La Liga Matchday 31 betting preview: Draws everywhere
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We've enjoyed back-to-back profitable matchdays in La Liga as we pick up some serious steam heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
There's not a day of rest for the clubs as Matchday 31 begins Monday after Matchday 30 concluded Sunday evening.
Let's dive into those lines - odds courtesy of theScore Bet - and keep making money.
Atletico Madrid (-165) at Levante (+420), Draw (+255)
Atletico seem to be hitting a groove, at least on paper, following up a 5-0 win at Osasuna last week with a 1-0 victory over Valladolid on Saturday. Diego Simeone's side had to be incredibly patient in that second victory, though, with a late Vitolo goal earning the club all three points.
It's a lot to ask of Atletico to turn around and maintain that same intensity just days later against a Levante side that has been terrific since the restart. The Granotas followed up hard-fought draws against Valencia and Sevilla with a convincing win at Espanyol on Saturday and are playing with plenty of confidence.
Despite essentially being guaranteed safety, Levante should have no issue finding motivation for a visit from an Atletico side that has won just one of its last eight trips to Ciutat de Valencia. They will find a way to frustrate Simeone's men, who have struggled to win away from home with eight draws in 15 road matches this season.
Pick: Draw (+255)
Valencia (+140) at Eibar (+180), Draw (+215)
It wasn't the most convincing display, but Valencia finally picked up their first win since the restart Sunday in beating Osasuna 2-0 at the Mestalla. They're back on the road for this one, though, where they've struggled mightily this season with just a 3-3-8 away record.
Eibar is typically a tough place to visit, though they generally benefit from what they claim is the best atmosphere in La Liga. The absence of supporters hurts them in this regard, but they still play with plenty of confidence on home soil, as seen in their 2-2 draw against Athletic.
Expect a similar intensity from Jose Luis Mendilibar's side, as it desperately tries to distance itself from the bottom three. Eibar will have had an extra day of rest compared to their opponents coming into this one, which is a big deal in such a busy period. Valencia are winless in their last four trips to Ipurua and won't be coming away with maximum points Thursday, either.
Pick: Draw (+215)
Espanyol (+210) at Real Betis (+115), Draw (+220)
Sitting at the bottom of the La Liga table, time is not on Espanyol's side as they look to pull out of the bottom three over the final eight matches. Working in the Periquitos' favor is the fact that they're built to withstand such a busy schedule due to their impressive depth, a result of their participation in the Europa League this season.
That will help keep them fresh from match to match, and with four days off between fixtures, we should expect a spirited bounce back from Espanyol following their defeat to Levante.
Espanyol have been better away from home this season than at RCDE Stadium and will fancy their chances of leaving Benito Villamarin with a point given how Betis have struggled since the restart. Los Verdiblancos don't lose often on home soil, but they also haven't won a ton this season. Espanyol will bring a certain intensity that Betis will struggle to match, as the sides share the points in this one.
Pick: Draw (+220)
Full card:
- Villarreal/Sevilla draw (+210)
- Levante/Atletico draw (+255)
- Real Sociedad (-135)
- Eibar/Valencia draw (+215)
- Real Betis/Espanyol draw (+220)
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.