La Liga: Matchday 2 predictions, best bets and odds

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The second round of the league is the first in which all teams compete, and it marks the point where the championship should start to settle into a more regular rhythm. The huge clash at the Metropolitano is undoubtedly one of the highlights of an attractive matchday, which also features Madrid visiting Cornellá-El Prat, where they lost a couple of years ago, and Barça travelling to Elche. Here are our predictions for the matchday.

Rayo Vallecano v Alavés: Thursday, 20:00 BST

Beñat San José’s Rayo Vallecano play their first home match after a frustrating defeat in Seville on the opening weekend, against an Alavés side that was one of the sensations of the first round, beating Getafe 3-0. It’s still early days, but it remains to be seen how the high morale of the babazorros and Rayo’s ability to bounce back under their new manager at Butarque will affect the match.

We believe Rayo will find the net, as they have in the last four league meetings between these two sides - all of which they’ve won, scoring between one and three goals in each, as well as in 15 of their last 16 official home games, with the only exception being an irrelevant European defeat to Samsunspor.

Tip: Rayo to score between one and three goals – 4/9 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Rayo score one, two or three goals, regardless of how many they concede or the final result.

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Real Betis v Real Sociedad: Friday, 20:00 BST

Two teams featuring in one of the most attractive clashes of the weekend. Both sides have strong attacking potential, as shown in pre-season against good opposition, and neither were among the best defensive teams last season. For this reason, as happened in both meetings between these teams last season, we expect both sides to score, also bearing in mind that the defences may not yet be fully settled at this stage of the campaign.

Tip: Both teams to score – 3/4 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score at least one goal.

Athletic Club v Sevilla: Saturday, 16:00 BST

Another of the league’s big guns enters the fray, with Terzic’s Athletic making their home debut. The Basque side have won four of the last six meetings between these two, and their performances at San Mamés are usually noteworthy. García Plaza’s Sevilla showed competitiveness and a survival instinct in the first round, but we believe the northerners will come out on top in their league debut, especially in front of their home fans.

Tip: Athletic to win – 7/10 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Athletic wins.

Espanyol v Real Madrid: Saturday, 20:30 BST

Espanyol made a fantastic start last weekend, sweeping aside Levante 3-0, and will surely come into this match full of confidence, even though this fixture hasn’t usually gone their way. Madrid have won six of the last seven meetings between the two, although they have lost on two of their last four visits to the Periquitos’ stadium. It probably won’t be easy for Mourinho’s much-strengthened side to get the win, but we expect them to do so in the end, and the odds are quite decent.

Tip: Real Madrid to win – 21/50 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Real Madrid wins.

Atlético de Madrid v Villarreal: Sunday, 16:00 BST

This article is being written before Atlético de Madrid host Málaga in their league opener, but we expect Simeone’s side to be in good shape and physically and mentally ready to compete, putting aside all the summer fuss over Julián Álvarez’s future. Íñigo’s Villarreal showed flashes in the first round in Santander, although their defence left much to be desired. This is a tough match to call, but we can expect goals from both sides, as has happened in eight of the last ten meetings between these teams and in two of the last three visits by the Castellón side to the Metropolitano.

Tip: Both teams to score – 4/5 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score at least one goal.

Elche v Barcelona: Sunday, 20:30 BST

Barça make their league debut in the Valencian Community, against an Elche side that rescued a point from their opening match in A Coruña. The Illicitanos showed good ball control, but it remains to be seen if they can maintain the home strength that was key to their survival last season. Barça, who have been very active in the transfer market and are not done yet, come into the league having shown their attacking strength in pre-season, but also some defensive weaknesses. The Catalans have won the last eight meetings between these two, scoring between two and five goals each time, so we expect a similar outcome here.

Tip: Barça to win with between 2 and 5 goals scored –  8/15 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Barça win, scoring more than one and fewer than six goals.

Osasuna v Levante: Monday, 18:30 BST

Osasuna make their league debut after a fungus outbreak at Balaídos caused the postponement of their visit to Celta, which will now take place just three days after this match – a decision that has caused huge controversy, as both clubs had agreed on another date but LaLiga acted unilaterally. There are therefore few references for this Osasuna side managed by Ramis, but we expect them to remain a reliable home team, as usual. Levante looked poor away at Espanyol and, unless they improve a lot, will find it hard to get a result in Pamplona, something they’ve failed to do in five of their last seven league visits to the rojillos’ ground.

Tip: Osasuna to win – 4/5 @ bet365

Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Osasuna wins.

Odds correct at time of writing, subject to change.