La Liga December 15/16 Odds & Picks: Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao & Barcelona vs Real Sociedad

• La Liga’s two mid-week matches offer plenty of implications in the standings and betting intrigue, as Real Madrid hosts Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday (4:00 pm ET) and Barcelona entertains Real Sociedad on Wednesday (3:00 pm)
• A strong 2-0 derby win over Atleti on Saturday has brought Real Madrid right back into the mix for pole position in Spain’s top division — currently held by Real Sociedad — while Barcelona sit a distant eighth place
• Get all the odds and best bets for these two rescheduled Matchday 19 mid-week contests below

As has so often been the case during Zinedine Zidane’s time at the helm of Real Madrid, Los Blancos found a way to stem the bleeding and earn a statement win on the weekend; turning the tide and roaring back into the title conversation in the process.

While Real has won three straight in all competitions — conceding zero goals in the process against Sevilla (1-0), Monchengladbach (2-0) and Atletico (2-0) — Athletic Bilbao will hardly be a walk in the park for Zidane’s men. Tuesday’s visitors have earned a draw in four of their last six La Liga meetings with Real, leaving the door open to a potential upset result.

In hot-and-cold league form, Barcelona will be in for a stern test in the form of current league leader Real Sociedad this week; though the latter has cooled off considerably and drawn six straight matches entering Wednesday, Barça has lost two of three and is all but finished in the domestic title race.

La Liga Rescheduled Matchday 19 Odds

All odds taken Dec 14 at DraftKings

Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Under in Play?

Back-to-back wins in league play and a late-stage escape from its Champions League group have Real Madrid (7-2-3) feeling better about things; consistent defensive play has been a large key to Los Blancos‘ success.

Athletic Bilbao (4-2-6) are on a straight path to nowhere mid-table status; one win in its last five has Gaizka Garitano’s group closer to the relegation zone than any thought of European qualification — which it has not achieved since rounding out a four-year run in 2017-18.

The ‘under’ has hit in Madrid’s last four outings and five of the last six head-to-head meetings between the two, however, Bilbao’s recent defensive form — conceding two goals to both Celta (9th place) and Valencia (12th place) — casts doubt on the ‘under’ play.

Pick: Over 2.5 (-127)

Karim Benzema: Veteran Frontman

At +105, veteran Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has the shortest odds to find the mark on Tuesday — with good reason.

The Frenchman’s four goals in ten La Liga matches won’t raise eyebrows, but his important brace against Monchengladbach last week saved Real’s Champions League campaign. Facing an Athletic backline on unstable ground, it’s likely Benzema will get at least one or two good looks in front of the visitors’ net on Tuesday.

Pick: Benzema to Score (+105)

Barcelona: Messi Leads, but Barça on Shaky Ground

They left it late, but Barcelona (5-2-4) as per usual took all three points off Levante via a 78th-minute Lionel Messi strike on Sunday.

15 – Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 was directly involved in 15 shots against Levante (12 shots and 3 key passes), the most by a player in a @LaLigaEN game this season. Rescuer. pic.twitter.com/peSz52XV15

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 13, 2020

Ronald Koeman’s side is far from perfect — nine points back in the league, and with a tricky test in PSG come February’s Champions League knockout stage — but will always be favored at home against any non-big three side, regardless of the early-season standings or recent form.

It also appears that Real Sociedad will likely be without leading scorer Mikel Oyarzabal for the trip to the Camp Nou — another reason for manager Imanol to trot his side out defensively. Additionally, the Under 2.5 has hit in each of La Real‘s last five league matches.

The value at +150 is simply too good to resist.

Pick: Under 2.5 (+150)