The Spanish La Liga kicks off this Friday night with a game between Alemria and Rayo Vallecano. Half an hour later, the battle between Sevilla and Valencia starts, and the fans around Europe can’t wait for this competition to begin.
We will present the few top games in the upcoming few lines, so stay tuned and see what we have to offer.
La Liga 2023/24 starts today! 🏆🔥 pic.twitter.com/8RTgCMUijb
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) August 11, 2023
Athletic Bilbao VS Real Madrid
The rivalry between these two teams is big because of the various factors. The most important ones are determined by the relationship between the Basques and the central authorities in Madrid. Each time Real visits Bilbao, tensions arise.
Athletic had a mediocre preseason, with them winning only one of their six tests, losing two, and posting three draws. They were in Mexico, playing against both the home teams and some other, and in general, we can say that Athletic showed plenty of potential, but also that the Basque team has many flaws. Only one of those six events had three or more goals, which was a defeat to Celtic, 3-2, meaning that in terms of efficiency, nothing changed compared to the previous season.
Real Madrid was in the United States, having big-time clashes and producing a satisfying impression. After beating Milan and United, they lost to Barcelona and Juventus, but in neither of these clashes have we seen them as inferior. The team has adapted to not having Karim Benzema, yet they need one typical striker upfront, just in case they simply have to break the rival’s defenses.
Real should win in Bilbao. The reason for that is their fantastic midfield, which is by far the best in the world. They work in both directions and are extremely dangerous in an attack. In most of the cases, the midfielders score, not the attacker.
Pick: Real Madrid wins 5/4 BetXchange
Getafe VS Barcelona
The champions start their title defense against Getafe. They are massive favorites, but the first rounds know to be tricky, and Xavi is aware of that as well. Blaugrana’s coach refused a proposal to get Neymar, who was willing to be back at Camp Nou, clearly suggesting that he has a system that already works fine.
Getafe had a quiet summer transfer window, with them losing and signing a few players. They don’t have many stars, but the team is decent enough to stay in the La Liga. In six preseason events, we’ve seen them winning four times with two losses.
Barca was in the United States. After losing to Arsenal, the La Liga champs won three in a row over Real, Milan, and Tottenham. Xavi’s approach didn’t change at all; he demanded possession of the ball, and a slow rhythm, especially when Barca had the lead.
The guests should win this event because of not only the championship stats but the recent performances against European powerhouses. The odds are excellent, and this pick certainly has value.
Pick: Barcelona wins 2/3 BetXchange
Atletico Madrid VS Granada
The closing game of the round is at the Wanda Metropolitan in Madrid, where Atletico hosts Granada. Mattress Makers are massive favorites here, as Diego Simeone wants to start the new campaign in the best possible way.
Atletico isn’t like the team from a few years ago, when they played ultra-defensive football, trying to kill the pace and the tempo of the game. Now, this unit wants to score, and they often leave the defense exposed while doing so. A win over Manchester City in Asia showed us that this crew has potential and only needs a bit more time to create the chemistry.
Granada is one of the top favorites for getting relegated. They don’t have any high-quality players, and the biggest power of this team is hard-defense and stubbornness. Don’t expect too many goals when they play.
Atletico is a much better unit here, and they should beat the rivals from the south.
Pick: Atletico wins 1/3 at BetXchange
