Predictions and Gambling Odds for La Liga's First Matchday: Mallorca vs Real Betis, Barcelona vs Real Sociedad, and More Matches
La Liga is set to kick off on Friday, August 13th, with Valencia and Getafe starting the season's journey. As the teams gear up for the first matchday, here's a look at some of the key points to watch out for in the upcoming games.
Granada, who secured a top-half finish last term, will be looking to build on their success. However, they face a challenging start, having conceded 65 times and scored 47 times in 38 games in the 2020/21 season. On the other hand, Granada's upcoming opponents, Villarreal, had a memorable season, beating Manchester United in the Europa final in May. However, Granada's recent history against Villarreal is less than favourable, with the Yellow Submarine winning in their last 10 clashes.
Another team to watch out for is Real Sociedad, who qualified for Europa and won the Copa del Rey in the 2020/21 season. Their strike duo, Alexander Isak and Mikel Oyarzabal, combined for 28 goals and 10 assists last season. Real Sociedad's first match of the season is against Barcelona, who have strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero from Manchester City, and Memphis Depay from Lyon. Barcelona is unbeaten in 19 matches against Basque-based clubs, winning 17 times and drawing twice.
Mallorca, who were promoted to La Liga after finishing as runners-up in the 2019/20 Segunda Division, will be eager to make their mark. Mallorca conceded just 28 goals in 42 appearances in the 2019/20 Segunda Division, with Abdon Prats being their leading goalscorer, netting 10 times.
Real Betis ended the 2020/21 season on an 11-match unbeaten run and secured 6th place, earning a spot in the Europa League. Despite losing to Derby County, Almeria, and Wolves in pre-season friendlies, Real Betis managed to defeat Jose Mourinho's Roma, 5-2, in their latest game.
The odds for all La Liga Matchday 1 games, including Barcelona vs Real Sociedad, are available at DraftKings. The rest of the games run from Saturday through Monday, with Barcelona's first match of the season against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
As the new season begins, fans are eagerly awaiting the action-packed matches that La Liga promises to deliver. With new signings, promotions, and a renewed sense of determination, the teams are ready to fight for their places in the league.
