Week 22 of the La Liga season will feature the highly anticipated derby that fans have been waiting for as Atletico Madrid puts its title hopes on the line in a clash with Real Madrid that represents the game of the week in all of club competition.
Atletico enters this weekend seven points back of Real and especially with Barcelona still holding rank above them, they simply cannot afford to fall any further in the standings. While some players have downplayed the importance of Saturday’s showdown at the Vicente Calderon, the reality is this clash will have a massive impact on how the title race plays out.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid – Saturday, 10:00 AM ET
La Liga Odds: Real Madrid +129, Atletico Madrid +197, Draw +238
Atletico has strung together three wins and two draws against Real since last year’s Champions League defeat but no game will be more important than this one as they look to remain in contention for a La Liga title. Home field advantage will be important but the key could be Atletico’s physicality as they look to really set the tone for this game. Atletico has been talked about as a “violent” team in recent weeks and while the players have been quick to defend themselves, an aggressive style might be exactly what they need to earn a win.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his return following a two-game suspension and it comes at the perfect time as James Rodriguez has been sidelined for two months with a broken foot. However, Carlo Ancelotti will be able to keep an aggressive attack with Ronaldo pairing back up with Karim Benzema, who really played well when this year’s Ballon d’Or winner was out. For Atletico, there might not be a better time for the revived hero Fernando Torres to shine but with all of the firepower on both sides Atletico might not be able to do better than a draw. Pick: Draw
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Espanyol vs. Valencia – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
La Liga Odds: Valencia +156, Espanyol +177, Draw +215
While Getafe, Almeria, and Cordoba all try to keep themselves afloat at the other end of the table, there will be an important game between two clubs trying to gain some ground in the middle of the standings. Espanyol has been absolutely terrible as the visiting team this season but they have posted a 6-3-2 record at home while outscoring opponents 17-9. That’s a stark contract to their road record where they have one win in 10 games and have been outscored 23-10.
They could potentially jump in to eighth place with a win over a Valencia team that is still very much in contention for a Champions League spot. A late penalty was enough to make the difference between these two n their Copa Del Rey match in early January but Espanyol could earn a measure of redemption if it can hold the visitors to a single point in this game. While Valencia is favored in this spot, a win shouldn’t be expected as they’ve only triumphed in three of their 10 away games this season, scoring just 10 goals in the process. Pick: Draw
Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona – Sunday, 3:00 PM ET
La Liga Odds: Barcelona -341, Athletic Bilbao +802, Draw +439
One day after watching the Madrid derby, it will be Barcelona looking to clean up the pieces with a chance to potentially close in on top spot if Atletico can at least hold Real to a draw. Neymar and Lionel Messi have developed an amazing chemistry that has become must-watch television every time they are on the field together. The Messi departure rumors have quieted down – at least for now – and another strong performance should only help the positive momentum.
Expect Barcelona to relish a chance to beat up on Athletic Bilbao and close in on top spot. Along with Messi and Neymar running circles around Bilbao’s back end, that will be worth the price of admission in this one. While this is a mismatch, the drama surrounding the La Liga title race continues with three important points up for grabs in the penultimate game of Week 22. Pick: Barcelona
