The La Liga title race and relegation battles have gone to the wire and Dan Fitch is backing Atletico Madrid to lift the title, as he previews the crucial matches.
Atletico Madrid go into the final game of the La Liga season as 1.261/4 favourites to win the title.
Diego Simeone’s team are two points clear of second placed Real Madrid at the top of the table. Real are the only club that can still catch Atletico and trade at 4.57/2 to retain La Liga.
Of the two competing clubs, it’s Real Madrid who have the superior head-to-head record, so if they were to win on Saturday and Atletico were to only draw, the rivals would finish level on points, with Real winning the title. Atletico need a win to guarantee they win their second title under Simeone, or hope that Real Madrid drop points on the final day of the season.
Elche plot great escape
Elche 2.0621/20 v Atheltic Bilbao 3.9; The Draw 3.814/5
Saturday 22 May, 17:00
Live on Betfair Live Video
Saturday is also a crucial day in the fight against relegation from La Liga, with Elche needing a positive result against Athletic Bilbao to escape the drop.
Elche are 18th in La Liga, level with 17th placed Huesca on points, but have an inferior head-to-head record. They must therefore finish with more points than Huesca to stand a chance of staying up.
Bilbao have only won two of their last 14 games (D7 L5). With Bilbao losing their last two games 1-0, take a chance on an Elche win and under 2.5 goals, at odds of 4.57/2.
A win would see Huesca survive
Huesca 1.738/11 v Valencia 5.14/1; The Draw 4.3100/30
Saturday 22 May, 17:00
Live on Betfair Live Video
Huesca need to match or better Elche’s result to finish above them and they can also be caught be Valladolid.
Valladolid are another side that Huesca have a superior head-to-head record against. So Huesca would need to lose and Valladolid to win against Atletico Madrid, to finish below them.
Huesca have won their last two home games 1-0 and will fancy their chances against Valencia, who have not won in their last ten away games (D2 L8). This is another match where it’s worth backing a slim home win, with a Huesca victory and under 2.5 goals available at 4.3310/3.
Real Madrid will concede against motivated Villarreal
Real Madrid 1.444/9 v Villarreal 7.613/2; The Draw 5.49/2
Saturday 22 May, 17:00
Live on Premier League Sports 1 and Betfair Live Video
At first glance these seem like short odds for Real Madrid, considering that they’ve drawn three of their last four home games (W1).
Villarreal are in the strange position of being able to qualify for any of next season’s European competitions. If they remain seventh they will be in the Europa Conference League, should they move up to fifth or sixth they will qualify for the Europa League, while they can also qualify for the Champions League, by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Though Villarreal will have one eye on the final, they are not without motivation in this match. Back both teams to score at 1.728/11, with Villarreal scoring in each of their last twelve league games.
Atletico will lift the title
Valladolid 10.09/1 v Atletico Madrid 1.374/11; The Draw 5.85/1
Saturday 22 May, 17:00
Live on Premier League Sports 2 and Betfair Live Video
Atletico have already put their fans through extreme levels of stress last weekend and we shouldn’t expect this match to be any different.
The table toppers were a goal down at home to Osasuna with eight minutes remaining, only for strikes from Renan Lodi and Luis Suarez to secure three vital points.
With Valladolid still fighting for survival, this could be another nervy match. Back Atletico to lift the title, with an away win and both teams to score at 3.211/5.
Source: Betfair Spanish La Liga
