There are still one or two domestic issues to sort out across Europe and with a full midweek programme in Spain’s La Liga culminating on Wednesday, a clearer picture will emerge of the success stories this season (Primera Liga – totesport).
Barcelona can wrap up the title on Wednesday, regardless of what Real Madrid do on Tuesday night, when they travel to Levante and it is difficult to see them not justifying 3/10 favouritism in the match betting.
Levante are priced at 10/1 to cause a shock, with the draw on offer at 4/10, but the season has started to fall away for the Granotes and they are currently on a three-game winless streak with nothing left to play for.
Barca have an impressive way record, easily the best in La Liga, and although they suffered their only defeat on their travels the last time they played away – a 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad – there were mitigating circumstances for that defeat.
The Catalans fielded an understrength line-up for the clash yet still dominated, only to be undone late on, having substituted both centre-halves, while the game came the weekend before a crunch Champions League semi-final against arch rivals Real.
With a place secured at Wembley, Barca can now concentrate on the league and needing just a point from their remaining three games to guarantee the title, they can do it at the earliest opportunity and in the best possible style.
Lionel Messi has underlined why he is considered the best player in the world time and time again this season and is an obvious candidate in the goalscoring markets (9/4 to score two or more) but it may pay to side with Pedro to open the scoring at 7/2 as he is the one who generally makes the runs behind the defenders.
The Blaugrana have scored 45 times away from home in La Liga and with the pressure off against a side looking forward to their holidays, goals look a very real possibility at the Ciutat de Valencia.
Barcelona to score in both halves is available at 21/20 and Pep Guardiola’s men are also worthy of support on the handicap (-1) at 20/23.
Valencia bounced back to form with a 3-0 over Real Sociedad on Saturday and can confirm their third place with victory as 13/10 favourites at Espanyol at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.
Los Che have easily been the third best team in the division – they have a five-point cushion over Villarreal – and boast an impressive away record with 10 victories on the road this year – bettered only by Barca and Real.
Espanyol (17/10 to win, 9/4 the draw) have been difficult to beat at home, losing just five times, but their season is stalling at just the wrong time with just one win in their last six games.
A massive game in the relegation battle takes place at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta with Real Sociedad (Evens in the match betting) taking on Real Zaragoza (23/10 to win, 9/4 the draw).
It has been a case of all or nothing for these two sides of late and with only one draw at the ground all season it is difficult to envisage another on Wednesday night.
It would be risky taking the 23/10 on the away win unless Zaragoza can reproduce the performance at the Bernabeu 11 days ago when they beat Real 3-2 – on the same evening Sociedad came from behind to beat Barcelona at home.
However, that was only a second road win this term for Zaragoza but with 10 home wins behind them, Sociedad look to have a great chance to pull further clear from the drop zone.
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