Upcoming Match-ups

La Liga Matchday 19 Odds & Picks: Barça Seek Big Derby Win

Carlos Verde

by Carlos Verde in Soccer News

Updated Mar 24, 2021 · 9:51 AM PDT

Lionel Messi celebrating after scoring a goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Alaves at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
  • At the halfway mark of the 2019-20 campaign, Barcelona (-240 to win the title) holds a two-point lead over Real Madrid (+200) with both sides headed on the road in Matchday 19
  • Last-place Espanyol, currently heavy -500 favorites to be relegated, are massive +567 underdogs despite being the hosts in Saturday’s Barcelona derby against the league leaders (-217)
  • Real Sociedad (-110) entertain Villareal (+260) on Sunday in a match which should hit the “Over” comfortably given both teams’ scoring records

It’s Matchday 19 in Spain’s La Liga, and here are three matchups to consider for your betting slips this weekend.

Espanyol vs Barcelona Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Espanyol +1, +1.5 (-118) +560 O 3, 3.5 (+126)
Barcelona -1, -1.5 (-102) -217 U 3, 3.5 (-146)
Draw N/A +330 N/A

All odds taken Jan. 2

We could give you a shtick about the importance of rivalry games, and the pomp and circumstance that comes with a politically-charged Barcelona derby.

But we won’t, because Espanyol (2-4-12) hasn’t won a league game since October and Barcelona (12-3-3) has netted 13 times in its last four games.

The books are all tipping Espanyol as the favorite to drop at the end of the season, and with good reason: The squad has scored the fewest (12) and conceded the most (34) goals in the league. Help has arrived in the form of new manager Abelardo — who gets thrown to the wolves with a derby match in his first game — but it’ll be tough for him to turn things around with the club five points from safety and 10 from 16th-place Eibar.

YouTube video

This is a Barcelona team in good form, fresh off a 4-1 thrashing of Alaves and at a rare moment of freshness in its packed 2019-20 schedule.

Pick: Barcelona -1, -1.5 (-102)

Granada vs Mallorca Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Granada -0.5 (-109) -109 O 2, 2.5 (+100)
Mallorca +0.5 (-111) +310 U 2, 2.5 (-120)
Draw N/A +210 N/A

Towards the bottom half of the table, Sunday’s clash between Granada (7-3-8) and Mallorca (4-3-11) could present some value on the goals total.

Granada overachieved out of the gate in 2019-20, but have crashed back down to earth — and slipped into the bottom half in the process — over the last two months.

Mallorca, on the flip side, have soldiered on gamely into battle with the likes of Barcelona (2-5) and Sevilla (0-2). Vicente Moreno’s team has remained true to itself, playing for goals and conceding as almost a natural byproduct of the game.

Sunday’s hosts also looked semi-capable in front of goal in December, bagging seven goals during a three-game stretch from December 7-17 — albeit three against third-division side L’Hospitalet — and will be eyeing three points with Barça and Sevilla looming on their horizon in January.

It could get goals-y at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.

Pick: O 2, 2.5 (+100)

Real Sociedad vs Villareal Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Real Sociedad -0.5 (-110) -110 O 2.5, 3 (-126)
Villareal +0.5 (-110) +260 U 2.5, 3 (+106)
Draw N/A +260 N/A

Two teams with plenty of momentum square off on Sunday in San Sebastian, as Real Sociedad (9-4-5) host Villareal (7-4-7).

We’ll keep this short and sweet: Sociedad score a lot of goals (32, third in La Liga), as do Villareal (31, fourth in La Liga). Both teams are middle-of-the-road defensively.

YouTube video

The Txuri-urdinak have gone “Over” in four of their last five games, while their visitors have hit the “Over” in four of their six outings entering Matchday 19.

It has all the fixings to be an offensive shootout at the Anoeta Stadium.

Pick: O 2.5, 3 (-126)

Author Image