LA LIGA SUNDAY: Our football tipster The Ultra previews Sunday’s La Liga games between GETAFE V REAL MADRID, ATLETICO MADRID V RAYO VALLECANO and MALLORCA V BARCELONA all with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

GETAFE V REAL MADRID

1pm La Liga starts 2022 with a bang on Sunday as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are all in action! It’s going to be an entertaining day on BETDAQ Betting Exchange!, and we start with Getafe hosting Real Madrid. Although Real Madrid have played one more game than all the clubs in the top six in the table, they went into Christmas with a eight point lead over Sevilla in second. Given all the problems for Atletico Madrid and Barcelona this season, I would suggest the La Liga title is already in the bag for Real. Atletico and Barcelona aren’t even in the top four at the moment, and Sevilla won’t be a threat to Real to be honest. While things have been pretty straightforward at the top for Real, we’re going to have more drama at the bottom of the table this season. We have definitely formed a bottom five, and Getafe are one of those clubs. The only good news for Getafe fans is their results are going in the right direction at the moment.

Despite having the same number of points as Alaves in the bottom three, Getafe are unbeaten in their last five games and they have also managed two wins. They are definitely the club with the momentum down the bottom of the table, although obviously they run into the best side in the league here. Getafe won’t be expecting much from this game however, and anything they can get will be a bonus. Getafe have actually put together three impressive home performances, they created an xG of 1.62 v Cadiz, 1.64 v Athletic Bilbao and 1.48 v Osasuna. This is more than a level or two step up though, and I was surprised to see Real trading as big as 1.66 when I clicked into the market. I felt we’d see Real trading around 1.5 for this season, I know Getafe are heading in the right direction, but they are still an average side towards the bottom of the table. Real should win without too much fuss here, and the 1.66 is worth backing.

The Ultra Says:
Three points win Real Madrid to beat Getafe at 1.66 with BETDAQ Exchange.

You can view all markets here -> https://bit.ly/BDQGetRlm

ATLETICO MADRID V RAYO VALLECANO

3.15pm Next we have Atletico Madrid hosting Rayo Vallecano and I’m sure Atletico fans won’t enjoy me saying this, but this is a massive game in the race for a top four finish. Atletico haven’t been at their best this season, and they will kick off this fixture behind Rayo Vallecano in the table. Their title is gone, and now they just have to focus on getting Champions League football next season. They sit outside the top four at the moment, but I’m sure they are confident of catching Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano. It’s actually hard to believe Rayo Vallecano could only managed 6th position in the Segunda last season! The momentum they have had since the Playoffs has been incredible, and they are having the time of their lives at the moment. The xG table puts them in 6th too, so it’s not just luck that had them near the top of the table. They have been fantastic.

With Atletico not firing this season, this might not be the straightforward win the market expects. Atletico look more than a little short to me at 1.39. They just haven’t been creating the same volume of chances this season, and given the confidence of Rayo Vallecano I can see this game being a lot closer than the odds suggest. Atletico might come into the game off the back of three losses, but they have been exceptionally unlucky in those games. They finished with a higher xG than Real Madrid, Sevilla and Granada. When I say they aren’t at their best, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t playing well – they are, but even allowing for that I still feel the 1.39 is too short here. Rayo are a fantastic side, and they will create a lot of chances. The 1.39 is a nice value lay.

The Ultra Says:
Two points lay (liability) Atletico Madrid to beat Rayo Vallecano at 1.39 with BETDAQ Exchange.

You can view all markets here -> https://bit.ly/BDQAtlRay

MALLORCA V BARCELONA

8pm We finish a brilliant Sunday in La Liga with Mallorca hosting Barcelona. When you look click into this market, you almost think the 2.22 on Barcelona is a mistake! However, that just shows how far Barcelona have fallen this season. We all expected a decline after Messi left, but it has come much quicker and more dramatically than expected. Barcelona start this weekend in 7th, and with a good finish they will still expect to finish in the top four – they have to work hard for that. Who could have imaged saying that a few years ago, and not only that, they are now in the Europa League. Barcelona have been very unlucky at times, when they sacked Ronald Koeman after the Rayo Vallecano loss they actually finished the game with an xG of 3.14 in the 1-0 loss. The main problem is that without Messi they have lost their fear factor, and now every La Liga side feels that they can get a result against them. It’s just like Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson left.

It’s still surprising to see Barcelona odds against to beat a side who have come into La Liga from the Segunda and currently sit in 15th position. That’s a reflection of the lack of trust in this Barcelona side to get the job done and grind out an away win. While Barcelona have been creating chances recently they are still conceding goals and that’s been a massive issue for them all season. When you look at the xG figures from Mallorca you see that they like to play an open game, and they have been conceding quite a few chances recently. I have been burned already this season backing Barcelona at “bigger than usual” odds against average sides and I have to remind myself that they are these prices because Barcelona have changed. However, on the bare form here Barcelona should win. Mallorca concede so many chances that Barcelona should enjoy going forward here, and the 2.22 is worth backing – just don’t go mad given the struggles this season – two points feels right.

The Ultra Says:
Two points win Barcelona to beat Mallorca at 2.22 with BETDAQ Exchange.

You can view all markets here -> https://bit.ly/BDQMalBar