La Liga Match Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview May 23-25

Betting Preview for La Liga Matches May 23-25

WagerTalk La Liga handicapper Kevin Dolan presents his La Liga predictions and best bets around key La Liga matches including Celta Vigo vs Girona and Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano. Which teams is he looking to pick up points and which will have goal scoring? Read his La Liga betting tips now!

Celta Vigo vs Girona | Wednesday, May 23 | 1:30pm ET

Celta Vigo +105 | Girona -270 | Draw +245

Despite sitting on 39 points for the season, a total which would usually be just about enough to guarantee safety in most years, Celta Vigo are still forced to nervously look over their shoulder heading into matchday 36 as one of the most competitive relegation battles in recent LaLiga history continues it’s dramatic close out to the season.

Real Valladolid, who occupy the final relegation spot in 18th, sit just four points off Celta Vigo in the table, and with the Sky Blues recent run of four straight defeats in the league heading into the midweek fixtures, that’s a gap that’s a little bit too close for comfort as Celta Vigo will no doubt look to bank all three points on Tuesday night in order to take the pressure off.

They face a Girona side in this one that despite mounting a strong challenge for a European place over recent weeks, look to have fell short of that goal with an agonizing 94th minute injury time strike from Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno handing the Azulones only their second defeat in the league since March.

That will no doubt be a tough pill to swallow for Girona heading into this one and while we usually aren’t too enthusiastic about backing teams in ‘must-win’ spots like Celta Vigo as it’s often factored heavily into the line.

This game is an exception in our eyes as Celta Vigo’s data at home this season has actually been pretty impressive, ranking 7th in the league in defensive xGA and 2nd behind only Barcelona in opponent shots allowed per game inside the Estadio de Baladios as well.

With Girona’s race all but run this season along with Celta Vigo badly needing a result in this game, we’re happy to side with Celta Vigo on Tuesday to get the outright home win against Girona.

Prediction: Celta Vigo ML (+105)

Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | Wednesday, May 24 | 1:30pm ET

Real Madrid -160 | Rayo Vallecano +405 | Draw +320

It certainly hasn’t been an ideal week for the current Spanish and European champions Real Madrid as they were forced out of the Champions League via a 4-0 blowout against Manchester City last Wednesday, only to then return home and lose 1-0 to Valencia at the weekend also, slipping down to 3rd in the table as a result.

That Valencia result was made even tougher by the fact of Vinicius Junior’s dismissal late in that game after he became embroiled in a spat with Valencia fans who were seen hurling racist abuse at the Brazilian international, an argument which eventually led to a major scuffle with Valencia’s goalkeeper and Vinicius Junior receiving an automatic straight red card as a result, the first of his career.

An investigation remains ongoing within LaLiga about potential punishments for both sides, especially Valencia’s supporters conduct, but Real Madrid teammates were quick to rally behind their top assist leader this season.

This is something that could well play out with a much improved display from the Spanish giants in this one, even with a heavily modified squad on Wednesday.

Rayo Vallecano lost to relegation battling Espanyol over the weekend in what was a surprise result, and are steadily losing steam over the final portion of the season as they continue to sit safely in midtable.

Real Madrid own an exceptional H2H record against Rayo Vallecano over recent years in LaLiga, winning 12 straight games against them inside the Santiago Bernabeu and averaging a colossal 4.43 goals per game across their last seven meetings here also.

Look for Real Madrid to get back to winning ways on Wednesday with a comprehensive home victory against Rayo Vallecano.

Prediction: Real Madrid ML (-160)

Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao | Thursday, May 25 | 3:30pm ET

Osasuna +200 | Athletic Bilbao +140 | Draw +230

With just three games remaining on the season and a current six point gap between themselves and Real Betis in 6th spot, it appears Athletic Bilbao’s race has been run in terms of locking in a European spot for next season.

What definitely hasn’t helped with that has been a mounting list of injury concerns, as well as generating just one solitary victory over their last five league games also, the 3rd worst return in the league in terms of recent five game form.

They face an Osasuna side in this one who find themselves in very similar circumstances to their opponents, sitting just three points back from Athletic Bilbao in the table and facing a mounting injury crisis of their own.

That said, while Osasuna have been far from impressive at home this season, generating just four total wins inside the Estadio El Sadar since January 1st, Athletic Bilbao have also come off the boil away from home across recent matches.

This includes a 5-1 blowout loss against Villarreal last time out, as well as giving up the 5th most goals from open play this season on the road also.

Osasuna have won two of their last three meetings against Athletic Bilbao in Pamplona outright since 2020, and with the home side catching a plus quarter goal headstart here on Thursday, we’re expecting that run to continue in this one also.

Prediction: Osasuna +0.25 (-125)