Betting Tips
Squeaky bum time in La Liga: Who is poised to win the title?
by Jolayemi Jones
4 Feb 2025
La Liga has produced the most fascinating storyline of the season so far, across Europe’s top 5 leagues. In just six months, fans of the league and neutrals have barely been able to catch their collective breaths.
Simply put, too much has happened. If you are a bettor, the twists and turns have either brought in gold – assuming you are a bet wizard – or tears; no in-betweens. Hardly anyone foresaw all the drama that has unfolded or the manner in which things have rapidly changed. We might be witnessing a title race for the ages, and it’s just getting started.
Ahead of the season, the most popular prediction was that Real Madrid would sweep everything in their path and emerge champions, especially with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
Adding a player widely regarded as the best in the world and one of the most potent goalscorers of the past decade to a team fresh off a league and Champions League triumph felt like overkill. Was it even necessary to do this? How can anyone compete?
Meanwhile, across town, Atletico Madrid were busy in the market, with the headline-grabbing signing of Julian Alvarez showing their intent. The signings of Gallagher, Le Normand and Sørloth showed just how much Simeone wanted to compete this time around.
On their part, Barcelona were moving quietly with the arrival of Hansi Flick, who replaced Xavi – a move that divided their fanbase, especially with the manner in which it happened. Nobody really knew what to expect after Flick’s forgettable spell with Germany, but many still remembered how his Bayern team decimated every opponent on its way to a treble.
Of course, Barcelona suffered the worst humiliation in that run, losing 8-2 in the Champions League quarter finals.
The First Three Months
Not many could have predicted that Kylian Mbappe would have such a hard time in the first three months of the season, not even his most passionate detractors. Predictions were flying everywhere about how many goals he would score in his first 10 games and how many he would score for the season.
As the season began, it became clear that it wouldn’t be that straightforward. Many even had him down as the nailed on Pichichi winner. Yet, by the end of the first El-Clasico in October, everybody had written him off, with Robert Lewandowski ahead by 7 goals. Julian Alvarez himself took some time to get going, not getting his first La Liga goal until his fifth league game.
Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu seemed like the end of the title race, for many, even though it was just 6 points between them. They had blown their opponents away and didn’t look like they could be stopped by anybody or caught. Meanwhile, Atletico were 10 points behind the leaders, looking completely out of the race.
The Next Three Months
Then everything changed. Between November 10th and January 18th, Barcelona won just one league game in 8 matches, getting only 6 points out of 24. They saw their 6-point lead get wiped out, and now they trail Real Madrid by 7. Atletico Madrid themselves took advantage, winning 8 straight matches before dropping points against Leganes and Villarreal recently.
One of those wins came against Barcelona, to add to their misery. Real Madrid’s resurgence was catalysed by the forms of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, with the latter cutting Lewandowski’s Pichichi lead from 7 to 2. Now, the heat is on.
Title Run-In - The Contenders
Even though Athletic Club are just two points behind Barcelona at this stage, a title challenge from them looks unlikely. They will probably be limited by their Basque-only policy, which constantly affects their squad depth.
The season is long and only deep squads with enough quality off the bench can compete all the way. Athletic would probably be satisfied to secure CL qualification, something they have not done in a decade. That said, you can still put in a cheeky bet on them, just to see how it plays out.
● Bet on Athletic Club to win La Liga @ 100 Odds
As for the other three, let us take a look at their chances and the key factors that could define their races.
Real Madrid
Things are looking exciting in Madrid again, as Carlo Ancelotti seems to be figuring things out. They have won 8 of their 10 games since the heavy El-Clasico defeat at Santiago Bernabeu, with the team slowly starting to tick.
The re-introduction of Dani Ceballos into the starting XI has greatly improved their play and their ability to play through the lines, while ageless Luka Modric has delivered some excellent recent performances to push them forward. The big worry for them remains big games, with their recent 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup still looming over them. They have also lost to Athletic Club, Milan and Liverpool recently.
● Bet on Real Madrid to win La Liga @ 1.44 Odds
X-Factor
Kylian Mbappe’s return to form is the biggest factor for them. When he is in the mood as he has been recently, he is simply unstoppable.
He is the most devastating forward in football, the most probable route to a big win prediction. His lowest league season scoring tally since 2018, Covid interrupted season aside, is 27.
He has also only lost one league title in his career till date. Mbappe in your team, fit and firing, usually means the title gets wrapped up. Vini’s penchant for suspensions may not be felt, as Mbappe has stepped up in his absence recently to make sure he is never missed. His chemistry with Rodrygo and Bellingham in those games has driven Madrid forward.
Achilles Heel
Vini’s temperament could still be a problem for them in the run-in, with opponents aware that they can target him, rile him up and get away with it. Madrid could do with having him on the pitch, especially in tricky games. Every team will want to have the Man of the Match in the Champions League final on the pitch rather than off it.
FC Barcelona
Barcelona’s difficult spell showed one thing; teams have figured out what works against them. Even with their emphatic 7-1 victory against hapless Valencia who naively played right into their hands, they still haven’t looked likely to force solutions through whenever their opponents set up a mean block and hit them on the counter.
Flick’s highline is delightful when it works, but on days when it doesn’t, they look like they could concede every time their opponents have the ball. It is impossible to tell if they are back in form just yet, especially with games coming thick and fast in the next few weeks.
● Bet on Barcelona to win La Liga @ 4.50 Odds
X-Factor
When things have come together this season, they have looked devastating. Raphinha looks to be a man on a mission, producing week-in, week-out. With his name starting to get mentioned amongst Ballon d’Or contenders, there is no better motivation for him to keep going.
But their biggest x-factor is how finely they have balanced youth and experience. In the run-in, this could prove invaluable.
The young players will inject much-needed energy and drive when needed, while the experienced ones keep pressure at bay, guiding the team towards the goal. Flick’s system brings it all together.
Achilles Heel
That high line still looks too vulnerable for comfort. Teams already have a blueprint for how to take this team on, choking space and exploiting their highline. On top of that, Szczesny’s penchant for lapses and mistakes could be their undoing, especially as Flick seems hellbent on persisting with him no matter what.
Atletico Madrid
Even though their flawless form has encountered a dip, Atletico still look very formidable and raring to go in the title race.
All the pieces are starting to come together, and Julian Alvarez’s recent form has been a massive boost. They look capable of giving all kinds of teams problems and are adept at adapting to different teams, regardless of style.
Most importantly, Simeone has been here many times before, triumphing twice. That experience could be key.
● Bet on Atletico to win La Liga @ 6.50 Odds
X-Factor
Atletico have two key things going for them; they have a deep squad, with a bench full of quality, and they have Julian Alvarez, who is playing some of the best football of his career.
Simeone can afford to rotate without fearing a drop in quality, and his options also make it easy for him to switch his formation at will if required to take apart any opponent. Despite Alvarez’s poor numbers in La Liga so far – just 6 goals in 21 games – his form in other competitions will eventually translate, especially as the stakes get higher. Expect him to go on a blistering goalscoring run in La Liga.
Achilles Heel
In contrast to what Alvarez has been producing, Antoine Griezmann seems to have lost form. His performances in the last five games have been shambolic, with the last two handicapping the club and leading to dropped points.
His late penalty miss against Leganes summed it up. Without Griezmann firing and in peak form during the run-in, it is unlikely for Atleti to keep up with the other two. He is the glue that brings everything together. Unfortunately for them, he has never won a league title before or triumphed during a title run-in.
Who wins?
Now is the time to place your bet on the title winner, with the odds looking so juicy and so much uncertainty still. A lot can and will still happen. Let this be your bet of the day.
BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria, offers you the opportunity to make some serious money on this market. We have the best of all betting apps you can find. Load a booking code with all these sweet options and share with your friends.
Put your money where your mouth is, with your betting stake. If you don’t already have an account, Sign Up now and start winning.
La Liga has produced the most fascinating storyline of the season so far, across Europe’s top 5 leagues. In just six months, fans of the league and neutrals have barely been able to catch their collective breaths.
Simply put, too much has happened. If you are a bettor, the twists and turns have either brought in gold – assuming you are a bet wizard – or tears; no in-betweens. Hardly anyone foresaw all the drama that has unfolded or the manner in which things have rapidly changed. We might be witnessing a title race for the ages, and it’s just getting started.
Ahead of the season, the most popular prediction was that Real Madrid would sweep everything in their path and emerge champions, especially with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
Adding a player widely regarded as the best in the world and one of the most potent goalscorers of the past decade to a team fresh off a league and Champions League triumph felt like overkill. Was it even necessary to do this? How can anyone compete?
Meanwhile, across town, Atletico Madrid were busy in the market, with the headline-grabbing signing of Julian Alvarez showing their intent. The signings of Gallagher, Le Normand and Sørloth showed just how much Simeone wanted to compete this time around.
On their part, Barcelona were moving quietly with the arrival of Hansi Flick, who replaced Xavi – a move that divided their fanbase, especially with the manner in which it happened. Nobody really knew what to expect after Flick’s forgettable spell with Germany, but many still remembered how his Bayern team decimated every opponent on its way to a treble.
Of course, Barcelona suffered the worst humiliation in that run, losing 8-2 in the Champions League quarter finals.
The First Three Months
Not many could have predicted that Kylian Mbappe would have such a hard time in the first three months of the season, not even his most passionate detractors. Predictions were flying everywhere about how many goals he would score in his first 10 games and how many he would score for the season.
As the season began, it became clear that it wouldn’t be that straightforward. Many even had him down as the nailed on Pichichi winner. Yet, by the end of the first El-Clasico in October, everybody had written him off, with Robert Lewandowski ahead by 7 goals. Julian Alvarez himself took some time to get going, not getting his first La Liga goal until his fifth league game.
Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu seemed like the end of the title race, for many, even though it was just 6 points between them. They had blown their opponents away and didn’t look like they could be stopped by anybody or caught. Meanwhile, Atletico were 10 points behind the leaders, looking completely out of the race.
The Next Three Months
Then everything changed. Between November 10th and January 18th, Barcelona won just one league game in 8 matches, getting only 6 points out of 24. They saw their 6-point lead get wiped out, and now they trail Real Madrid by 7. Atletico Madrid themselves took advantage, winning 8 straight matches before dropping points against Leganes and Villarreal recently.
One of those wins came against Barcelona, to add to their misery. Real Madrid’s resurgence was catalysed by the forms of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, with the latter cutting Lewandowski’s Pichichi lead from 7 to 2. Now, the heat is on.
Title Run-In - The Contenders
Even though Athletic Club are just two points behind Barcelona at this stage, a title challenge from them looks unlikely. They will probably be limited by their Basque-only policy, which constantly affects their squad depth.
The season is long and only deep squads with enough quality off the bench can compete all the way. Athletic would probably be satisfied to secure CL qualification, something they have not done in a decade. That said, you can still put in a cheeky bet on them, just to see how it plays out.
● Bet on Athletic Club to win La Liga @ 100 Odds
As for the other three, let us take a look at their chances and the key factors that could define their races.
Real Madrid
Things are looking exciting in Madrid again, as Carlo Ancelotti seems to be figuring things out. They have won 8 of their 10 games since the heavy El-Clasico defeat at Santiago Bernabeu, with the team slowly starting to tick.
The re-introduction of Dani Ceballos into the starting XI has greatly improved their play and their ability to play through the lines, while ageless Luka Modric has delivered some excellent recent performances to push them forward. The big worry for them remains big games, with their recent 5-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup still looming over them. They have also lost to Athletic Club, Milan and Liverpool recently.
● Bet on Real Madrid to win La Liga @ 1.44 Odds
X-Factor
Kylian Mbappe’s return to form is the biggest factor for them. When he is in the mood as he has been recently, he is simply unstoppable.
He is the most devastating forward in football, the most probable route to a big win prediction. His lowest league season scoring tally since 2018, Covid interrupted season aside, is 27.
He has also only lost one league title in his career till date. Mbappe in your team, fit and firing, usually means the title gets wrapped up. Vini’s penchant for suspensions may not be felt, as Mbappe has stepped up in his absence recently to make sure he is never missed. His chemistry with Rodrygo and Bellingham in those games has driven Madrid forward.
Achilles Heel
Vini’s temperament could still be a problem for them in the run-in, with opponents aware that they can target him, rile him up and get away with it. Madrid could do with having him on the pitch, especially in tricky games. Every team will want to have the Man of the Match in the Champions League final on the pitch rather than off it.
FC Barcelona
Barcelona’s difficult spell showed one thing; teams have figured out what works against them. Even with their emphatic 7-1 victory against hapless Valencia who naively played right into their hands, they still haven’t looked likely to force solutions through whenever their opponents set up a mean block and hit them on the counter.
Flick’s highline is delightful when it works, but on days when it doesn’t, they look like they could concede every time their opponents have the ball. It is impossible to tell if they are back in form just yet, especially with games coming thick and fast in the next few weeks.
● Bet on Barcelona to win La Liga @ 4.50 Odds
X-Factor
When things have come together this season, they have looked devastating. Raphinha looks to be a man on a mission, producing week-in, week-out. With his name starting to get mentioned amongst Ballon d’Or contenders, there is no better motivation for him to keep going.
But their biggest x-factor is how finely they have balanced youth and experience. In the run-in, this could prove invaluable.
The young players will inject much-needed energy and drive when needed, while the experienced ones keep pressure at bay, guiding the team towards the goal. Flick’s system brings it all together.
Achilles Heel
That high line still looks too vulnerable for comfort. Teams already have a blueprint for how to take this team on, choking space and exploiting their highline. On top of that, Szczesny’s penchant for lapses and mistakes could be their undoing, especially as Flick seems hellbent on persisting with him no matter what.
Atletico Madrid
Even though their flawless form has encountered a dip, Atletico still look very formidable and raring to go in the title race.
All the pieces are starting to come together, and Julian Alvarez’s recent form has been a massive boost. They look capable of giving all kinds of teams problems and are adept at adapting to different teams, regardless of style.
Most importantly, Simeone has been here many times before, triumphing twice. That experience could be key.
● Bet on Atletico to win La Liga @ 6.50 Odds
X-Factor
Atletico have two key things going for them; they have a deep squad, with a bench full of quality, and they have Julian Alvarez, who is playing some of the best football of his career.
Simeone can afford to rotate without fearing a drop in quality, and his options also make it easy for him to switch his formation at will if required to take apart any opponent. Despite Alvarez’s poor numbers in La Liga so far – just 6 goals in 21 games – his form in other competitions will eventually translate, especially as the stakes get higher. Expect him to go on a blistering goalscoring run in La Liga.
Achilles Heel
In contrast to what Alvarez has been producing, Antoine Griezmann seems to have lost form. His performances in the last five games have been shambolic, with the last two handicapping the club and leading to dropped points.
His late penalty miss against Leganes summed it up. Without Griezmann firing and in peak form during the run-in, it is unlikely for Atleti to keep up with the other two. He is the glue that brings everything together. Unfortunately for them, he has never won a league title before or triumphed during a title run-in.
Who wins?
Now is the time to place your bet on the title winner, with the odds looking so juicy and so much uncertainty still. A lot can and will still happen. Let this be your bet of the day.
BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria, offers you the opportunity to make some serious money on this market. We have the best of all betting apps you can find. Load a booking code with all these sweet options and share with your friends.
Put your money where your mouth is, with your betting stake. If you don’t already have an account, Sign Up now and start winning.