Back Real Madrid on the Road

Can Real Madrid hit the Over on their visit to Valladolid on Matchday 21? Photo by @realmadrid (Instagram)

• After a narrow cup win at tiny Ibiza, Barcelona (-152) face a tricky test away to European hopefuls Valencia (+350) on Saturday
• Real Madrid (-233) travel to Valladolid (+580) hoping to repeat the 4-1 win they earned there last season
• Sevilla (-250) will be looking to make a statement at home against Granada (+660), which is a long way removed from its best form of the season and slipping towards the bottom half of the table

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Co-leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid are nursing a comfortable eight-point lead over the likes of Atletico Madrid and Sevilla; will Matchday 21 see either drop points on the road?

Probably not, but let’s take a look at their matchups in-depth regardless.

La Liga Matchday 21 Odds

All odds taken Jan. 23

Pick 1: Valencia vs. Barcelona

Make no mistake: This is not an easy trip for Barcelona (13-4-3), who traveled to Ibiza — club beat intensifies — midweek and nearly lost to a third-division side in cup play.

Valencia (8-7-5) has drawn each of the other top four teams already this season, and split Barcelona an even 1-1-1 over their three meetings in 2019; a 4-1 walloping suffered at the hands of Mallorca last matchday was out of character, and Celades’ team will be eager to tighten things up defensively.

Pick: Valencia +0.5, 1 (+104)

Pick 2: Sevilla vs. Granada

While Sevilla (10-5-5) has negotiated a number of speed bumps and remained in the Top-5 conversation, Granada (8-3-9) has suffered through two ugly stretches in the last few months and tumbled down into the jumble of mid-table.

Julen Lopetegui’s squad has battled inconsistency at times, but nowhere near the same degree as Granada; Diego Martinez’s squad has seen its offense dry up in recent weeks, with shutout defeats in each of its last four away matches.

Expect Sevilla to take care of business at home against a Granada outfit that’s been listless away from the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes as of late.

Pick: Sevilla -1, 1.5 (-109)

Pick 3: Valladolid vs. Real Madrid

Don’t overthink this one: It’s 15th in the table, draw-happy Valladolid (4-10-6) and co-leaders Real Madrid (12-7-1).

Real won this same fixture 4-1 last season, and Zidane’s squad has rediscovered its offensive flair in recent weeks. Valladolid, on the other hand, have not won in the league since early November and just got knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-division Tenerife.

Expect a goal-fest if Madrid can breakthrough in the first half.

Pick: Over 3 (+114)

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