The new La Liga season is up and running. It has been a lot of fun, delivering the finest goals week in, week out. To be fair, even before a ball was kicked, the signs were there for everyone to see, as soon as the clubs had begun to plunge into their accounts during the transfer window.
The 20 clubs spent a combined €506.6m this summer, €205m more than the previous summer. Of course, the increase is mostly due to Barcelona’s spending spree. The Catalonian side spent at least 30% of the entire La Liga outlays.
Yet, you ask: where is the money coming from? Barcelona is supposed to be broke. Only a year ago, club president, Joan Laporta admitted to the world that they could not afford to keep Lionel Messi, the player eventually forced to move. At the end of last season, their debts had risen to €1bn.
Now, they have splashed €152m on seven players, including Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich. Even more, they have been able to beat the strict regulations regarding player registration. How? The hierarchy has had to pull four levers, not least the partial sale of their broadcast rights for the next 25 years.
The defending champions, Real Madrid, have remained sensible, changing only a few things. Carlo Ancelotti will continue, alongside Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema for at least one more season.
Diego Simeone is under pressure to perform after a largely disappointing last season. They, like Madrid, have been frugal too.
Four Matchdays have happened this season. It is almost certain that Madrid and Barcelona will fight for the title all the way to the final day. Still, some clear patterns are emerging that could help punters reap bountiful rewards from their stakes.
Here are four of them:
Real Madrid To Win At Home
Real Madrid is simply relying on stability and cohesion to succeed this season. After winning the double last term, they have added two major signings: Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger.
So far, it has proven to be a masterstroke. Ancelotti’s men are yet to drop points in all competitions. They have breezed through their four matches in La Liga, won a European Super Cup and their opening Champions League game.
Benzema and Vinicius have continued from where they left off last season. The partnership has only become stronger. The UEFA player has scored three goals in the division so far.
Modric is still pulling the strings in midfield, unbalancing teams and scoring outrageous goals whenever he feels like it.
Real Madrid under the Italian manager has shown they can do everything pretty well; dominate the game or just concede possession but attempt to score every chance. They can win matches without feeling like they deserved to.
Last season, they lost just once at the Santiago Bernabeu. They have won their only home match this term. It is very logical to back Real Madrid to win every home match in La Liga.
Over 2.5 Goals In Matches Involving Barcelona
In terms of squad depth, no team can compete with Barcelona in La Liga. Xavi has at least two top players jostling for a starting berth in each department every matchday.
In truth, too, almost every player has improved since the former midfielder took over last November. Yet, Lewandowski who scored 50 goals last season, and has averaged 30 goals in six of the last eight seasons is now an employee.
The Polish forward has continued to smell blood, scoring eight goals already in five matches. After the opening La Liga match, the 34-year-old is averaging two goals per match.
The club has tied down Ousmane Dembele to a new contract. The French forward looks reborn this season, assisting goals like it is out of fashion plus an excellent attitude.
Xavi’s men have recorded over 2.5 goals in three of the four matches played in the League this season. This trend will expectedly continue, as they look to unseat Real Madrid for the title.
Surely, this is a must-have option for every punter interested in the La Liga market this season.
Over 1.5 Goals In Matches Real Betis
Over the past few seasons, Real Betis have looked to assert themselves as the best of the rest. Indeed, they have made marked improvements each season.
The appointment of Manuel Pellegrini has also been a huge aspect of their success story, helping them win their third-ever Copa del Rey title.
They have remained one of the most entertaining sides this season, playing with rehearsed patterns and seizing spaces to hurt the opponent.
Nabil Fekir, Sergio Canales and Borja Iglesias have been three of the best players in Spain. They have played with cohesion and fluidity.
This season, they have scored over 1.5 goals in three of their last four matches in La Liga. This statistic looks sure to extend for the foreseeable future.
This is a brilliant option for every smart punter.
Villarreal To Keep A Clean Sheet At Home
For all of the excellent things that Villarreal did in the Champions League last season, they failed to pull their weight in La Liga.
Unai Emery’s men finished in seventh place, only managing a Europa Conference League spot.
However, the Yellow Submarines have been a different side this season without marquee signings. They have managed 10 points from their opening four matches, including a brilliant win against Atletico Madrid.
They are yet to concede a goal this season while averaging more than two goals per match. The combination of Pau Torres and Raul Albiol in central defence has withstood every attacking pressure until now.
This option is high-risk, yet with very huge rewards for the brave punters.
