La Liga: Matchday 5 predictions, best bets and odds

This article contains affiliate links to advertisers. The analysis is our own. Play responsibly, 18+

Real Madrid are hoping to close the gap on current leaders Barcelona, while Atlético Madrid face another tough trip to the Basque Country.

At the bottom end of the table, Villarreal urgently need to pick up points, while Málaga, Elche and Valencia are also desperate for a positive result. Check out our predictions for the fifth matchday of the new LaLiga season below.

Sevilla v Valencia, Friday, 20:00 (BST)

García Plaza’s Sevilla are proving to be a well-organised and uncompromising opponent. With seven points on the board already, they are one of several teams who have exceeded expectations during the early weeks of the season.

Up against them is a Valencia side that seems to be falling apart, evidenced by last weekend's collapse against Barcelona. Los Ché have only managed to acquire one point, resulting in them propping up the LaLiga table.

Although the Andalusians have struggled against Valencia in recent times, the form guide suggests we'll see a comfortable home win on Friday evening.

Prediction: Sevilla to win: 6/5 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if Sevilla win the match.

Racing Santander v Alavés, Saturday, 13:00 (BST)

This is certainly an intriguing clash. The newly-promoted outfit have conceded in every game, while also netting two or more goals in three of those opening four fixtures.

One of the surprise packages of the season so far, Alavés are second after stringing together an early unbeaten run (W3/D1). 

Consequently, we think both teams will score at the Estadio El Sardinero.

Prediction: Both Teams to Score (BTTS): 8/13 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if both teams score, regardless of the final result. 

Athletic Bilbao v Elche, Saturday, 17:30 (BST)

Bilbao seem to be turning things around following a poor start to the season, having beaten Celta Vigo and Atlético Madrid in their last matches without conceding a goal. Meanwhile, Elche are languishing near the bottom of the table.

Thanks to the Basques losing their opening two league fixtures, the bookies are offering attractive odds on a home win. The hosts triumphed 2-1 in this fixture last season - don't be surprised if a similar outcome at the San Mamés this weekend. 

Prediction: Athletic Bilbao to win: 2/5 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if Athletic Bilbao win the match. 

Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano, Saturday, 20:00 (BST)

Real Madrid will be eager not to fall further behind reigning champions Barcelona when they host a confident Rayo Vallecano outfit, who have only lost by a single goal in five of their last six visits to the Bernabéu with four of these contests ending 2-1 to the home side. 

Los Blancos have scored between two and four goals in three of their opening four league fixtures, with last Friday's 1-0 loss to Real Betis being the only exception in this sequence. 

Prediction: Real Madrid Goals Range 2-4: 8/15 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if Real Madrid score either two, three, or four goals.

Celta Vigo v Málaga, Sunday, 13:00 (BST)

Both teams will see this clash as an opportunity to secure a long-awaited first victory of the new campaign. Home advantage will undoubtedly help Celta Vigo, who drew with ten-man Getafe on Monday evening.

Málaga lost both of their opening two away games without scoring, so we expect the Galicians to prevail.

Prediction: Celta Vigo to win: 4/6 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if Celta Vigo win the match. 

Levante v Barcelona, Sunday, 15:15 (BST)

Barça have started the season in imperious form, so the bookies are offering short odds on them to win in Valencia on Sunday afternoon.

The Catalans found the net on three occasions in each of their last five meetings with Levante, and have scored between two and five goals in all of their opening four league outings. 

Adding a goals range leg when backing Barcelona to win will automatically boost your odds, enabling you to easily increase your potential returns.  

Prediction: Barcelona to win and score between 2 and 5 goals: 5/12 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if Barça win and score more than one but fewer than six goals. 

Real Sociedad v Atlético Madrid, Sunday, 20:00 (BST)

Real Sociedad host Atlético Madrid in one of this weekend's marquee fixtures. The Basques held on for all three points last weekend despite going down to ten men against struggling Elche, while Simeone's side suffered a bruising 3-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés.

Three of Atléti’s last four visits to the Estadio de Anoeta have ended in draws, and we expect the hosts to pick up at least a point on this occasion.

Prediction: Double Chance – Real Sociedad or Draw: 8/13 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if Atlético Madrid do not win the match

Villarreal v Real Betis, Monday, 20:00 (BST)

Two of LaLiga's best attacking sides clash at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Monday evening. Having failed to keep a single clean sheet across the opening weeks of the campaign, it's unsurprising that Villarreal are still searching for their first victory.

However, Iñigo Pérez's men have managed to score two goals in three of their first four league outings. 

Betis surprisingly conceded five goals against Levante during their last visit to the Valencian Community, while both teams scored in eight of their last nine away clashes with the Yellow Submarine. 

Prediction: Both Teams to Score (BTTS): 4/7 (bet365)

Explanation: This bet lands if both teams score, regardless of the final result.