La Liga Matchday 2 Odds & Picks: Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona, Granada vs Valencia & More

• Ten top-flight fixtures in Spain starting on Friday thru until Monday
• Braithwaite hunts goals for Barcelona while Sevilla looks to build on good start
• See the odds, best bets and predictions for Spain’s La Liga Matchday 2 below

Spain’s La Liga enters its second round of the new season with the giants of Real Madrid and Barcelona having made powerful starts.

Both teams hit four goals in their opening fixtures while Sevilla was an impressive 3-0 winner against Rayo Vallecano.

La Liga Matchday 2 Odds

Odds as of August 20 at DraftKings

Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Prediction

Striker Martin Braithwaite seems to have been energized by his run to the semifinals of Euro 2020 with the Danish national team.

He made an impactful start to the new season in Spain by scoring twice for Barcelona in the 4-2 opening defeat of Real Sociedad.

https://youtu.be/PM3h6x7LnfI

So, with Barcelona favored for an away win at Athletic Bilbao on La Liga Matchday 2, there is an attractive player prop on offer at DraftKings.

They rate Braithwaite at +400 to be the first or last goalscorer. But the price of +150 for the forward to get on the scoresheet at any time looks more promising.

It has been an emphatically turbulent summer at Barcelona with superstar Lionel Messi departing for Paris Saint-Germain.

Braithwaite seized the chance to fill the hole left by Messi.

Dutch forward Memphis Depay has, meanwhile, arrived from Lyon.

However, so far, it is Braithwaite who has seized the chance to fill the enormous hole left by the absence of Messi.

Somewhere over @Memphis's rainbow flick… 🌈⚽#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/9xbRW1a9o3

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) August 19, 2021

Furthermore, that suggests a marked improvement in his form already after a haul of just seven goals across all competitions for the team last season.

He certainly began well as he scored on the stroke of half-time against Sociedad after Gerard Pique had put Barcelona ahead.

Moreover, Braithwaite then hit the target again after 59 minutes – before providing the assists for Sergi Roberto’s late fourth goal.

https://youtu.be/WmP6PdKHM-Y

Denmark took an emotional ride to the last four at Euro 2020 after Christian Eriksen’s heart attack scare on the pitch in its opening match.

He scored in the 4-0 last 16 win against Wales before Denmark was knocked out by England.

Certainly, he seems to have gained from the experience and is likely to get on the scoresheet in San Sebastian.

Pick: Martin Braithwaite +150 (To Score Anytime)

Granada vs Valencia Prediction

Granada opened the campaign by taking a commendable point on the road against Europa League champions Villarreal in a 0-0 draw.

Valencia, meanwhile, began in encouraging fashion with a 1-0 win at Getafe.

This, certainly, was an early boost after a worrying 13th place finish last season – Valencia’s worst in more than 30 years.

There is a decent offer of +230 at DraftKings for a draw in what would be an evenly contested fixture.

Granada, meanwhile, is favored for a home win at +155 with Valencia at +190.

🎥Last training session at Mestalla ahead of #GranadaValencia 🦇🏟️

Complete intensity and raring for tomorrow's game at the Nuevo Los Cármenes ❗💪🏽💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/HVMU9aNzfb

— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) August 20, 2021

After a ninth-place finish last season, Granada will be hoping to push for European qualification this time around.

A new coach, Roberto Moreno, is in charge.

However, there have been no major new arrivals in the squad.

Granada required a strong defensive display to take a point at Villarreal

Conversely, striker Roberto Soldado departed for Levante.

It required a strong defensive display to take the opening day point at Villarreal. But it suggests the team is capable of holding Valencia, too.

Valencia, meanwhile, also has a new coach – Jose Bordalas.

Tottenham are pursuing Granada defender Domingos Duarte. The Portugal centre-back has a €30m release clause, but Spurs are set to make a bid worth around €10m. (Ideal)

The player is well known to Nuno, who would like the option to play three at the back this season. pic.twitter.com/721HZhwHYJ

— Hotspur Hacker (@HotspurHacker) August 20, 2021

Things began badly against Getafe when defender Hugo Guillamon was sent off after only three minutes.

However, Carlos Soler won the game in the 11th minute by converting a penalty.

To sum up, both these teams made solid, if unspectacular starts to the new season. So a draw looks most likely here.

Pick: Draw +230

Getafe vs Sevilla Prediction

Sevilla finished fourth last season. And it made a strong start with a 3-0 opening day defeat of Rayo Vallecano at home.

So the offer of +125 for Sevilla to win away at Getafe on Monday in La Liga Matchday 2 is a surprisingly generous one.

Getafe, meanwhile, lost its opening game 1-0 at Valencia.

https://youtu.be/zkj5jBuNya8

Madrid-based Getafe can be a tough nut to crack at its HQ.

It conceded just 13 goals at home last season. However, it scored only 15 times for a record of six wins, six draws and seven defeats at its own base.

Meanwhile, high-flying Sevilla had one of the best away records of 2021-22. It won 10 times on the road while drawing four times and losing on five occasions.

It was an impressive start for Sevilla’s new signing Erik Lamela.

Furthermore, it scored 26 times on the road while conceding only 22 goals.

Certainly, it was an impressive start for Sevilla’s new signing from Tottenham Hotspur, the Argentine Erik Lamela.

Jose Bordalas secured a winning La Liga start with Valencia https://t.co/l2CnZHSVbO

— Football España (@footballespana_) August 13, 2021

He scored twice against Vallecano with the other goal coming from a Youssef En Nesri penalty.

In conclusion, it’s wise to expect another dynamic performance from Sevilla which is one of La Liga’s strongest outfits – and is likely to win this time around.

Pick: Sevilla +125