La Liga Matchday 24 Odds & Picks: Atletico Madrid vs Levante, Valencia vs Celta Vigo & More

• League leader Atletico Madrid has seen its lead over Real Madrid narrow to six points in recent weeks and will expect nothing less than three points against Levante at home on Saturday (10:15 am ET)
• Valencia entertains Celta Vigo in a key mid-table showdown on Saturday (12:30 pm), with the former dangerously close to the relegation places
• Get all the odds and best bets for La Liga Matchday 24 in Spain’s La Liga below

While Atletico remains firmly atop the La Liga table ahead of La Liga Matchday 24, two draws from three matches for Diego Simeone’s team has rekindled the title race somewhat.

With a visit from Chelsea in Champions League play looming next Tuesday, the Colchoneros will have to be mindful not to look past Saturday’s contest with Levante — lest Real Madrid, a strong -205 favorite at Valladolid this week, gain more ground.

Elsewhere, Valencia will hope to halt its slide towards the relegation zone against a hot-and-cold Celta Vigo, while Real Sociedad — finally back to winning ways after a months-long slump — hosts Alaves in a northern showdown on Sunday (10:15 am).

La Liga Matchday 24 Odds

All odds taken Feb 18 at DraftKings

Atletico Madrid vs Levante Prediction

As automatic a play as Atletico Madrid (17-4-1) was — especially at home — early in the season, times have apparently changed: Simeone’s side has drawn against both Celta Vigo (2-2) and Levante (1-1) in recent weeks.

That same Levante (6-10-7) squad will roll into the Wanda Metropolitano this weekend on La Liga Matchday 24 looking to create an upset: Paco Lopez’s team actually took an early lead on Wednesday against Atleti at home, only for a Marcos Llorente goal to equalize and snag a point for the team from the capital.

History is not on the visitors’ side, as Atleti has won 10-straight league matches against the Granotas at home dating back to 2007; three of the last four wins have also come via clean sheet.

We are going back to the ‘Win to Nil’ well this week, banking on Atleti’s home defensive form returning to the mean (elite) and Levante’s road scoring record (1.67/game in its last three) also regressing to a more standard form.

Pick: Atletico Madrid to Win to Nil (+140)

Valencia vs Celta Vigo Prediction

Two of La Liga’s most unpredictable sides meet at La Mestalla this week in La Liga Matchday 24, as Valencia (5-9-9) entertains Celta Vigo (7-8-8) in a clash with plenty on the line.

Valencia sits just three points north of the relegation zone, and is navigating a very difficult run of top-half opponents that includes Real Madrid (0-2, February 14) and Villarreal (March 5) — with a local rivalry against Levante thrown in for good measure on March 12.

Vigo snapped a six-game winless skid in La Liga play with a key 3-1 win over Elche last Friday, and Eduardo Coudet will hope it’s a sign of a comfortable mid-table finish to come.

There’s plenty to like about a ‘Both Teams to Score’ play here; seven of the last nine meetings between the two have seen it hit, and both Celta (4/5) and Valencia (3/5) have been cashing the play in recent league matches.

Pick: Both Teams to Score (-112)

Real Sociedad vs Alaves Prediction

It’s been a season of streaks for Real Sociedad (10-8-5), which rattled off six consecutive wins early in the season and more recently suffered a 1-1-4 run which saw it tumble out of the Champions League places.

Alaves (5-7-11) appears dialed-in for another relegation dogfight, with an inability to defend against big clubs (1-4 vs Real Madrid, 1-5 at Barça) and a toothless offense against bottom-half competitors.

The Babazorros are one of La Liga’s worst outfits away from home, with a 2-3-6 record — though Sociedad’s inability to close teams out at home (4-5-2) has also been a point of consternation this season.

Host goalscorer plays like leading marksman Mikel Oyarzabal (+155) and veteran Christian Portu (+265) could be the move for this La Liga Matchday 24 match, as Sociedad look to bounce back from an embarrassing defeat to Manchester United on Thursday in Europa League play.

Pick: Mikel Oyarzabal to Score (+155)