La Liga odds and outright predictions: Real Betis can cause a stir

Free football tips, best bets and analysis in the La Liga outright markets.

Best bet

Real Betis to finish in top four
1pt 11-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

It has been an unusual season in La Liga.

In their first campaign since 2003-04 without Lionel Messi, Barcelona have plummeted down the standings but at least look in good hands with club legend Xavi in the dugout.

Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, are no longer the impenetrable force they once were and Rayo Vallecano, promoted from the Segunda Division last term, find themselves in the race for the Champions League places.

Real Madrid, however, have remained solid under Carlo Ancelotti and have an eight-point advantage over second-placed Sevilla heading into 2022.

They are 1-8 to win the title, Karim Benzema is 1-4 to finish top scorer and the best bet at this stage could come in the top-four finish market.

Bookmakers fancy Atletico and Barca to sneak back into the Champions League places but Real Betis in particular deserve more credit and are a big price at 11-5 to make the top four.

They are a team in progress under experienced Manuel Pellegrini, finishing sixth last term, and possess one of the division's sharpest forwards in Juanmi.

Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales are among their other high-profile players and they look a settled unit.

They progressed along with Bayer Leverkusen from a tricky Europa League group earlier this month before recording big league wins over Real Sociedad and Barcelona to move up to third.

Those victories show they can handle the big occasions and with the pressure on the bigger teams around them, they could surprise a few people this season.

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