2017-18 La Liga: Season Preview & Betting Tips

The 2016/17 La Liga winners Real Madrid will take some stopping as the new season gets underway this week. What more, the Los Blancos look favourites to win the European Champions League too.

To go with their upsurge, Real are witnessing a clinical decline in their eternal rivals Barcelona. The Catalans were shocked with a world record transfer of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and look to be in turmoil. We look ahead to the season and the favourites.

Real – stars aligning for another title?
Real Madrid have always been a galaxy of stars but this is their finest team in many years. Under club idol Zinedine Zidane, they became the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles. This year promises to be more of the same.

Pre-season didn’t go as per plan for them though as Real failed to win any pre-season matches on tour in the United States. But once the competitive action started, it was back to normal as they brushed Manchester United and Barcelona with ease in the UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup respectively.

The departure of Alvaro Morata weakens their back-up strikers but the depth in their squad is frightening and formidable. Odds of $1.91 (Ladbrokes) make them favourites.

Can Barcelona come out of the mess?
A change in coach, exit of a super star and inability to sign wanted players – it can’t get any worse for Barcelona. The highs of getting Lionel Messi sign an extension have evaporated quickly and the exit of Neymar is a hammer blow.

But more than that, their inability to sign players of their choice – Marco Verratti, Philippe Coutinho and even Dani Ceballos who joined Real – will hit them hard. Odds of $2 (bet365) make them second favourites but it is tough to see them winning the title.

Can Atletico make it a three-horse race?
Many neutrals would prefer Atletico Madrid to go all the way – thanks to their cavalier attitude and the presence of Diego Simeone. Having finished 15 points adrift last season, it is near-impossible to see them bridging that this year. Odds of $34 (William Hill) make them third favourite but practically it is a pick that wouldn’t happen.

Who will be the top goal scorer?
Coming to the individuals, the plethora of stars on offer make it very interesting race for the Pichichi Trophy. It was shared by Ronaldo and Messi since the 2009/10 season barring one year in 2015/16 when it was won by Luis Suarez.

TIP: Real to win the title – $1.91 at Ladbrokes

Messi is the top pick at odds of $2 (William Hill) while Suarez comes at odds of
$3 (Ladbrokes). Ronaldo at odds of $4 (bet365) follows while Antoine Griezmann is the outside pick at odds of 34.0 (bet365).

TIP: Ronaldo to be the top goal scorer – $4 at bet365

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TIPS ARE SIMPLY THE AUTHOR’s OPINION. ALWAYS GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY