League leaders Barcelona are back in action this Saturday, and with just a 2 point lead over rivals Real Madrid, Messi and co will be looking for 3 points to put Los Blancos under immediate pressure when they resume their campaign just under 24 hours later.
The leaders are off to face Mallorca in the Balearics tonight, and this match already has must win status. With Madrid at home to Eibar tomorrow, Barcelona know that anything other than 3 points could see them overtaken at the top of La Liga by Sunday.
Barcelona Look Set To Resume Their La Liga Season With A Win
With this in mind, I can't see anything other than a win for Barcelona. At odds of just 1/4 though, I can't be tipping just a straightforward Barcelona victory. Especially when you see that on the road this season, they have already lost 5, and drawn 3.
Mallorca are a team in big trouble though. Already in the bottom 3, they are just 1/3 to be relegated back to the Segunda División at the first time of asking.
The short odds on the Islanders going straight back down might have something to do with the fact that they still have to travel to Real Madrid, Atletico, Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla. A run in that would test any team, never mind a struggling one.
La Liga Betting Tips
While I'd happily put Barcelona in an accumulator, at 1/4 I can't be tipping them as a single bet.
Even though their away record could be better, I can still see them winning this by two clear goals. That's why, for my football betting prediction, I'm tipping them at 4/6 at -1 on the Handicap.
At Last, A Close Title Race
With things all but over in Germany and England, it's refreshing to have a title race that's still alive. On the resumption of La Liga, Barcelona were odds on favourites, at a best price of 8/13 with William Hill.
Barca have previously been much shorter than that, but Madrid's 2-0 win in El Classico at the start of March seen the the gap close. Madrid are currently 5/4 to win this season's La Liga.
The battle for Champions League places also looks to be a close contest. At the resumption of La Liga, just 4 points separated Real Sociedad, Getafe, Atletico Madrid and Valencia, who are all fighting for 4th place. It certainly promises to be an entertaining end to the Spanish season.