La Liga 2021/22 Odds & Season Prediction: Real Madrid +110 Title Favorites
- Lionel Messi has officially said goodbye to Barcelona, making Real Madrid the favorites to win La Liga in 2021/22 with odds of +110
- Barcelona have the second-best odds to win the Spanish top flight, while current champions Atletico Madrid somehow only have the third-best chances
- Get the odds, our analysis and betting prediction below
On Friday, the 2021/22 La Liga season kicks off with their opening match featuring Valencia and Getafe. While the first weekend of matches has not quite gotten underway, this week the league and its clubs faced some news which truly has changed the landscape of La Liga. Usually transfers only make an impact at the club level. However, when a player like Lionel Messi leaves a club with the size and stature of Barcelona, it can send shockwaves through all of Europe.
Messi’s goodbye to the Blaugrana is unequivocally the end of an era in Barcelona and La Liga alike. His departure to PSG means that he is no longer a threat to La Liga clubs, and surely makes for a wide open Spanish top flight season. Champions League and La Liga odds have shifted massively since his arrival in Paris and rightly so.
La Liga 2021/22 Winner Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Real Madrid | +110 |
| Barcelona | +200 |
| Atletico Madrid | +275 |
| Sevilla | +1600 |
| Real Sociedad | +5000 |
| Villarreal | +6500 |
| Real Betis | +10000 |
| Athletic Bilbao | +15000 |
| Celta Vigo | +25000 |
| Getafe | +40000 |
| Valencia | +50000 |
| Granada | +50000 |
| Espanyol | +50000 |
| Osasuna | +50000 |
| Levante | +50000 |
| Alaves | +80000 |
| Mallorca | +80000 |
| Cadiz | +100000 |
| Elche | +100000 |
| Vallecano | +100000 |
Odds as of August 10 at Draft Kings
Currently, Real Madrid are the new favorites to win the 2021/22 La Liga season with odds of +110. Despite winning in 2019/20, Real Madrid faced a setback last year, losing out on the title by just two points to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side.
Luis Suarez proved to be quite the addition for Real Madrid’s crosstown rivals. With his presence along with the fact, Atletico have been frugal in selling players, there is no doubt Atletico will challenge again this season.
How Competitive Will Barcelona be Without Messi
Ultimately, the question Messi’s departure leaves most La Liga fans with is, where do Barcelona go from here? They just lost their most important player over the past two decades and have to somehow replicate his production.
In fact, in La Liga alone, Messi has led Barcelona in goals and assists in every single one of the last four seasons. The signings of Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay will help. Regardless, to say they might be able to carry this team like Messi has done over the years is a bit too naive.
🔵🔴 End of an era. 120 goals in 149 games 🤯
🇦🇷 Share your favourite Lionel Messi Barcelona moments 👇 @FCBarcelona | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Y04TOFZlXw
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 10, 2021
Additionally, Aguero has already picked up an injury that looks like will keep him on the sidelines for the better part of two months. Depay has played well in the preseason, and Messi’s absence does also give Antoine Griezmann a bit more of an opportunity to make his mark at the club. Nonetheless, Barcelona are still a mix of too young, too old, or overrated talent, which is why they simply will not challenge for this year’s La Liga title.
The Galacticos or the Colchoneros?
Now, let us be completely honest for just one moment. In the past 17 years of La Liga, the winner has been either Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona. With Messi gone, Sevilla has a little bit more value just due to the nature of how open the league should be. However, I do not favor them to have a legitimate shot at silverware.
With that being said, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are the two most suitable choices to win La Liga. Real Madrid did pass Sergio Ramos onto PSG and Raphael Varane onto Manchester United. However, they also gained the likes of David Alaba in defense and multiple players who finished their loan spells. It looks like they still also plan on offloading some players which could generate enough revenue to make a marquee signing.
🎙 @David_Alaba: ''It felt great to play my first game for @realmadrid.'' pic.twitter.com/rh6yyDOJW7
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 8, 2021
With Messi arriving at PSG, there are real reports of Kylian Mbappe possibly moving onto Real Madrid. If this somehow did happen, Real Madrid would be my clear favorites to win La Liga. However, in my opinion, Atletico Madrid will be a tough side to topple this season.
Toni Kroos admits he "would not be surprised' if Real Madrid signed Kylian Mbappe https://t.co/11HersPi6Q pic.twitter.com/gjhRUPug6x
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) August 8, 2021
They added Rodrigo de Paul from Udinese and frankly did not lose too much value in their squad. Kieran Trippier looks like he is staying in Madrid, and Atletico might still be after Manchester City attacker, Bernardo Silva.
La Liga 2021/22 Winner Best Bet
Overall, the best bet to win La Liga in 2021/22 is Atletico Madrid with odds of +275. This pick has the best value and let us remember, they are still the defending champions. Simeone had the best defense last season and I honestly do not expect much to change.
Pick: Atletico Madrid (+275)
Josh Ricker is a freelance sports journalist, currently attending the University of Southern Maine (Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Marketing). He has recently interned with the AA Portland Sea Dogs, and his work has been featured on Fansided, as well as now here on SBD.
