Soccer Picks and Predictions For La Liga Week 34

Week 34 starts off with two big teams playing for the title. Barcelona and Real Madrid both have games this week, and Real Madrid has the chance to cement their title dreams if they beat Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. However, their rivals Barcelona face a slippery slope and may not be able to win their match this week. Let’s take a look at each of these matches and look at the predictions for the total number of goals and of course, the ultimate outcome. 

Athletic Bilbao v. Real Madrid

Real Madrid has been able to keep up its six-game winning streak since the season of soccer resumed in mid-June. Six games without a loss or even a draw is surely a sign of fighting form but have also helped them get to the top of the leaderboard and stay there. Their most recent game was against their local competitors Getafe, and they won the game 1-0, although there was nothing too simple about that victory. Getafe definitely put up a good fight and played their best, but Madrid was able to win the game. 

This week, they play Athletic Bilbao, and winning against them would mean a seven-game win streak and a seven-point difference between them and Barcelona. Barcelona is currently trailing slightly behind Madrid, but this week’s game outcomes will determine if their standings will change. It most definitely won’t be an easy task for Madrid to win against Bilbao. 

Athletic Bilbao’s stats look good in the games played after the reopening of the season. They drew against Atletico Madrid 1-1, then they drew against Eibar and won comfortably against Real Betis. Their game against Barcelona ended 1-0 in favor of Barcelona, but it was a very difficult game for both sides, with both the teams giving it their all. They also have won two games back to back against Mallorca and Valencia. Athletic Bilbao’s strength lies in its resilience and its incredible defense. Real Madrid, however, has been out for blood and seems nearly unstoppable. They have a deep roster and players who are in top form, and this alone is the reason Madrid can win this match, although narrowly. 

Villareal v. Barcelona

Villareal’s form has been top-notch ever since the season resumed. They have won three consecutive matches 1-0 against Mallorca, Granada, and Celta Vigo. They drew one game against Sevilla 2-2 and won yet another game against Valencia in a well-fought match ending 2-0. They also won against Real Betis last week, and this string of wins has placed them comfortably at the fifth place of the league. 

They’re inching close to the fourth place, as they are only three points behind Sevilla. Their sheer fighting power could make them a great match against Barcelona, as they both have something to play for. Villareal is looking to finish with a top 4 spot to make it to the Champions League, and Barcelona is trying to catch up with Madrid for the title race. 

Barcelona hasn’t had a smooth start this season. While they haven’t lost to teams, they have had issues with dropping points when they drew with three different teams - Sevilla, Celta Vigo, and Atletico Madrid. These draws have proven to be quite expensive as they are four points behind Real Madrid now. Their midfield isn’t the strongest, as they don’t seem to be playing with the energy they had before Frenkie de Jong’s injury. 

Their continuous draws have made them underdogs in the title race. The issue here is that Villareal has the energy and attacking power to make Barcelona fumble. But will they finish in yet another draw remains to be seen? Their last two matches were a 2-1 in favor of Barcelona and a 4-4 draw. My prediction is that this time, Barcelona has much more on the line. This loss could mean a seven-point gap between them and Real Madrid, which Barcelona will want to avoid at all costs. 

Espanyol v. Leganes

Another game of the week, although, given the teams’ bottom rankings, it might not be an exciting one for many. But the reason we are focusing on this match is for the betting prospects it offers. Espanyol is sitting at the very bottom of the league this year after its best players were traded last year. Leganes is at 19th place, but Espanyol appears to be the better bet to win this game, given their better players and Leganes’ winless streak.