixture at Celta Vigo. Both sides are going through decent runs of form and, with that in mind, a draw seems quite likely. Neither side has a big edge over the other and that’s also noticeable in their recent H2H record (two wins and one draw for each side in their last five).

Atletico Madrid (15-14-4, 3rd) vs Mallorca (8-5-20, 18th)

Friday July 3rd, 4:00pm ET, VIEW GAME PAGE

Atletico Madrid are massive favorites ahead of this contest, something that shouldn’t be surprising if we consider they are at home -- Diego Simeone’s men own a W10, D5, L1 record in 2019-20. For what is worth, Mallorca have gone W1, D2, L13 away from home and have been struggling badly this season on the road, where they have been the league’s weakest side by a wide margin. Recent results also back up Atletico’s chances of winning here, as they have gone W4, D1 in their last five league matches. Mallorca have posted a W1, D1, L3 mark during that same stretch.

Atletico have scored two or more goals in three of their last five league matches, while Mallorca have conceded two or more times in each of their last three Liga contests. Plus, Los Bermellones also own the league’s worst defence with 56 goals conceded. Atletico, a team that scored twice against Barcelona earlier this week, should exploit that and could win this game by a sizable scoring margin. To further illustrate that point, Mallorca have lost all eight league matches they have played against top-half teams on the road, losing by two or more goals in all but two of those contests.

Espanyol (5-9-19, 20th) vs Leganes (5-10-18, 19th)

Sunday July 5th, 11:00 AM, VIEW GAME PAGE

This game between Espanyol and Leganes is an authentic six-point matchup in the race to avoid relegation, with the hosts sitting in last place with 24 points and the visitors just one spot above them with one more point. Both sides have a lot to win, and a lot to lose in this contest. The recent form does not favor either team, as both have gone winless in their last five Liga matches. Espanyol are riding a four-game losing streak, while Leganes have dropped their past two.

One could imagine an open considering both teams have to take risks and the defensive records from both clubs -- Espanyol have conceded 53 goals and Leganes, 49. However, both teams also feature the league’s two least prolific attacking lines. Los Pericos average 0.82 goals scored per league fixture, while Los Pepineros rank as the league’s worst scoring unit with only 24 goals scored (0.72 per contest). With that in mind, this contest could end up seeing under 2.5 total goals. Whoever scores first might be fortunate enough to get the three points.

Villarreal (16-6-11, 5th) vs Barcelona (21-7-5, 2nd)

Sunday July 5th, 4:00 PM, VIEW GAME PAGE

Villarreal have been one of the hottest teams in La Liga since the competitions restarted last month, as they have posted four wins in their last five matches -- only Real Madrid (W5) have a stronger five-game form than El Submarino Amarillo. They will be tested this weekend, however, as they will face FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica. The hosts need to win if they want to fight for a 2020-21 UEFA Champions League berth, while Barca must take home the three points to keep their title chances alive.

Barcelona are the better side on paper, but Villarreal are more than capable of pulling the upset here. They will be at home, where they have dropped three games all season long, and they have also scored at least twice in each of their last three matches. Barcelona are in the midst of a crisis and have drawn three of their last four league contests. In what’s likely to be a back-and-forth matchup, we could easily witness over 2.5 goals. And a win for Villarreal shouldn’t be completely ruled out.

Barcelona (21-6-5, 2nd) vs. Atletico Madrid (15-14-4, 3rd)

Tuesday June 30th, 4:00pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Barcelona are coming off four straight home wins without conceding and one might think they enter this matchup with a lot of confidence. However, they are coming off a 2-2 draw at Celta de Vigo and now do not depend on themselves to win the Liga title. Los Blaugranas currently sit in second place of the standings with 69 points. Atletico are in third place with 58 points and have won four of their last four league matches.

The head-to-head record between these two sides clearly favors Barcelona, as they are in the midst of a 19-game undefeated streak against Los Colchoneros (W14, D5). However, this game might not feature many goals if we look at the recent stats. Each of the last five league matches between both clubs, and seven of their last 10 in all competitions, have ended with under 2.5 goals. That seems like a possible outcome once again considering the defensive strength from both sides.

Betis (9-10-13, 13th) vs. Villarreal (15-6-11, 6th)

Wednesday July 1st, 4:00pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Real Betis remain one of the most inconsistent teams in LaLiga ahead of Round 33 since they have not been able to register the same result on a back-to-back basis in each of their last eight Liga matches, going W2, D2, L4 during that stretch. Both teams have scored in five of those contests. Meanwhile, Villarreal are riding a five-game undefeated streak in league play (W4, D1) and have kept a clean sheet in all four of those wins.

Betis might have the home-field advantage in this behind-closed-doors fixture, but that’s probably the only edge they have here. Villarreal are in better form, have performed better defensively and are doing a good job to take advantage of their chances, particularly on the road where they have won their last two. They should extend that streak with another win here.

Real Madrid (21-8-3, 1st) vs. Getafe (14-10-8, 5th)

Thursday July 2nd, 4:00pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Real Madrid depend on themselves to win the 2019-20 Liga title, as they enter this matchup holding a two-point edge over FC Barcelona. Los Merengues have won their five league games they’ve played since the restart of the competition and look unstoppable at the moment. Getafe, on the other hand, have faded away after a strong start to the campaign and have gone winless in their last five league matches (D4, L1).

Four of Getafe’s last five games have ended with under 2.5 goals, but that streak might end here. Real Madrid have scored multiple goals in each of their last 11 wins over Los Azulones, averaging 3.63 team goals during that stretch. They will also be playing at home in this one, and that’s enough reason to believe Madrid will hit the over here. They are just too strong and too talented to be kept away from goal, especially when playing at home.

Celta de Vigo (7-12-12, 16th) vs Barcelona (21-5-5, 2nd)

VIEW GAME PAGE

Celta de Vigo were complicated with a potential relegation threat earlier this season, but those thoughts can be put to rest after two straight wins and just one defeat in their last five contests (W2, D2, L1) -- they currently sit seven points above the red zone and are breathing with a lot more room now. Barcelona, on the other hand, currently sit in second place with 68 points, as they trail Real Madrid due to their worst record in H2H matches against Los Blancos.

Celta de Vigo have scored nine of their 16 goals at home during their last four matches and seem to be on the rise, registering three wins and going undefeated in their last five contests at Balaidos (W3, D1, L1). At the very least, they might have enough in them to make things close against a Barca side that average almost 1.5 goals per game on the road. Los Blaugranas might get the win, but this contest could end up hitting the over if Celta continue their strong scoring run at home.

Atletico Madrid (14-13-4, 3rd) vs Alaves (9-8-14, 14th)

VIEW GAME PAGE

Atletico Madrid have won each of their last three matches without conceding, and their last two wins have come by tight 1-0 margins against lowly opponents such as Valladolid and Levante. Meanwhile, Alaves enter this game on a two-game losing streak after getting defeated by both Celta de Vigo (6-0) and Osasuna (1-0). Atletico Madrid are comfortable in third place with 55 points, while Alaves are in 14th place and -- as of now -- do not face much of a relegation threat.

If there’s one trait that highlights Diego Simeone’s team, is their tendency to get involved in low-scoring matches -- 23 of their 31 La Liga matches have featured under 2.5 goals and the same thing has happened in 12 of the last 14 meetings between both clubs. For what is worth, Atletico have won six of those games (W6, D4, L4). The historical records and Alaves’ poor scoring record -- just three goals scored in their last six contests -- suggest this match could finished hitting the under.

Villarreal (14-6,11, 6th) vs Valencia (12-10-9, 8th)

VIEW GAME PAGE

Villarreal are ended their streak of 1-0 victories on Monday, when they registered a 2-2 draw against Sevilla, but they have gone undefeated in their last four league matches and remain alive in the race for a 2020-21 UEFA Europa League berth. The same can be said about Valencia, although Los Che have won just once in their last four league contests (W1, D1, L2) and are coming off a 1-0 away defeat at Eibar.

If we look at the recent games from both sides, three of their last four contests have ended with under 2.5 goals. Three of their last five H2H meetings in league play have witnessed that outcome as well, meaning we could be in line for another low-scoring contest. But since Villarreal have shown their ability in those matches, and considering Valencia’s struggles, the hosts could come away with the win in a tight matchup.

Valladolid (7-2-11) vs Getafe (13-9-8)

Tuesday June 23rd, 1:30pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Real Valladolid are coming off a 1-0 loss against Atletico Madrid last weekend and that ended a two-game undefeated streak for them (1-1). Getafe, on the other hand, are coming off a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Eibar. It’s safe to say neither side has reached peak form following the league’s hiatus, as both teams have had major problems scoring goals or, at times, creating chances in the final third.

Their matches have not been highlighted by many goals. When it comes to Valladolid, two of their three contests following the restart of the campaign have registered under 1.5 total goals. Meanwhile, four of Getafe’s last five contests have produced under 2.5 total goals, including their past two draws. Given how offensively-challenged both clubs have looked, another game with under 2.5 goals certainly looks like a possibility here.

Barcelona (20-5-5) vs Athletic Bilbao (10-12-8)

Tuesday June 23rd, 4:00pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Barcelona are coming off a 0-0 draw against Sevilla, although that was probably one of their toughest games in the calendar. Los Blaugranas, however, have been nearly unstoppable at home where they own a 14-1-0 mark while averaging over 3.0 goals per match. Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, have gone 1-2-0 in their three games following the restart and have gone undefeated in their last five matches (3-2-0).

Only the Top 4 sides in the standings have lost fewer games than Athletic, so Los Leones are a tough team to beat -- in fact, they currently own the league’s third-best defensive record with only 26 goals scored. That said, Barcelona are known for getting best of their rivals at home and it remains to be seen whether Bilbao can hold on after three tightly contested matches. Los Blaugranas will work harder than expected, but they’re likely to get the win by a slim margin.

Real Madrid (19-8-3) vs Mallorca (7-5-18)

Wednesday June 24th, 4:00pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Los Merengues jumped to the top of the standings following Sunday’s 2-1 win at Real Sociedad and have the honor of featuring the best defensive record in the league, with only 21 goals conceded in 30 matches. Mallorca found themselves at the other end of the spectrum, since no team has conceded more goals than them (50). On paper, it seems like an excellent matchup for Los Blancos, who own the second-best attack in the league (57 goals scored).

If we consider Real Madrid average 2.2 goals per home match, while Mallorca rank as the league’s worst away side (just one win in 14 matches), then it shouldn’t be a secret to see Los Merengues as massive favorites. I would expect them to win comfortably, though. Los Blancos should win while scoring over 2.5 total goals in what’s likely to be a one-sided contest.

Sevilla (14-9-6) vs. Barcelona (20-4-5)

Friday June 19th, 4:00pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Both Sevilla and Barcelona are undefeated in their first two Liga matches following the restart -- Sevilla won against Betis and drew at Levante, while Barcelona kept back-to-back clean sheets in their wins at Mallorca and over Leganes, respectively. Los Nervionenses sit in third place of the standings with 51 points while Los Blaugranas command the standings with 64 points, making this the “Game of the Week” in La Liga.

There is a chance this matchup ends up being a high-scoring affair. Sevilla own the fifth-best attack in the league with 42 goals and Barcelona have the stingiest offense with 69 goals (2.37 per contest) so far, but that’s not all. Both clubs also average over 1.0 goals conceded per fixture (SEV: 1.03 -- BAR: 1.06) and, to make things even clearer, the last four Liga matches between these two sides have produced over 3.5 total goals (4.6 per match). As such, this game could easily feature at least four goals even when Barca are clear favorites to secure the three points.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals scored

Athletic Bilbao (9-12-8) vs. Real Betis (8-10-11)

Saturday June 20th, 11:00am EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Athletic Bilbao are coming off a 2-2 draw at Eibar earlier this week, and Los Leones have recorded stalemates in their first two matches following the restart after securing a 1-1 result against Atletico Madrid on MD28. Betis secured the exact same 2-2 result, but at home against Granada -- they have earned just one point from their first two games since resumption of play.

One strong play for this contest could be both teams scoring, as the trend is quite clear when we analyze the recent matches from each club. This outcome has happened in four of Athletic’s last five Liga matches, including each of the last three, and it has repeated itself in six of their past nine games in all competitions. As for Betis, both sides have found the back of the net in four of their last five leagues outings, and in seven of their past 10 across Liga and Copa del Rey fixtures. If we also add into the mix that both clubs have seen that result in two of their last three H2H meetings, then it’s safe to say this match could see goals at both ends.

Best Bet: Both teams to score

Real Sociedad (14-5-10) vs. Real Madrid (18-8-3)

Sunday June 21st, 4:00pm EST, VIEW GAME PAGE

Real Madrid have not looked rusty at all -- despite a three-month hiatus, Los Merengues have secured back-to-back wins to resume the Liga campaign and have scored thrice in both matches (3-1 against Eibar and 3-0 against Valencia). They remain in second place of the standings with 62 points but play on the road here, as they will visit Real Sociedad. Los Donostiarras have won just one of their last four leagues matches (1-1-2) and are coming off a disappointing 2-0 away loss at Alaves on Thursday.

Los Merengues have scored three goals in back-to-back matches and if there’s anything that has come easy for them this season, it has been their scoring -- Zinedine Zidane’s men average 1.89 goals per game in Liga play and rank as the second-best attack in the competition. Real Sociedad are trending downwards of late and have allowed 36 goals, the worst mark among current Top 6 sides in the division. Los Blancos are expected to take advantage of those struggles to score at least three goals for the third straight match. They have done that in their last two away wins, as well as in two of their previous three trips to the Reale Seguros Stadium in San Sebastian.

Best Bet: Real Madrid to score over 2.5 goals

La Liga Predictions for Matchday 29

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona sit at the top of the standings, while Sevilla earned three vital points in their quest to remain alive in the race for a Champions League berth. Matchday 28 in LaLiga has come and gone, but Matchday 29 will run from Monday to Thursday. And here at BetQL we have predictions for each of the most important contests. Our “Game of the Week” in MD29 is Real Madrid vs. Valencia.

Note: the odds presented below can be found on BetQL's La Liga Best Bets page and were updated as of Sunday June 14th.

Getafe (13-7-8) vs. Espanyol (5-8-15)

Getafe are going through a rough patch, as they have won just one of their last five league matches (1-1-3). They are 7-4-3 at home this season, notching a 50 percent win total on their own turf. Espanyol, however, can’t be trusted at all with a 3-3-8 mark on the road and the lowest point tally of the competition so far, at 23 points -- even though they won the last time out.

It’s not easy to back a struggling team, but the hosts have done enough this season to be a trusted team when playing at home. Heading into Monday, Getafe have odds of +101 to take home the three points in this one, and that’s exactly what might happen if we consider Espanyol’s massive struggles on the road -- they are riding a four-game winless streak away from home.

Barcelona (19-4-5) vs. Leganes (5-8-15)

Barcelona are clear favorites ahead of this matchup against Leganes, and that shouldn’t be surprising. Los Blaugranas sit at the top of the standings with 61 points and are coming off a huge 4-0 away win at Mallorca, while Leganes are in 19th and seem to be damned to play in the Liga123 next season. Barca are given odds of -622 for the win, so it doesn’t make sense to play the moneyline in this one.

A smart move here would be to go for over 3.0 total goals scored. Quique Setien’s men average 3.21 goals scored per home match this season and have gone 13-1-0 in 14 games at the Camp Nou. Even if Leganes find the back of the net in this one -- something seldom, as they have netted just eight times on the road this season -- this one looks penciled to be a blowout, one where we could easily witness more than three total goals.

Real Madrid (17-8-3) vs. Valencia (11-10-7)

Real Madrid secured a comfortable 3-1 win over Eibar on Sunday and sit second in the standings with 59 points despite a 2-1-2 mark in their past five contests. Valencia, on the other hand, are in seventh place with 43 points and are coming off two straight draws, but only one win in their previous five contests (1-3-1).

If there is one thing no one can criticize about Real Madrid, however, that’s their attacking power -- they own the league’s second-best offense with 52 goals and average over 2.0 goals per game at home. On the other hand, Valencia own the league’s worst defense when it comes to teams in the upper half of the standings, with 40 goals conceded, a ratio of 1.42 per game. Further, they have allowed over 2.0 goals per game when playing on the road. As such, this game could easily finish with over 3.0 goals scored.

La Liga Predictions for Matchday 28

The La Liga schedule is set to return Thursday with Match Day 28 and BetQL is here to guide you to a few winners. Here you will find all our La Liga predictions for the rest of the season. We will be updating this page every week with new La Liga predictions for the best games of the week. This week our BetQL "Game of the Week" is Sevilla vs. Betis. Keep reading below to see our prediction on that game, as well as the other top matches of the upcoming slate.

Note: the odds presented below can be found on BetQL's La Liga Best Bets page and were updated as of Sunday June 7th.

Sevilla (13-8-6) vs. Real Betis (8-9-10)

Thursday June 11th, 4:00pm EST

Sevilla enter this game in third place of the standings with 47 points and riding a four-game undefeated streak (2-2-0), while Real Betis occupy the 12th place with 33 points after winning just one of their last five contests (1-2-2). There is not a lot of value in the moneyline, with the hosts listed as massive favorites (-113). Betis are listed at +294 for an away win and the draw is listed at +281. Los Nervionenses shouldn’t have issues securing the three points.

The smart money, however, lies on the over/under at 2.5 goals. Each of Sevilla’s last four Liga matches have featured at least three goals, and three have posted at least four total goals. Meanwhile, four of Betis’ last five encounters have featured over 2.5 goals as well, including each of the last two. You can view all updated consensus over/under odds on BetQL's La Liga Totals Dashboard.

Mallorca (7-4-16) vs. Barcelona (18-4-5)

Saturday June 13th, 4:00pm EST

Barcelona (-310) are massive favorites ahead of this matchup against Real Mallorca (+804). A draw is listed at +309. The question lies on how many goals Barca will score.

Los Blaugranas currently own the league’s best attacking unit with 63 goals scored, good for an average of 2.33 per game. Mallorca, on the other hand, feature the second-worst defensive record with 44 goals conceded (1.62 per game) -- only Espanyol have conceded more goals this term. It is unclear how sharp Barca will be in this game, but it’s clear they are the better side by a wide margin.

On normal circumstances, Barca should secure a comfortable win despite playing on the road. However, they have not played a competitive match in almost three months and will also be away from home. A one-goal win would be a decent bet at +300 (bet365), especially since Barca have won by that specific margin in four of their last five league wins.

Athletic Bilbao (9-10-8) vs. Atletico Madrid (11-12-4)

Sunday June 14, 7:00am EST

Atletico Madrid (+137) have been the biggest disappointment of the league and currently sit in sixth place with 45 points, while Athletic Bilbao (+235) are in 10th place with 37 points. The hosts are coming off back-to-back wins, while Los Colchoneros are undefeated in their last five league outings (2-3-0).

It’s hard to trust Atletico Madrid given the fact they average just 0.84 goals scored per away match. However, they sit in sixth place of the away standings with only three defeats in 13 games (3-7-3). Athletic, on the other hand, are 7-3-3 at home while conceding just seven goals in home turf -- 0.53 per game. Given Athletic’s strength at home and Atletico’s scoring woes on the road, I wouldn’t rule out a draw at +204.

However, Atletico have won five of their last six matches against Athletic and have their backs against the wall in this match. If they don’t win, their chances of playing in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League would diminish considerably. As such, I believe Diego Simeone’s men will win.