Real Madrid and Barcelona battle for La Liga crown on final day
Published:
Real Madrid and Barcelona have won 55 La Liga titles between them, but few of their title battles will have been this tight. Right now Barca are a point ahead of Los Blancos with a slightly superior goal difference.
However, with a trip to Granada – who are fighting relegation – on Saturday, the title is far from over. Real, meanwhile, head to mid-table Deportivo La Coruna. Victory could give them the title, but defeat means Atletico Madrid could pip them to second spot.
Here’s what to expect ahead of the final day of play in La Liga.
Barcelona: Current Position – 1st / 88 points / GD: +80
It’s the Blaugrana who are in pole position as we head into the season’s climax, but that run of just one point from four league games which stretched from March 20-April 17 could come back to haunt them as they head to an in-form Granada side with everything to play for.
The Nazaries are unbeaten in their last six home games, winning three during that run, including a 5-1 thumping of Levante. Barca, meanwhile, struggled to break down the 10-men of Real Betis in their last away game, eventually wheezing to a 2-0 win.
The Andalucian club beat Barca back in 2014, but the best bet here could be a draw – especially at the sizeable odds of 10/1, with 1/10 for a Barca win and 22/1 for the hosts.
The Catalans also have previous of falling short in this situation, drawing 1-1 at home to Atletico Madrid in the final game of the 2013-14 season, giving Diego Simeone’s men the title when victory would’ve meant the league crown for Barca.
Score Prediction: Granada 1-1 Barcelona (20/1)
La Liga Finish Prediction: 2nd Place
Real Madrid: Current Position – 2nd / 87 points / GD: +74
While their historic rivals face a tricky trip to improving Granada, Real Madrid should have no such issues on their visit to Deportivo La Coruna, with the capital club having won the last six meetings between these two, scoring 26 times and conceding just four.
Los Blancos have won their last 11 La Liga games this season, rising from outsiders to serious contenders, and with the Branquisazis having taken maximum points just once since the end of March, this looks like an away banker.
Even at 2/9, backing Real Madrid to get the job done seems to represent excellent value, while their hosts are 10/1 for victory. Meanwhile, with Depor having lost 8-0 at home to Barca in April, Real to match that scoreline at 125/1 could end up being an inspired bet.
Score Prediction: Deportivo La Coruna 1-5 Real Madrid (18/1)
La Liga Finish Prediction: 1st Place
Atletico Madrid: Current Position – 3rd / 85 points / GD: +43
With the Colchoneros chances of Barcelona implausible and Real Madrid winning at Depor looking like an away banker, it’s unlikely that Atleti can improve their league position, and their patchy record against Celta Vigo means they’re likely to struggle again this weekend.
A draw seems the best bet at 13/5, with two of the last five meetings having finished level, while Celta have the upper hand of late, with three victories to two.
Goals are generally guaranteed in this fixture, with only one of the last 18 meetings having finished goalless, so backing a 2-2 draw at 12/1 could be a very smart selection indeed.
Score Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-2 Celta de Vigo
La Liga Finish Prediction: 3rd Place
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
