La Liga Matchday 18 Odds & Picks: Real Madrid Undefeated in Eight vs Bilbao in 2019’s Final Match
- Both Sevilla (-137) and Getafe (+230) hit the road for Matchday 18, with the former visiting struggling Mallorca (+360) and the latter facing a tough trip to Villareal (+120)
- Barcelona (-667) and Real Madrid (-270) are both favored at home, though Zidane’s Madrid may have to get their hands dirty against a plucky Athletic Bilbao (+700) squad
- Relegation fodder Celta Vigo (+166) look to get back on track with a visit to steady Levante (+160)
It’s Matchday 18 in Spain’s La Liga, and we’re breaking down some best bets for some of the weekend’s most exciting matches.
Mallorca vs. Sevilla Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mallorca | +0.5, +1 (-109) | +360 | O 2.5 (-113) |
| Sevilla | -0.5, -1 (-111) | -137 | U 2.5 (-107) |
| Draw | N/A | +265 | N/A |
All odds taken Dec. 20
Two teams in search of a return to the win column for very different reasons collide in Saturday’s early game, as struggling Mallorca (4-3-10) hosts Sevilla (9-4-4) in a game that should feature some goals.
Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla are in an interesting spot, having lost or drawn their last three games — not including a Copa win over amateur side Bergantiños — and looking offensively challenged in the process; los nervionenses‘ 21 goals this season rank them firmly in the bottom half of La Liga, but a tidy defensive record (17 GA) has allowed them to earn points in 13 of 17 matchdays.
Maybe facing Mallorca, a team that lives and dies by the attacking sword — its last seven games hitting the “Over” — will be the cure for Sevilla’s trudging offense.
Pick: Over 2.5 (-113)
Levante vs. Celta Vigo Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levante | pk (-111) | +160 | O 2.5, 3 (-111) |
| Celta Vigo | pk (-109) | +166 | U 2.5, 3 (-109) |
| Draw | N/A | +220 | N/A |
Talking about even lines, they don’t come more finely poised than Sunday’s bottom-half battle between Levante (7-2-8) and Celta Vigo (3-5-9).
Levante have had a steady start to the campaign, though a bumpy last five (2-0-3) has seen Paco Lopez’s team spring some leaks defensively.
Celta Vigo, meanwhile, have finally sorted their scoring issues under new boss Oscar Garcia — but are still dropping points to fellow cellar-dwellars like Leganes (2-3) and Mallorca (2-2), which simply isn’t good enough.
The inconsistency of these two teams makes it hard to pick one straight up, given that Levante is a team capable of beating Barcelona at home but also capable of surrendering four goals on back-to-back weekends and Celta is, well, a relegation zone team.
Therefore, we’re suggesting the rare draw.
Pick: Draw (+220)
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | -1, -1.5 (-120) | -270 | O 3 (-102) |
| Ath. Bilbao | +1, +1.5 (+100) | +700 | U 3 (-118) |
| Draw | N/A | +360 | N/A |
Matchday 18 and 2019 action in La Liga wind down on Sunday with an intriguing matchup between co-leader Real Madrid (10-6-1) and Athletic Bilbao (7-6-4) at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Zidane’s Madrid cast off the troubles of last season with a roaring start to the season, but back-to-back draws against Valencia (1-1) and Barcelona (0-0) will have the group hungry to claim all three points in its return home this weekend.
Bilbao are also winless in their last two outings — a 0-0 draw vs. Eibar and 3-2 loss at Betis — and have consequently slid to seventh in the league table. In head-to-matches against Real, they are winless since 2015, a span of eight matches.
It will be a fascinating matchup, as Real’s talented attacking group tries to get back on track against an Athletic squad that has conceded the second-fewest goals (12) in La Liga this season.
Can the visitors from Basque Country keep it close? We think so.
Pick: Ath. Bilbao +1, +1.5 (+100)
Carlos Verde is a sports media professional, with writing featured in a number of outlets, including the Epoch Times, Ottawa Life Magazine and Where is Football. He also served as a broadcast commentator for the United Soccer League's Ottawa Fury FC.
