Barcelona’s Odds Shorten to -170, While Real Madrid’s Drift to +180 Ahead of Start of 2019-20 La Liga Season
- Griezmann and de Jong signings boost Messi at Camp Nou
- Zidane hit by pre-season problems despite Hazard’s arrival
- Atletico forced into major re-building program
Barcelona are setting their sights on a third straight La Liga title win in Spain lifted by their impressive summer transfer drive and the problems engulfing their biggest rivals Real Madrid.
It may indeed be that Atletico Madrid mounts the strongest challenge to the domination of Lionel Messi’s team, whose odds of lifting the prize have improved during pre-season.
La Liga 2019-20 Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Barcelona | -175 |
| Real Madrid | +200 |
| Atletico Madrid | +1000 |
| Valencia | +8000 |
| Sevilla | +15,000 |
| Getafe | +25,000 |
| Athletic Bilbao | +35,000 |
| Espanyol | +50,000 |
| Real Betis | +50,000 |
| Real Sociedad | +50,000 |
Odds taken at 2019/08/13.
Barca’s average 2020 La Liga odds for winning the championship are now -170 after moving from -160 in early July.
They are -175 while Real are the second-favorites at +200 and the re-built Atletico side at +1000.
Atletico finished second behind Barcelona last season with Real third in one of their worst seasons for many years.
The reigning champions have made significant moves to strengthen this summer with French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann, the impressive young Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong and goalkeeper Neto the major Barca signings. Neymar could also return from Paris Saint-Germain.
Impressive Pre-Season Work
Although last season finished with disappointment in the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey final, their progressive and tranquil close season justifies their status as favorites to lead the way again.
The new season opens with Barcelona’s visit to Athletic Bilbao on Friday, August 16, at 3:00 pm EST.
Pre-season form no concern for Zidane https://t.co/3MNLbMO0cK pic.twitter.com/yjoXEzK7y9
— SportsGridUK (@Sportsgriduk) August 13, 2019
Real, too, have made huge summer acquisitions – including the capture of playmaker Eden Hazard from Chelsea. But their preparations for the campaign have been turbulent.
They won just twice in seven friendlies and suffered a 7-3 defeat by Atletico in the USA. They were also beaten by Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur.
Atletico have embarked upon a massive team re-building program and this may be a season in which the new line-up requires time to gel and unify.
There has also been disruption surrounding the failed attempts to offload star forward Gareth Bale.
They visit Celta Vigo for their opening fixture on Saturday, August 17 at 10:00 am EST.
Atletico has embarked upon a massive team re-building program and this may be a season in which the new line-up requires time to gel and unify.
They have also lost Griezmann to Barcelona after a long courtship.
Four Wins in Five Seasons
Barca has won the title in four of the past five seasons. Real’s last win was in 2016-17.
It is highly likely that the priority at Camp Nou will be to win the Champions League for the first time since 2014-15.
? Messi has called Neymar to try to persuade him to join @FCBarcelona.
Could this be his best 'assist' of the year?
DETAILS: https://t.co/aoebOyG309 pic.twitter.com/BcIoVBYEA0
— MARCA in English (@MARCAinENGLISH) August 12, 2019
There will be a requirement to ease the trauma of last season’s semifinal defeat by eventual winners Liverpool.
The Spanish club won the first leg at home 3-0 but then suffered an extra-ordinary 4-0 defeat at Anfield which inflicted major psychological damage upon the squad.
Barcelona finished 11 points clear of Atletico last season and a huge 21 points ahead of Real.
They were then subsequently beaten by Valencia in the final of the Copa Del Rey which meant the season finished on a frustrating note despite the comfortable title win.
Barcelona finished 11 points clear of Atletico last season and a huge 21 points ahead of Real.
After the signings of Griezmann and de Jong, the minimum expectation will be that they retain the title.
"João Félix's a great talent and he's come to the right place – he'll learn a lot under Simeone" ? https://t.co/RQQeRw2rsB #Atleti pic.twitter.com/vKSPOcLVtU
— AS English (@English_AS) August 12, 2019
Clearly, with a squad which also includes superstar Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Ousmane Dembele, they should be more than capable of mounting powerful challenges domestically and in Europe.
Barca’s most recent pre-season result was a 4-0 defeat of Napoli last Saturday.
Hazard Galactico Hopes
Real’s summer spending spree following the return of coach Zinedine Zidane last March has included the signing of long-term target Hazard, who it is hoped will be the next “Galactico” superstar.
They have also landed striker Luka Jovic, defenders Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy and winger Rodrigo.
Eden Hazard is Real Madrid’s new number 7 ? pic.twitter.com/BkL5Ryc0MJ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 9, 2019
Atletico coach Diego Simeone has been forced into a major structuring job to compensate for the departure of Griezmann. Key defenders Lucas Hernandez and Diego Godin also left along with influential defensive midfielder Rodri.
Among the key arrivals are Portuguese attacking starlet Joao Felix, midfielder Marcos Llorente and defenders Kieran Trippier and Mario Hermoso.
They begin away against Getafe on Sunday.
Pick: Barcelona (-175)
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
