La Liga Round 26 Preview: Real Madrid Host Barcelona In El Clasico

Meanwhile, high flying Getafe are at Real Betis, while Atletico Madrid travel to Real Sociedad

There are no prizes for guessing the biggest match in Spain’s La Liga over the weekend, with Real Madrid set to welcome bitter rivals Barcelona this coming Saturday evening (2 March). The following day, in form Getafe head to Real Betis, while title challengers Atletico Madrid must take all three points on the road when they travel to take on Real Sociedad in what should be a tough test.

First things first

Before you go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting site and get your own account up and running using your credit card. As a new customer and with the La Liga campaign well over halfway through, there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available to you.

Where should I be investing my money?

First up – el clasico. This is a huge game for Real Madrid, who were eliminated from the Copa del Rey last week by Barcelona, losing 3-0 on home soil to go out 4-1 on aggregate. Los Blancos currently sit in third place, nine points behind Barcelona, and are out at 15.00 to win the domestic crown this season.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have won their last two league matches in a row and sit seven points clear of Atletico Madrid in second place. Having won the title last year, the Catalan club are at just 1.050 to retain the crown this year as well.

And while the betting is close, it is Barcelona who come in as the favourites to take all three points in this one. You can more than double your money by backing the champions to claim bragging rights at 2.30 while Real Madrid, despite home advantage, are out at 2.80 to do the same – a draw would appear to be the least likely outcome and is priced accordingly at 3.75, according to Oddsshark.

But we are expecting Real Madrid to exact revenge for that cup defeat in midweek. A narrow, 2-1 win for Los Blancos is priced competitively at 10.00, thereby offering a ten-fold return on any investment, while you can more than quadruple your money by backing a combo bet of a Real Madrid win, coupled with both teams to score, at 4.33.

Getafe out for more points at Betis

The following day, Real Betis host Getafe with both clubs still in the hunt for a Champions League qualifying spot. Betis have taken four points from their last two league outings and sit seventh in the table, three points off fourth – they are out at 17.00 to secure a top four berth by the end of the season.

It is Getafe who in fact currently occupy that fourth place in the table, having gone four league matches unbeaten. They are at just 5.50 to be there come May.

Again, the betting is tight but it is Real Betis who come in as the favourites to take the points. You can more than double your money by backing the home side to win at 2.30, while Getafe are out at 3.40 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 3.00.

And we believe this could end up honours even between two evenly matched sides. A 1-1 draw is priced at 5.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$27.50 pay out, while you can more than quadruple your money by backing a scoring draw at 4.50.

Atletico must win on the road

And finally, Atletico Madrid head to Real Sociedad knowing that they must take all three points to stay in title contention. Real Sociedad however are unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions and are just four points off fourth – they are at 23.00 to secure a top four finish this term.

Atletico, meanwhile, have won their last three matches across all competitions and will be looking to keep that run going. Sitting second in the table, they are out at 17.00 to win their first league title in half a decade.

And it is the visitors who come in as the favourites to collect three valuable points. You can more than double your money by backing Atletico to win at 2.15 while Real Sociedad, despite home advantage, are out at 3.70 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 3.20.

And Atletico’s technical class should see them home and dry here. A comfortable, 2-0 win for the away side is priced at 9.00, while you can more than triple your money by backing a combo bet of an Atletico win, coupled with a “No” to both teams scoring, at 3.25.

La Liga round 26 fixtures:

Friday, 1 March

(2.20) Rayo Vallecano x Girona (3.30); draw (3.30)

Saturday, 2 March

(1.75) Espanyol x Valladolid (5.00); draw (3.60)

(1.66) Villarreal x Alaves (5.50); draw (3.75)

(3.80) Huesca x Sevilla (1.95); draw (3.60)

(2.80) Real Madrid x Barcelona (2.30); draw (3.75)

Sunday, 3 March

(1.72) Eibar x Celta Vigo (4.75); draw (3.80)

(2.30) Real Betis x Getafe (3.40); draw (3.00)

(3.70) Real Sociedad x Atletico Madrid (2.15); draw (3.20)