La Liga has always been considered one of the best soccer tournaments in the world. However, it’s no secret that Barcelona and Real Madrid have endless advantages, both at a sporting and economic level. Therefore, the title race is usually a matter of two, and we don’t expect anything different for 2023. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be an exciting second half of the season, especially with all our sportsbook offers and bonuses.
Let’s check the latest Soccer picks, stats, injury reports, and Soccer predictions. We’ve plenty of Soccer expert picks for you to consider.
Back in Action
First things first: La Liga returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 29, with three matches. The most interesting being Real Betis vs. Athletic Club because the winner could climb up to third place.
Regarding the two juggernauts, Real Madrid will visit Valladolid on Dec. 30, while Barcelona will play host to Espanyol on Dec. 31. Los Azulgranas are atop the standings with 37 points, two more than Los Blancos. Neither should have trouble winning, but keep in mind that Real Madrid’s only loss was on the road, while Barcelona remains undefeated when playing at home.
Now, it’s time to talk about the top matches in 2023, which could define which team gets the title. The year will begin with a bang when Real Madrid visits Villarreal on Jan. 7, while Barcelona will visit Atletico Madrid one day later.
On Feb. 2, Los Azulgranas will visit Real Betis, while Los Blancos will play host to Valencia the next day. Last season, Betis defeated Barcelona 1-0 at Camp Nou. Two seasons ago, Valencia crushed Real Madrid 4-1 at home. In other words, they aren’t afraid.
Real Madrid will have another tough matchup at the end of February when Atletico Madrid visits Santiago Bernabeu. Los Colchoneros aren’t having a great season, but they’re fighting to finish in the top four in order to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Last but not least, we’ve El Clásico, which will be held at Camp Nou on Mar. 19. Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-1 in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu with Karim Benzema, Federico Valverde, and Rodrygo as the scorers. Los Blancos also won (2-1) the last time they met at Camp Nou.
Barcelona is currently dominating the soccer lines to win the title at -200, while Real Madrid is offering a +150 price.
He’s Back!
Karim Benzema missed a lot of games in 2022 due to injuries. In fact, he also missed the 2022 World Cup. Nevertheless, the Frenchman is ready to go. He has already been training with Los Blancos for two weeks. Plus, he announced his retirement from the national squad, meaning he’ll be completely focused on guiding Real Madrid to as many titles as possible.
Barcelona will face Espanyol without Robert Lewandowski due to suspension. Lewandowski is the league’s top scorer with 13 goals. Even so, Los Azulgranas come in as the betting online favorites at -400. Who won’t be back at all is Gerard Pique, who suddenly decided to retire.
Beyond Real Madrid and Barcelona, I expect Antoine Griezmann to have a great second half of the season with Atletico Madrid. El Principito had a great World Cup in Qatar, finishing with 15 chances created. Only Lionel Messi (Argentina) had more, with 17.
Lewandowski is the clear favorite to win the Golden Boot at -1600, but if you were looking for an underdog to include in your ticket, Benzema at +1000 is a great option. Unlike Benzema, Lewandowski will keep playing internationally with Poland’s national team.
Title Prediction
It will be a close race, but I think Barcelona will end up winning the title. Los Azulgranas depth is uncanny. No Lewandowski? No problem; there are also Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, Pedri, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, and Gavi.
There’s also the fact that Los Azulgranas didn’t qualify for the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, while Real Madrid did. We all know Real Madrid’s relationship with the UCL is something special, meaning they always prioritize winning the continental tournament. Barcelona will play in the UEFA Europa League, but let’s be honest, it’s not as demanding as the UCL.
If you want to mix things up a little, including Cadiz to be relegated at +160 in your soccer picks seems like a great deal. The team currently sits in fifteenth place with 14 points, three more than Sevilla, the team sitting in eighteenth place, but Los Rojiblancos are way better.
