Two eye-catching games took place on Friday 30th August as early table-toppers Seville host Celta Vigo whilst Athletic Bilbao with their own designs on top spot hosted perennial mid-table outfit Real Sociedad. Here’s what happened… Sevilla 1 Celta Vigo 1 Sevilla head coach Julen Lopetegui will view this as a missed opportunity as a former Barcelona man came back to haunt the former Real Madrid manager with a late equalizer to see his side knocked off top spot after three games. The first half gave little to write home about with the home side as expected edging the contest. … [Read more...]
The 3 Games to Watch This Weekend
Now La Liga is back, the games come thick and fast and after a thrilling two games each so far, the table had an odd look to it after surprises galore. So, as game week three prepares to get underway, we have picked three matches you will not want to miss. Getafe v Alaves Perhaps not quite the show stopper tie you would have expected, but Getafe were last season’s surprise package ending the campaign in fifth. So far, the relatively young club (founded in 1983) have struggled in their two games registering a draw and a defeat and all eyes will be on whether José Bordalás side can … [Read more...]
Who do you think you are? SD Eibar
SD Eibar may have the smallest ground in La Liga (just over 7000 capacity), but that has done little to hold the club back. After earning promotion to Spain’s top flight at the end of the 2013/14 season, many predicted (us included) that Eibar’s stint in La Liga would be a brief one. However, five years later, and the minnows from the Basque country are preparing for yet another top-flight campaign and a firm member of the La Liga establishment. History The club was founded in November 1940 from a merger of Deportivo Gallo and Unión Deportiva Eibarresa but it took until the … [Read more...]
Bale holds the Key to Transfer Merry-go-round
La Liga clubs have been splashing the cash in the summer transfer window, but the rumour is despite having already bought in Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo (to name but a few) it seems Real Madrid are not done yet. However, only if they can get rid of a couple of thorns in their side one of them being the world’s best-paid golfer: Gareth Bale. It has been clear for quite some time now the Welsh wizard has fallen out of favour with both the fans and manager at the Bernabeu but with whopping wages, it seems everything is at a stalemate. If Real are to … [Read more...]
Promoted Team Profile: Osasuna
Although the Segunda division still rumbles on for another two matchdays, as Osasuna boast a six-point lead at the top of the able and a ten-point advantage over third-place Albacete, it is safe to say the minnows from Pamplona will be contesting La Liga next season. But are they? And what will they bring to the division? History The club with the nickname Gorritxoak are no strangers to Spain’s top-flight. In fact, from 2000 to 2014 the side contested every La Liga season and even finished fourth at the end of the 2005/06 campaign. However, relegation followed at the end of the … [Read more...]
Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla: Crunch time for the visitors
With three games to go in La Liga this season (just two by the time this contest rolls around), one may be forgiven for thinking it is possible Atletico Madrid may take their foot off the gas as they prepare for their summer holidays. Many punters may fancy looking at Sevilla in their football betting because Atletico sit nine-points in front of their great rivals Real Madrid in the table and have secured Champions League football assured for next season. All of this begs the question of what is there left to play for? Err, actually, quite a lot. Atletico may not have a huge … [Read more...]
Who will be La Liga’s surprise package next season?
Whatever happens from now, Getafe will have had a season to celebrate and are all but assured of contesting some form of European football in 2019/20. When they confirm it, it will be only the third European campaign the club have embarked on and the first since the 2010/11 season. The deep blues have been on an upward curve since promotion from the Segunda division in 2017 and finished eighth last year in their first season back in the top flight. That makes José Bordalás’ side well worth a close look at in the betting markets for next season and making sure you get the … [Read more...]
Messi Secures Title for Barca
It had to be him didn’t it! Lionel Messi struck the only goal of the game at the Camp Nou against Levante to secure his tenth La Liga title and twenty-sixth in the club’s history. The title success will arguably go down as one of Barcelona’s easiest seasons especially in recent memory with three games still to go and little to no threat coming from Real Madrid all campaign. And so, it was left to the club’s talisman on Sunday night to strike the killer blow against a Levante side who showed plenty of spirit as they tried to get away from the city with a point in the bag which would … [Read more...]
La Liga set for a record-breaking transfer window
Who doesn’t love a transfer rumour? Come on admit, we all do however, this summer looks set to be a window of epic proportions with a host of names being banded around. Some rumours are just that, but a number have been gathering some pace for awhile now and have quickly gone from being an opinion piece in the newspaper, to a genuine target for the clubs in question. With Barcelona running away with the league but boasting an aging squad and Real Madrid with Zinedine Zidane back at the helm and in need of a refresh, there is opportunity galore across Spain’s top flight (as Getafe are … [Read more...]
Huesca Dealt Cruel Real Blow
It is safe to say it has been a tough debut season in La Liga for minnows Huesca. However, the club that four years ago was plying its trade in Spain’s third tier has proven a welcome and solid edition to the league this season even if relegation is looking an almost certainty. With nine games to go, Francisco Javier Rodríguez Vílchez’s men find themselves seven-points adrift of safety. By no means down and out, but clearly with much to do and their fate out of their hands. Five wins this season has highlighted the progression a club can make despite boasting a stadium that only … [Read more...]