LaLiga Matchday 1 Updates – Preview and Free Picks, The countdown to the start of a new LaLiga Santander season has finally come to an end and, after a summer of intense preseasons where the Spanish teams have been on North American soil playing friendly matches, a 2022-23 season begins that is marked by Barça’s apparent recovery after a simply spectacular transfer market.
Real Madrid, reigning LaLiga Santander and UEFA Champions League champions, want to continue to enjoy joy in the domestic competition and, despite not having added many players this season, they are a team that has full confidence in their squad and their coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
While the talent drains in LaLiga in the post-pandemic had lowered the level of the teams, this has now completely changed helped by FC Barcelona with the luxury additions they have made for the season. That is why Barça is once again a clear favorite to take the champion’s trophy this 2022-23.
In addition to Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, we have the ever-present Atlético Madrid, those coached by Diego Simeone will try to repeat the feat of two seasons ago when they managed to win the LaLiga title with a solid season.
It should be remembered that this year the Qatar 2022 World Cup will be played between November and December, so we will have 1 month of an unexpected break in the leagues. This could benefit the teams that do not contribute many international players since the top stars of the teams will arrive with an additional load at the time of the resumption of actions after the World Cup.
Now then, we will have a preview of the best matches at the beginning of the LaLiga Santander season.
LaLiga Matchday 1: Osasuna vs. Sevilla
When: Friday, August 12 at 01:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Osasuna +210 / Sevilla +138 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +205
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / SKY HD / NBCSN / DAZN
Where Can Stream? ESPN Play / NBC Sports App / DAZN App
The match that will mark the start of a new LaLiga Santander season will be Osasuna vs. Sevilla this Friday, August 12, 2022, which will be played at El Sadar Stadium, home of Osasuna.
In its third consecutive season in the first division of Spanish soccer, Osasuna will try to improve its participation in this campaign after finishing in tenth place in the standings in the previous tournament, only 1 point behind Valencia.
Osasuna wants to start this season on the right foot in front of its home fans, and a match against such an important rival that is called to be a figure in this championship as Sevilla would be ideal for the illusion of all the fans and the confidence of the players.
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On the other hand, the team coached by Julen Lopetegui wants to repeat the excellent season they played in 2021-22 when they were fighting at the top of the standings. Sevilla managed to be in second place in the table for most of the season, but, in the end, they could not withstand the onslaught of FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
Sevilla comes from a somewhat complicated preseason, where they could not deploy all their arsenal and only managed 2 victories, Angers (6-0) and Cadiz (1-0). In addition to this, they have the loss of Koundé due to his departure to FC Barcelona.
Now, with the help of their new signing, ex-Madrid player Francisco “Isco” Alarcón, we will see a new Sevilla this season.
Osasuna vs. Sevilla Betting Pick: Sevilla
LaLiga Matchday 1: Rayo Vallecano vs. FC Barcelona
When: Saturday, August 13 at 01:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Rayo Vallecano +1200 / FC Barcelona -526 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +560
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / SKY HD / NBCSN / DAZN
Where Can Stream? ESPN Play / NBC Sports App / DAZN App
The first of the greats, FC Barcelona begins its journey in this season 2022-23 of LaLiga Santander with only one goal, to be champions again. That is what they intend to start in this first match, which they will play at home, the Spotify Camp Nou next Saturday, August 13, 2022, against Rayo Vallecano.
With additions such as Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen, Kessié, and, maybe, Bernardo Silva and Marcos Alonso, FC Barcelona has had the best transfer market seen in recent years and, with this team, they intend to fight for each of the trophies they dispute.
The team coached by Xavi Hernandez faces this new season with a fresh and renewed air, the additions have raised the spirits and confidence of both managers and players, as well as the Culés fans.
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Despite having a very complicated season in every sense of the word, FC Barcelona managed to stay in second place in the standings, 13 points behind Real Madrid.
On the other hand, we have Rayo Vallecano, a team that managed to stay in the first division of Spanish soccer after achieving the #12 position in the general classification table last season.
Rayo Vallecano knows very well what it is to beat FC Barcelona at home, since, last season they managed to do it in the two matches played, both with a score of 1-0. But this was against a team that was not at its best moment and, now with this star-studded squad, we believe it will be different.
Rayo Vallecano vs. FC Barcelona Betting Pick: FC Barcelona
LaLiga Matchday 1: Real Madrid vs. Almería
When: Sunday, August 14 at 02:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Real Madrid -250 / Almería +540 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +390
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / SKY HD / NBCSN / DAZN
Where Can Stream? ESPN Play / NBC Sports App / DAZN App
The current LaLiga Santander champions, Real Madrid will start their journey in this new season 2022-23 visiting one of the newly promoted teams from the second division, Almeria, this Sunday, August 14, 2022. This match will be at the Power Horse Stadium.
A new season has started for Real Madrid, but the objectives are always the same, to achieve the most trophies they dispute, that is why it is one of the greatest teams in the history of world soccer.
Real Madrid managed to close a spectacular 2021-22 season by being crowned in less than 1 month in the two most important competitions they were playing, LaLiga Santander and UEFA Champions League, and, for this new championship, despite not having major additions, they intend to return to the top of the podium.
Los Blancos added two players to their ranks, defender Antonio Rüdiger and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni for this new season where they will fight for everything.
Real Madrid’s preseason in the North American tour was not as expected, since they started losing to FC Barcelona (0-1), drew against Club America (2-2), and managed to beat Juventus (2-0). And, this week, they play the final of the European Super Cup against the Europa League champion, Eintracht Frankfurt.
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On the other hand, Almeria must start their journey to stay in the first division of Spanish soccer in the worst possible way, against the current champion.
After 7 seasons, Almeria returns to the first division thanks to a spectacular season in LaLiga Smartbank last season, where they finished in first place in the general classification table with a good record of 24 wins, 9 draws, and 9 defeats, equal in 81 points with Valladolid.
Almeria is coming from 5 preseason games, where they accumulated 3 wins and 2 losses.
Real Madrid vs. Almería Betting Pick: Real Madrid
LaLiga Matchday 1: Atlético Madrid vs. Getafe
When: Monday, August 15 at 11:00 am ET
Moneyline odds: Atlético Madrid -112 / Getafe +320 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Draw Offs: +220
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / SKY HD / NBCSN / DAZN
Where Can Stream? ESPN Play / NBC Sports App / DAZN App
The first Derbi Madrileño will take place on this first day of LaLiga Santander, when Atlético Madrid visits Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, next Monday, August 15, 2022.
Atlético Madrid comes into this season with the illusion of repeating the feat achieved in the 2020-21 season when they managed to cut the hegemony of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in terms of trophies in the local tournament.
Like FC Barcelona, Atleti’s previous season was not as expected, they had many ups and downs throughout the tournament due to injuries to their important players. In this new season, and with the return of Álvaro Morata, the Colchoneros will try to get a new title for their trophy cabinet.
Atlético Madrid’s preseason is expected to be a reflection of what this new season will be like, as they managed to crush each of the opponents they faced. They started with a 4-0 win against Numancia, then 1-0 against Manchester United, 4-1 against Cadiz, and, they closed with an extraordinary 4-0 win against Juventus.
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On the other side of the pitch, we will have Getafe, one of the teams that were on the verge of being relegated to the second division of Spanish soccer last season, as they finished in 15th place in the overall standings, only 1 point above Granada, which was the last team to be relegated to the second division.
This is sad considering that just a couple of seasons ago they were fighting to get into European competitions, even assaulting the 4rth place on some occasions before finally getting the Europa League.
Getafe had time to make the necessary changes and hope to be a more competitive team in this new LaLiga Santander season.