I see Barcelona. I bet on goals. I don't need to overthink this. Look at Barcelona's last few matches, or in this case, their last nine. BTTS and Over 2.5 goals has now hit in their last nine matches across all competitions. This teams attack is next level, and is maybe only matched by how poor their defense is. They drew 3-3 to Belgian side Club Brugge in UCL. Barcelona under Hansi Flick have some things to figure out, but until they do, we need to keep betting on goals. Celta Vigo aren't far off, with BTTS hitting in 12 of their last 13 matches across all competitions. This is a classic, if it ain't broke don't fix it matchup! I'm taking all the goals.

Villarreal have started of this season in the best form possible. They're sitting third on the LaLiga table above the likes of Atletico Madrid and Real Betis. This team has looked borderline unbreakable... in league play. Villarreal are coming into this match after losing to Pafos in UCL play in a match where they were -400 favorites. This is bad for Villarreal, but good for us. This team under manager Marcelino do not sulk. They bounce back, and they do it immediately. Villarreal have won their last five straight against Espanyol, outscoring them 13-4. This game should have goals, but I'm expecting more for the visitors.

Valencia supporters you might want to look away this weekend. I'm expecting a repeat of what we saw both times these clubs clashed last season. Atletico won both fixtures 3-0 in the 24-25 season, and did so with ease. The timing is rough as Atletico Madrid are in scorching form, having demolished Real Betis, Sevilla and USG over the last two weeks. Valencia have failed to score in their last three league matches, and I believe that extends to four, as Atleti pick up a comfortable three points.

Osasuna is having trouble scoring goals...to this we have no doubt. At just nine scores in eleven matches, only just-promoted Real Oviedo has a lesser offensive record into the weekend. Five times already this season has Osasuna been blanked, and away from El Sadar have come all five shutouts, with Osasuna scoring just once in six away. Music tot he ears of Sevilla, which is looking to get well after a bit of a bumpy patch, but having recently looked irresistible at times, especially the 4-1 mauling of Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last month, and goals spread out among eleven different players this season. Play Sevilla on Money Line

Just last season Girona found themselves playing in Champions League football. They finished third in Spain back during the 23-24 season, then, completely fell apart. The club sold most of their best talent after their breakout season and collapsed. This year, they're last in LaLiga with only seven points in 10 matches. In recent weeks though, they've made an effort to transition into forward facing footy. After a slow start, they've now seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals hit in five matches straight. This is a team who understands they're in trouble of relegation, and are making the necessary tactical changes to score goals. I love the over, and would have played it at -120.

This is basically a pick'em; some of our books are giving the +0.5 to the visitors but a couple to the home side and that's what I want even at this price. Elche sits ninth in the La Liga table and is healthy. Real Sociedad is 14th and has a handful of knocks. In Wednesday’s training session, the absence of two key players stood out: Ander Barrenetxea and Arsen Zakharyan. The former is out and the latter -- not about to try and type either of those last names -- in doubt. Thus, Elche should have a good shot to end a six-game skid in the series, but we only care about a draw. Los Franjiverdes are yet to lose on home soil this season.

Can Mallorca snatch a result again in Sevilla? A few weeks ago, the Islanders did a number at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, and now back to Sevilla but over to the very large La Cartuja, where Betis has temporarily relocated this season while its home Benito Villamarin undergoes renovation. Mallorca has been able to pull clear of the drop zone with a few recent wins including the aforementioned 3-1 over Sevilla on October 18. We're also not thinking a 7-1 Copa del Rey thrashing of lower-tier Palma del Rio at midweek suggests Betis is back in gear after getting blanked twice in a row, and there might be a look-ahead to a Europa League showdown at Lyon later this week. Play Mallorca on Spread

This Basque Derby was looking like it would be a bit of a blase' affair up until a few weeks ago when Real Sociedad began to finally stir. It was the equivalent of waking from a long nap, as La Real was buried in the drop zone into earlier this month until the current three-match unbeaten run. Still, more quality on the Athletic side, which is also alive again in the Champions League after the recent win over Qarabag. Nico Williams is also back to regular duty in the lineup and is well overdue to score after several near-misses in recent outings. Play Athletic Bilbao on Money Line

Seems a very fair price on Getafe at home on Friday considering it sits 10th in the La Liga table with 14 points and Girona is dead last with just seven points, one win, a minus-7 goal differential, has allowed a league-worst 22 goals and with a few injury concerns. Other than that ... The hosts just scored 11 on Tuesday in trashing something called Inter de Valdemoro in the Copa del Rey. Getafe has won three of the past five in this series and has just one home league loss this season, coming to powerhouse Real Madrid and only by a goal.

Went back to the home dog angle today in soccer and cashed immediately from the Premier League. So we'll do it again Monday from La Liga, where these teams are tied in the table at 16 points. Following last Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at Arsenal in the Champions League, Atleti is now winless (some draws) in the past six away overall. It hasn't won on the road in this series in more than three years. Real Betis, without the injured Isco (almost typed Izzo as in Tom), plays its first home fixture since September, when it beat Osasuna 2-0. Los Verdiblancos (my high school Spanish is telling me the Green and Whites) haven't lost a domestic match anywhere since Aug. 31.

Note that seven goals were scored in each El Clasico matchup last season, with Barca doing the bulk of the damage (5-2 at the Bernabeu and 4-3 at Montjuic). In the second matchup May 11, Raphinha was Barca's catalyst with a brace and he's been ruled out out for Sunday, but that hardly leaves a dearth of options for Hansi Flick, who can still call upon Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and summer add Marcus Rashford, among others. Barca bothered Real Madrid with its pace last term and we'll see how Xabi Alonso handles tactics, but this matchup can't help but be played on the front foot, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius combining for 15 goals already for the Bernabeu crew. Play Real Madrid-Barca Over

It's been four matches since Villarreal won but we think there's a good explanation, as the Yellow Submarine has run into a tough slate, including Juventus and Man City in the Champions League plus Real Madrid and Real Betis in Liga, Villlarreal got points off of Juve and Betis, however, and we think might do a bit better in this very short ride to the Mestalla. Partly because Valencia might have trouble breaking thru vs. emerging Villarreal GK Luiz Junior, a quality shot-stopper who shined midweek vs. Man City despite the 0-2 scoreline. Note that Los Che enter on a four-match winless run which includes a loss to Real Oviedo at the Mestalla and becoming Girona's first victim of the season. Play Villarreal on ML

This is funny to me as I was asking myself the other day: "Self, will we get a total of 1.5 in soccer?" Kinda told myself I'd have to play something on the Over if so. There has been exactly two goals scored in each of the past four in this La Liga series. Just one Getafe match this season has seen less than two total goals scored. Athletic Club has been involved in matches with at least three total goals in three of its past four. Our model has this at 2.2 goals.

This matchup is a lot more intriguing than it would have seemed at the start of the campaign as both now sit in contention for European spots in the top seven of La Liga. We would urge shopping elsewhere for a draw price in this one which is on offer at +240 or thereabouts. The Spread, however, at least puts the draw in play and covera a win for Elche, if unlikely. The draw, however, is very likely, Elche in particular having played level in five of nine Liga matches already. and Espanyol in four of nine. Promoted Elche, in particular, is proving hard to breakdown in a Getafe-like sense, and goalie Inaki Pena off of a clean sheet vs. Athletic. Play Elche on Spread

Real Sociedad prepare to host Sevilla for the Friday LaLiga matchup, and the books are giving the hosts the edge in this one. I for one, do not agree with what the books are doing. Real Sociedad have six points over their first nine matches. They are one of the two sides in LaLiga who have found only a single win. Meanwhile, Sevilla are coming off a disappointing loss to Mallorca, but showed when they took down Barcelona 4-1 the week before what they are capable. Not only do I think Sevilla cover the spread, I think they win outright against a Sociedad side who has been limping through their matches.