- Matchday 36 in Spain’s La Liga with games Saturday to Monday
- Real Madrid league the league with Barca, as ever, hot on their heels
- I list the odds for all 10 games and preview three, offering my best picks
As we approach Matchday 36 of La Liga, the big two are locked in battle as is so often the case. Real Madrid have the edge going into the final three rounds of games but there are European places up for grabs and relegation places to be avoided.
Below I’ve listed the whole schedule, shown the odds, previewed three games, and offered a pick for each.
La Liga Matchday 36 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osasuna | pk +½ (-128) | +188 | Ov 2, 2½ (+105) |
| Celta Vigo | pk -½ (+108) | +150 | Un 2, 2½ (-125) |
| Draw | N/A | +210 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Valladolid | +1½ (-118) | +950 | Ov 2½, 3 (-110) |
| Barcelona | -1½ (-102) | -294 | Un 2½, 3 (-110) |
| Draw | N/A | +340 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Atletico Madrid | -1 (-115) | -192 | Ov 2½ (+101) |
| Real Betis | +1 (-105) | +520 | Un 2½ (-121) |
| Draw | N/A | +295 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Espanyol | pk, +½ (-111) | +220 | Ov 2 (-122) |
| Eibar | pk, -½ (-109) | +132 | Un 2 (+102) |
| Draw | N/A | +205 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Levante | pk, +½ (-102) | +225 | Ov 2, 2½ (-109) |
| Athletico Bilbao | pk, -½ (-118) | +121 | Un 2, 2½ (-111) |
| Draw | N/A | +225 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Leganes | pk, +½ (-115) | +230 | Ov 2 (-122) |
| Valencia | pk, -½ (-105) | +126 | Un 2 (+102) |
| Draw | N/A | +205 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Sevilla | -1, -1½ (-109) | -244 | Ov 2½, 3 (-110) |
| Mallorca | +1, +1½ (-111) | +620 | Un 2½, 3 (-110) |
| Draw | N/A | +350 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Villarreal | pk, -½ (-106) | +134 | Ov 2½, 3 (+102) |
| Real Sociedad | pk, +½ (-114) | +200 | Un 2½, 3 (-122) |
| Draw | N/A | +220 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Alaves | pk, +½ (-109) | +240 | Ov 1½, 2 (-111) |
| Getafe | pk, -½ (-111) | +135 | Un 1½, 2 (-109) |
| Draw | N/A | +185 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Granada | +1, +1½ (-127) | +580 | Ov 2½, 3 (-106) |
| Real Madrid | -1, -1½ (+107) | -213 | Un 2½, 3 (-114) |
| Draw | N/A | +310 | N/A |
All odds taken July 10
Villarreal vs Real Sociedad
Both teams are still in the hunt for the European places, so expect an exciting one at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Monday. With only three rounds of games left in the season, the Yellow Submarine are six points adrift of fourth-placed Sevilla, so a Champions League spot looks a big ask but they will be wanting to secure a Europa League spot as the very least. A win over Sociedad would go a long way toward making that happen.
La Real are also hoping to be playing in next season’s Europa League but have hit a poor run of form at the wrong time. Four defeats in their last six have made life difficult for Sociedad and another defeat here would mean they’d need wins in their last two games to give themselves a chance. They do though have some good players in their squad and haven’t become a bad team in the space of four months.
Home advantage would normally be key here but in fan-less stadiums, the success rate of away teams has increased, and given Sociedad’s need for three points, I can see them sneaking an unlikely win here.
Best Bet: Real Sociedad to win (+200)
Osasuna vs Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo begins the day just four points clear of the relegation zone and with just three games left to save themselves, a win here in the Estadio El Sadar would be massive in their fight to stay in La Liga. Osasuna, by contrast, has little left to play for and are stuck in mid-table, clear of relegation and adrift of the European places.
Osasuna lost 3-0 away to Real Betis in midweek, a performance that had a real end-of-term look about it, and also picked up some injuries that will impact on manager Jagoba Arrasate’s team selection. Celta had a far more productive midweek when they came from behind to earn a priceless point against Atletico Madrid – a performance that will give them huge belief.
Celta Vigo’s greater need for the win will, for me, be decisive and at +150 it offers decent value.
Best Bet: Celta Vigo to win (+150)
Levante vs Athletico Bilbao
Levante’s season looks all but over, with neither relegation nor European places to battle for, and their 2-0 defeat in Mallorca – like Osasuna’s above – had an end-of-season look to it. Bilbao on the other hand still has an outside chance of European soccer, although this has been hindered by two home defeats in their last two games – by Real Madrid and Sevilla. To keep their hopes alive they simply have to win on Sunday.
An empty Estadi Olimpic Camilo Cano will not help Levante, who appears short of motivation as their season draws to a close, and so despite two defeats on the bounce, this one has an away win feel to it. Bilbao won the reverse fixture 2-1 and I can see them repeating the result and maybe the scoreline too.
