The 2025 La Liga title race took another twist on Saturday as neither of the two main contenders, leaders Barcelona and second placed Real Madrid, picked up a win, both playing at home.
In the late Saturday kick-off the Blaugrana had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Europe chasing Real Betis, but that after Los Blancos had fallen to a shock defeat at home to struggling Valencia. Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis, leading the pack following the top four, had a chance to test their progress against Barcelona and they reacted well to an early setback to give the Blaugrana a difficult night. The Catalans were in the lead as early as the seventh minutes when a quick interchange saw Ferran Torres put Gavi through to score, but seven minutes later Betis were level as Natan headed in from a Giovani Lo Celso corner.
Barca were dominant throughout but were frustrated by a determined Betis rearguard and full back Jules Kounde came the closest to a winner but the visiting keeper, Adrian, stayed big to keep out his close-range effort. It was the end of a seven-match winning sequence for Hansi Flick’s side, though the latest La Liga 2025 betting odds remain squarely behind the Blaugrana; meanwhile Real Betis saw an end to their four match winning streak but they entered Sunday in fifth place and nicely on track for the Europa League.
The title run-in will have twists and turns to come I expect…but with a four-point lead and eight games to play it is Barcelona’s to lose.
Vinicius penalty miss costs dearly
The gap at the top would have been just a single point had Real Madrid managed to win at home to Valencia as expected, but it turned out to be a bad day at the office for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. It all seemed to be going well when Kylian Mbappe won an early penalty, but it was the unlucky 13th minute for Vinicius Junior who failed to convert from 12 yards. And two minutes later Los Ches were ahead when a pinpoint Andre Almeida corner was headed in by Mouctar Diakhaby.
Vinicius made some amends when he levelled for Los Blancos just after the half time break. A Luka Modric corner was flicked on by Jude Bellingham and the Brazil star smashed the ball into the roof of the net. At that point pretty much everybody in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium expected Los Blancos to go on and win it; but much as they huffed and puffed the hosts could not blow their visitors away. And they paid a heavy price, deep into stoppage time, when Valencia star striker Hugo Duro headed a cross from Rafa Mir high into the roof of the net to give Los Ches a first away win of the campaign.
In other news from the Saturday fixtures Celta Vigo won away at Real Mallorca by the odd goal in three to take seventh place, with Mallorca tied on 40 points with Rayo Vallecano in the eighth and ninth positions; and, on Sunday, Sevilla host Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone’s team can climb to within three points of Los Blancos with a win
Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are in Champions League action this week and you can keep up with all the action, and get the best Asian Handicap Betting offers here at SBOTOP. But in the meantime Los Blancos’ boss Ancelotti has some repair work to do.
Unexpected boost for Espanyol
At the bottom end of the La Liga table there was good news for another battling team as Espanyol put some space between themselves and the bottom three with an unexpected rout away to Europe chasing Rayo Vallecano. Los Periquitos have been embroiled in a scrap for survival but their recent La Liga 2025 results have picked up, with just one loss in the last six; but this 4-0 win away to Vallecano was the cream of the crop.
Vallecano are in the European hunt but they were shell-shocked by the Espanyol onslaught as Leandro Cabrera, in acres of space, headed home the opener; and some more sloppy defending allowed Robert Fernandez to sneak in and slot home a cross from Aridane Hernandez to double the lead with just 12 minutes on the clock.
The hosts were shaken and they came out for the second half with more urgency but Espanyol stood firm and hit their hosts again when Rayo defender Pathe Ciss made a reckless challenge and Puado scored his tenth goal of the season from the penalty spot. He almost doubled his own tally but saw a clever chip fly agonisingly wide, but substitute Pere Milla rounded off the scoring as Espanyol scored four for the first time this season, and moved up to 16th, five points clear of the drop zone.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
