Spanish league betting

It’s called the Classico for a reason. Real Madrid and Barcelona have dominated Spanish league betting for many seasons, and it’s little wonder given the history of both giants of the game.

Matches between the two bickering rivals are among the highlights of any campaign, though predictions that any of Spanish football’s lesser lights can upset the odds and top the standings appear at best optimistic. Spanish league betting is all about the big two when you are looking to select a winner.

While Spanish premier league betting will always be dominated by the big two, there may well have been a sea change in fortunes following the appointment of Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid manager.

The man who worked initially as a translator for the late Sir Bobby Robson when he took charge of Barca has become a figure of hate for supporters of the Catalan club, and it’s a safe bet that predictions of a rise in his popularity around the Nou Camp are well wide of the mark.

Can the Special One get the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo? It’s just one of the fascinating sub-plots which will make Spanish league betting so compelling to UK football supporters who keep a close eye on the tables of Europe’s greatest leagues.

Madrid’s results show they had the attacking flair, but were miserable in the Champions League last season. But they have enough history on their side to suggest they will always be a force in Spanish league betting with a record 31 titles.

However, most focus on Spanish soccer league betting will be on Barcelona, whose results are closely followed by those with a passion for the beautiful game.

Thierry Henry may be gone, but David Villa showed in the World Cup he is one of the greatest in the world and an interesting Spanish league betting aside may be will he finish as La Liga’s leading scorer?

Between 1993 and 2004, Deportivo La Coruña finished in the top three on ten occasions, a better record than either Real Madrid or Barcelona, and in 2000, under Javier Irureta, they became the ninth team to be crowned champions.

Then the tables and Spanish football league betting were dominated by Valencia under Rafael Benítez. The club won a Liga title in 2002 and against the odds and to the shock of regular Spanish primera liga betting punters, a double of a league title and UEFA Cup in 2004.

The 2004–05 season saw a resurgence in Barcelona’s results and, inspired by the brilliant Ronaldinho, they won their first title of the new century. Reala nd Barca have contested matters since, but while Spanish primera league betting could not be considered a foregone conclusion, it does follow the pattern of most European Leagues where a handful of teams dominate.

Spanish football is broadcast around the world, both on television and on the internet, its tables regularly perused by football fanatics; this also means interest in Spanish football league betting is a global passion. As one online bookmaker commented: “If you are looking to make effective use of your free bet, it may pay to step aside from the big two who dominate many aspects of Spanish football league betting.

“Who will finish in the Champions League places is often as fascinating competition within the league. Valencia finished third last season, eight points clear of Sevilla, but Getafe were the surprise package for many people interested in Spanish premier league betting with a sixth-placed finish. This was enough for a Europa League place, and they offer decent value for those considering bets on teams other than the big two.

“Majorca were another team to perhaps upset Spanish premier league betting with a fifth place finish which was incredible, given their financial problems.

“The majority of online bookmakers will have loads of free bets available on which teams will finish where in the table, while the canny predictor will keep an eye on Diego Forlan’s situation at Atletico Madrid. They only finished ninth in the league, but qualified again for the Europa League after winning the Spanish cup. His performances in the World Cup will have interested a lot of bigger European clubs.”

Many bets will be on who finishes as the league’s leading scorer.

Barca’s incredible Lionel Messi won the honour last season with 34 goals, though whether he will appeal to UK punters following a poor World Cup remains to be seen.

Three clubs, Real Madrid, Majorca and Malaga have changed their manager during the summer and much internet betting will focus on who has made the right choices.

Bank on Barca and more likely Real Madrid to be the dominant forces this season. Pep Guardiola has performed wonders at the Nou Camp, playing a brand of attacking football which most can only dream of emulating. Furthermore, they’re the perfect sides to support in ‘live bet’ markets as there’s generally so much action in their games.