La Liga Matchday 38 Odds & Picks: Europa League & Relegation Spots on the Line
By Carlos Verde in Soccer News
Updated: March 10, 2021 at 12:29 pm ESTPublished:
- A 2-1 win over Villarreal combined with Barcelona’s shock 1-2 home defeat against Osasuna confirmed Real Madrid’s 34th domestic league title on Thursday
- Remarkably, Leganes remain alive in the relegation race; the Madrid-based club have beaten the odds and lack of an outright strike threat to claw back within one point of Celta Vigo and safety with a single matchday left
- Get all the odds and best matchups for Matchday 38 in Spain below
With the title decided, attention turns further down the table in Spain for La Liga’s final matchday: Leganes host the already-crowned champions Real Madrid with their league fate in the balance, while seven teams jockey for European place positioning from third through ninth place.
After three earlier matches in the day, the final seven will all kick off simultaneously at 3:00 pm EST on Sunday.
La Liga Matchday 38 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaves | +1 (-120) | +360 | O 2.5, 3 (-110) |
| Barcelona | -1 (+100) | -169 | U 2.5, 3 (-110) |
| Draw | N/A | +290 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Valladolid | pk (-112) | +153 | O 2.5, 3 (-122) |
| Betis | pk (-108) | +160 | U 2.5, 3 (+102) |
| Draw | N/A | +210 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Villareal | -1 (-114) | -189 | O 2,5, 3 (-122) |
| Eibar | +1 (-106) | +380 | U 2.5, 3 (+102) |
| Draw | N/A | +310 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Espanyol | +0.5, 1 (+100) | +340 | O 2, 2.5 (-115) |
| Celta Vigo | -0.5, 1 (-120) | -154 | U 2, 2.5 (-105) |
| Draw | N/A | +270 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Granada | pk, -0.5 (-126) | +108 | O 2, 2.5 (-111) |
| Ath. Bilbao | pk, +0.5 (+106) | +220 | U 2, 2.5 (-109) |
| Draw | N/A | +230 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Atletico Madrid | -0.5 (-101) | -101 | O 2, 2.5 (+108) |
| Real Sociedad | +0.5 (-119) | +230 | U 2, 2.5 (-128) |
| Draw | N/A | +230 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Leganes | pk, +0.5 (-135) | +164 | O 2.5, 3 (+112) |
| Real Madrid | pk, -0.5 (+115) | +142 | U 2.5, 3 (-132) |
| Draw | N/A | +225 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Osasuna | -0.5, 1 (+109) | -118 | O 2.5 (-120) |
| Mallorca | +0.5, 1 (-129) | +250 | U 2.5 (+100) |
| Draw | N/A | +265 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Levante | +0.5, 1 (-119) | +300 | O 2, 2.5 (-120) |
| Getafe | -0.5, 1 (-101) | -130 | U 2, 2.5 (+100) |
| Draw | N/A | +250 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
| Sevilla | -0.5 (-109) | -109 | O 2.5 (-106) |
| Valencia | +0.5 (-111) | +235 | U 2.5 (-114) |
| Draw | N/A | +245 | N/A |
All odds taken July 17
Pick 1: Espanyol vs. Celta Vigo
With Espanyol (5-9-23) already destined for Segunda Division next season, Celta Vigo (7-15-15) are firm favorites for their clash Sunday as they aim for survival.
It’s incredible to think a club with the likes of Iago Aspas, Santi Mina and Rafinha in its ranks is in the relegation mix, yet here we are: Celta are winless in six (0-3-3) and lead 18th-place Leganes by just a single point entering Matchday 38.
It’s truly a battle of relative minnows: Espanyol are the league’s worst home team (2-5-11), while Vigo have an unsurprising two wins from 18 away matches this season.
With that said, Espanyol have lost eight-straight games and failed to find the net in their last four; take the team with something to play for.
PICK: Celta -154
Pick 2: Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad
Elsewhere in the table, Atletico Madrid (18-15-4) are two points clear of Sevilla in the race for third entering their final match at home against Real Sociedad (16-7-14) on Sunday.
The visitors have done the bare minimum in recent weeks to remain relevant in the European race and could finish as high as fifth or as low as ninth depending on their result in the capital and those of competitors elsewhere.
Atleti are an elite team at home, having lost just once (12-5-1) this season; Sociedad have lost three of four matches against top-half clubs since the COVID restart.
PICK: Atletico Madrid -101
Pick 3: Sevilla vs. Valencia
Sevilla (18-13-6) are still circling for third place and have locked up Champions League soccer next season ahead of Sunday’s league closer against struggling Valencia (14-11-12).
The former are unbeaten in ten (5-5-0) since the restart, and have claimed 10 of a possible 12 points in their last four matches; Valencia, meanwhile, have won just twice in their last seven — against 16th-place Valladolid and last-place Espanyol — and are on the outside looking in on European qualification.
Both have something to play for, but Valencia’s woeful away record (3-4-11) instills no confidence.
PICK: Sevilla -109
Sports Writer
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.
