Best bets, odds and winner predictions for the 2023-24 Spanish La Liga season: Back Barcelona to repel the threat of Jude Bellingham’s Real

When does the 2023-24 Spanish La Liga season start?

Friday, August 11

2023-24 Spanish La Liga winner odds

Evs Real Madrid, 7-5 Barcelona, 9 Atletico Madrid, 33 Sevilla, 50 Real Sociedad, 66 Villarreal, 90 bar.

Best bets for the 2023-24 Spanish La Liga season

Barcelona to win La Liga
2pts 7-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Real Betis top-four finish
1pt 7-1 bet365

Aaron Rogan's 2023-24 Spanish La Liga winner predictions

Barcelona leveraged their future to fund a spending spree last summer and it paid off – in the short term, at least. 

The Catalans finished ten points clear of Real Madrid as they took the Spanish title for the first time since 2019.

Real have responded by making one of the signings of the summer, bringing in brilliant England youngster Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, and bookmakers have them as narrow favourites to wrest the title back from Barca.

Bellingham’s arrival looks like a great deal for Real. Not only did they add one of Europe’s most in-demand players but they have set up their midfield for the next decade. Before long, the trio of Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga should be the best in the world.

However, Real also saw Karim Benzema depart a year earlier than planned. The striker was expected to stay on until Kylian Mbappe’s heavily anticipated arrival next year but Saudi Arabian riches have lured Benzema away.

Joselu arrived on loan from relegated Espanyol but Real are clearly in a holding pattern until the Mbappe saga is resolved. They have effectively spent this summer’s transfer budget entirely on their midfield, the area in which they were already strongest.

If Real back up Mbappe’s arrival with some defensive additions, they would start 2024-25 as one of the strongest sides in Europe. In the short term, though, this may well be a season of transition for the Spanish giants.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to depart at the end of the campaign so next summer will be huge for the club. 

Ancelotti’s record doesn’t suggest they will part ways after securing another title as, despite leading some of Europe’s elite clubs, he is yet to win multiple league titles during any managerial spell. 

That is a boost for Barcelona, who have cut several high earners from their squad and made some smart signings. Ilkay Gundogan arrives fresh from winning the treble with Manchester City, Inigo Martinez boosts their defence, and the latest batch of La Masia graduates can improve on last season’s showing.

Real may have made the biggest splash in this summer’s transfer market but Barcelona look best placed to retain the title. As second-favourites, they also offer better value than their Clasico rivals.

Atletico Madrid haven’t made any eyecatching signings yet but should be comfortably in the top four. Behind them, Real Sociedad and Sevilla are tipped to battle it out for fourth but Real Betis look huge value to crash the party.

Manuel Pellegrini led his side to sixth last term and the Chilean has been a success wherever he’s gone in La Liga. Betis have been on the verge of the top four for the last three seasons and, with some solid signings adding squad depth, they can take a run at the Champions League places.

At the other end of the table, things look tricky for the three promoted sides with both Alaves and Las Palmas set to struggle. While Cadiz finished 14th last term, they have had a quiet summer with some significant departures and are in danger of slipping into the bottom three as a result.

Aaron Rogan's predictions for the 2023-24 Spanish La Liga season

Winner
Barcelona

Top-four finish
Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis

Top scorer
Robert Lewandowski

Relegated
Alaves, Las Palmas, Cadiz

Breakout star
Arda Guler, Real Madrid

Real grabbed Turkish teenager Guler for a cut-price fee which could prove to be a steal in the long run. An incredibly talented attacking midfielder, he could make his mark further forward given Real’s lack of strikers, once he has recovered from a knee injury.

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