La Liga Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview August 18-20

Betting Preview for La Liga Matches August 18-20

WagerTalk La Liga handicapper Kevin Dolan presents his August 18-20 La Liga predictions and betting preview around key La Liga matches including Valencia vs Las Palmas and Barcelona vs Cadiz. Which teams is he looking to pick up points and which will have goal scoring? Read his La Liga betting tips now!

Valencia vs Las Palmas | Friday August 18 | 3:30pm ET

Valencia -130 | Las Palmas +400 | Draw +255

Valencia enjoyed an unexpected bright start to their 2023/24 LaLiga campaign last week as they secured a 2-1 road victory against Sevilla as underdogs in the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Los Che were able to capitalize on a late red card for the hosts in that game with substitute Javi Guerra firing the ball home with just minutes remaining to give the visitors the outright victory and a much-needed three points to boot.

Newly promoted Las Palmas meanwhile had to settle for a draw against Mallorca in their opening matchup, a real back-and-forth affair which saw a complete clash of styles, with Las Palmas’ possession-based attacking brand of football pitted against Mallorca’s five-man backline defensive set-up.

Friday’s matchup sets up to be similarly interesting as Valencia showed last year that they’re adept at shutting down the opponent’s short passing game, restricting their opponents to the 4th fewest short passes per game at home last season, the best record in the league behind only the top teams of Real Sociedad, Villarreal, and Barcelona.

However, with 69% possession last week against Mallorca, which was again second behind only Barcelona, and 28 free kicks in that game as well.

Las Palmas will no doubt look to test those defensive numbers of Valencia here on Friday and we like the value in taking the away side in this one catching the +0.75 handicap line against Valencia in the Mestalla.

Prediction: Las Palmas +0.75 (-120)

Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo | Saturday, August 12 | 3:30pm ET

Real Sociedad -130 | Celta Vigo +400 | Draw +255

Last season’s 4th-place finishers Real Sociedad got off to a less-than-ideal start last week as they secured a 1-1 draw against Girona.

Japanese international Takefusa Kubo opened the scoring for Sociedad after just five minutes, with the home side seemingly in complete control of the game, and Kubo especially continuing to be a major thorn in Girona’s side throughout the first half.

However, despite being in command of the game, Girona broke free mid-way through the second half in what was their only shot on target up to that point, putting through a goalward-bound header from newly acquired Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk in the 72nd minute.

That puts pressure on Real Sociedad to rebound in this game which is far from a done deal considering Celta Vigo have grabbed four points in their last four visits to San Sebastian in this fixture.

Celta Vigo were unable to find the back of the net themselves last week in a 2-0 loss against Osasuna, but had their chances in that game, especially in the second half, and could trouble a Real Sociedad backline that allowed the joint 14th most shots inside the 18-yard box out of any team in LaLiga last season.

Four of the last six head-to-head meetings between these two in this venue have seen both teams find the back of the net, and at a nice plus money price on Saturday, we’re backing that to hit once more this weekend in the game between Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad.

Prediction: Both Teams to Score – Yes (+116)

Barcelona vs Cadiz | Sunday August 20 | 1:30pm ET

Barcelona -445 | Cadiz +1200 | Draw +550

Barcelona will look to rebound off a disappointing draw last week against Getafe, a game in which they enjoyed over 75% of the possession in with 14 attempts on goal also.

A red card for playmaker Raphinha late in the first half of that game subdued a lot of Barcelona’s attacking play, and that over-reliance on certain players to find an opening for them could be a huge cause for concern ahead of this season as the Catalan giants notched a club record eleven 1-0 victories in the league last season.

Cadiz meanwhile got off to a positive start on Monday night against newly promoted Deportivo Alaves, with a late red card for substitute midfielder Gonzalo Escalante not enough to dampen the spirit of Los Piratas as they opened their 2023/24 campaign with a victory.

Barcelona had one of Europe’s top defenses last season and faces an offense in Cadiz that has struggled to find the back of the net across recent road meetings to Barcelona, scoring an average of just 0.50 xG per game across their last four visits here.

Barcelona however have looked far from lethal in attack themselves of late, and if Cadiz can sit off them here and look to soak up that pressure, it could be another long day at the office for Barcelona on Sunday.

Prediction: Under 3 (-115)