La Liga Matchday 23 Odds & Picks: Basque Derby Beckons

Sociedad are fresh off a midweek Cup win and will play host to Athletic who also advanced to the Copa del Rey semifinals yesterday. Photo by @RealSociedadEN (Twitter)

• Sliding Atletico Madrid (-244) are still firm favorites at home against Granada (+800), despite the former’s ugly exit from the Copa del Rey and utter lack of scoring
• The Basque derby pits Real Sociedad (+114) against Athletic Bilbao (+245) with both clubs coming off stunning Copa del Rey upsets over Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively
• Mired in the drop zone and winless in five, Celta Vigo (+230) host Sevilla (+121) with the latter eyeing up a Champions League spot

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While most of the world will be watching Barcelona (-112 at Real Betis) and Real Madrid (-185 at Osasuna) this weekend, there is excellent viewing to be had with the Basque Derby, in Vigo between two teams at opposite ends of the table and in Madrid where Diego Simeone’s Atleti struggles on.

Buckle up for Matchday 23 in Spain.

La Liga Matchday 23 Odds

All odds taken Feb. 6

Pick 1: Atletico Madrid vs. Granada

Diego Simeone’s Atleti (9-9-4) seem to be at a crossroads: They can’t score, and they can’t find the critical play to turn draws into wins.

As a result, they’re a distant sixth in the league table — what would be their lowest position in a decade — ahead of Saturday’s visit from Granada (9-3-10).

Atleti have not scored in their last four outings against first-division opposition, and are winless in five.

Granada are fresh off back-to-back 2-1 wins over Espanyol (league) and Valencia (cup).

Pick: Granada +1, 1.5 (-124)

Pick 2: Real Sociedad vs. Athletic Bilbao

Another tasty matchup pits Basque country’s two biggest clubs against each other at Anoeta on Sunday.

Real Sociedad (10-4-8) are fresh off a monstrous cupset over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, while Bilbao (7-10-5) dumped Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey in a similar upset.

Neither side is in great form — Sociedad is 2-0-3 in its last five, Bilbao an unremarkable 0-4-1 — but it’s sure to be an emotional clash.

Sociedad has won three of the last four meetings, but Bilbao earned a 2-0 result earlier this season at home on Aug. 30.

Pick: Bilbao pk, +0.5 (+103)

Pick 3: Celta Vigo vs. Sevilla

Despite their coaching change and an initial uptick in form under Oscar Garcia, Celta (3-8-11) remain in the drop zone and are winless in five.

Sevilla (11-6-5), on the other hand, are chugging along under Julen Lopetegui — tied for third in the league in a season that’s seen Atleti fall off at times and even Real and Barça stumble periodically.

Celta desperately need to start picking up points (wins, specifically) if they want to be the lone wolf of the bottom quartet — currently featuring Mallorca, Leganes, them and hapless Espanyol — to survive the season.

Sevilla are far from a juggernaut on the road, having lost their last three in all competitions away from the Sanchez Pizjuan, but Celta also haven’t won at home since October 6.

Pick: Sevilla (+121)

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