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Horse Racing Early, Early Bird La Liga Best Bets: A Premature Step Into Spain’s Top Flight
Early, Early Bird La Liga Best Bets: Sunday, August, 13th
As I write, we are two weeks and an hour away from receiving team news for the opening round of La Liga fixtures for the 2023/24 season. So, naturally, I am scouring what markets are available for some very early value.
This isn’t the first Early, Early Bird on bettingexpert, but it is in terms of Spanish football.
The outright markets peg Real Madrid as the favourites to win the division, Barcelona a close second and Atletico Madrid a not-so-close third, so there are no surprises there really. The curtain-raiser is a little harder to decipher with moves yet to be made in the transfer market.
In this article:
- Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Preview & Best Bet
- Cadiz vs Alaves Preview & Best Bet
- Real Sociedad vs Girona Preview & Best Bet
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Preview
Spain, La Liga, Sunday, August 12th, 21:30 (UK)
Barcelona ended a brief spell of Madrid dominance by winning the division, finishing a period of three seasons in which Real or Atleti had won the title.
Real lifted the trophy in 19/20 and 21/22 but fell short last campaign, finishing 10 points off the pace Xavi set in Catalonia.
Los Blancos have reacted drastically in the transfer market. Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio are all gone and in comes Jude Bellingham.
For large parts of the summer, it looked as though there would be a change in the dugout at the Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti looked primed to take the reins of the Brazil national team but has recently confirmed he will be going nowhere. Rumour has it Don Carlo has been experimenting with Bellingham as a number nine in training, but I guess you cannot believe everything you read on the internet.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Best Bet
You would have to go back to 2008 to see the last time Real Madrid lost the opening league game of a campaign. Deportivo beat them 2-1, Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring Los Blancos’ goal.
Since then, Real have won 10 of their 14 curtain raisers, so at odds-against, it seems smart to side with the title favourites here.
- Selection: Real Madrid Win (TRACKED)
- Best Odds: 2.25 (Betfair)
- Stakes: 10/10
More Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Tips
Cadiz vs Alaves Preview
Spain, La Liga, Sunday, August 14th, 19:30 (UK)
Of the three promoted sides, Alaves do not have the easiest fixture on opening day, according to the odds anyway, but they will certainly be fancying their chances of a result.
It was tight in the Spanish second tier; only four points separated the top five sides, with the second automatic spot settled on goal difference. Alaves had to do it the hard way via the playoffs, piping Levante in the final in the most dramatic fashion. Asier Villalibre snatched promotion from the spot in the last few seconds of added time.
After just a year away, a trip to Cadiz is first on the roster for El Glorioso upon their La Liga return.
The hosts scrapped along with the doldrums of the division last campaign and did not confirm their status until the final weekend.
Cadiz vs Alaves Best Bet
Luis García got the Alaves job at the start of the last campaign and steered them back to the promised land at the first time of asking.
His humble side’s promotion campaign was built largely on their home form; away from home, they were subpar, averaging 1.19 points per game.
I do not think there is as much between these sides as the odds suggest, and, given the occasion, I think it is worth siding with the new boys to get a result at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.
- Selection: Alaves Double Chance
- Best Odds: 1.73 (Sky Bet)
- Stakes: 5/10
Real Sociedad vs Girona Preview
Spain, La Liga, Sunday, August 12th, 17:00 (UK)
If you like goals, Girona was the team to follow last season.
If this Girona side was a house, they would have a balcony with lovely views but a leaky, rotten basement. Michel Sanchez’s side were pretty scintillating offensively but rubbish defensively.
Despite finishing slap bang in the middle of the road, only four teams trumped Blanquivermell for goals scored (58), and each of those sides finished in the top five.
They conceded 55 times domestically, an average of 1.44 per game, the fifth most of any side in the top flight.
To be fair to the North Catelonians, they have tried to address this issue by acquiring Daley Blind and Paulo Gazzaniga. The former, ex-Manchester United man and Dutch international will provide some welcome experience in defence and bring some calm in possession. The latter, from Fulham, should deliver some stability in between the sticks.
Real Sociedad vs Girona Best Bet
Even with those signings, I still fancy goals as far as Girona are concerned, especially given the price of 1.91 for BTTS.
Last campaign, this bet clicked in 71% of their league games.
Real Sociedad are not the most obliging when it comes to goals, particularly at home, which is a concern. The hosts only conceded 35 times last season.
- Selection: Both Teams to Score
- Best Odds: 1.91 (bet365)
- Stakes: 6/10
Odds via bet365, Sky Bet & Betfair as at 15:00 July 21st 2023. Odds may now differ.
More Real Sociedad vs Girona Tips
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