The Bundesliga may have returned to action a few weeks ago, and it seems like Bayern Munich are set to claim the title there needing just six more points from their final three games to land their eighth Bundesliga win in a row. However, other top leagues around Europe are now gearing up to get their seasons underway once again and this Thursday it is the turn of Lionel Messi and company as La Liga returns with a bang.

The first game since the restart will be one for the purists as it is the Seville derby, as Sevilla play host to Real Betis on Thursday evening (9pm Kick off UK Time). Like the Premier League, La Liga has spaced out its fixtures right across the forthcoming weeks to ensure that they can get the season completed in as quick a time as possible. That means football betting fans will have two big European leagues on offer shortly, with the Premier League also due to return from Wednesday 17th June too and Serie A getting back underway from June 20th.

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Let’s now take a look at the first batch of games taking place in La Liga which runs from Thursday evening through to the games on Sunday night, after which all 20 teams in La Liga will have played their first fixture.

La Liga Fixtures

Thursday 11th June

  • Sevilla v Real Betis (9pm)

Friday 12th June

  • Granada v Getafe (6.30pm)
  • Valencia v Levante (9pm)

Saturday 13th June

  • Espanyol v Alaves (12pm)
  • Celta Vigo v Villarreal (4pm)
  • Leganes v Valladollid (6.30pm)
  • Mallorca v Barcelona (9pm)

Sunday 14th June

  • Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (1pm)
  • Real Madrid v Eibar (6.30pm)
  • Real Sociedad v Osasuna (9pm)

As you can see, the fixtures have been staggered to allow for each game to be shown live, in the same way as the way the Premier League fixtures have been organised.

How does La Liga Stand at the moment?

All teams in La Liga have played 27 out of their 38 game season, which means that the teams still have 11 games to play. Barcelona are at the top of the table with 58 points and a goal difference of +32, two points ahead of Real Madrid on 56, who have a similar goal difference of +30.

After that there is a large gap between the top two and the chasing back which consists mainly of Sevilla (47), Real Sociedad and Getafe (46), Atletico Madrid (45) and Valencia (42). It is likely that these will be the teams battling it out for the third and fourth spots and Champions League qualification for next season, as well as the Europa League places for the 5th and 6th placed teams (although this may extend to 7th depending on who wins the Copa de la Liga trophy).

In terms of the middle of the table, there are a number of teams that will probably feel they are safe enough not to have to worry too much about the drop if they can win a couple of their remaining games. That goes from Villarreal in 8th down to Alaves in 14th and includes Granada, Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna, Real Betis and Levante in that group too.

The teams from 15th and lower are the ones with the most pressing relegation concerns. Valladollid lie 15th on 29 points, Eibar are 16th on 27, Celta Vigo are 17th and just outside the relegation places with 26 points. Mallorca occupy the first relegation spot with 25 points, then it is Leganes on 23 and at the foot of the table is Espanyol on 20 points and they are certainly the team in most trouble.

The run in for the top two – how does it compare?

Once again it appears as if Barcelona and Real Madrid have the title race to themselves and both these teams have already played each other twice this season, which means there won’t be a likely title showdown between the two in the final weeks (although both could still meet in the Champions League).

Barcelona hold a slight edge in the title race, and they do seem to have the easier run in of the two teams.

Barcelona Opponent Matchday Number Real Madrid Opponent
Mallorca (A) 28 Eibar (H)
Leganes (H) 29 Valencia (H)
Sevilla (A) 30 Real Sociedad (A)
Athletic Bilbao (H) 31 Mallorca (H)
Celta Vigo (A) 32 Espanyol (A)
Atletico Madrid (H) 33 Getafe (H)
Villarreal (A) 34 Athletic Bilbao (A)
Espanyol (H) 35 Alaves (H)
Valladollid (A) 36 Granada (A)
Osasuna (H) 37 Villarreal (H)
Alaves (A) 38 Leganes (A)

Barcelona only face Sevilla, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid from the top nine in their remaining games, while Real Madrid must face Valencia, Real Sociedad, Granada, Villarreal and Getafe in their remaining games from the same group of teams.

With so many games to pick from each day throughout June and July, it promises to be an unexpectedly bumper summer of football for fans to enjoy.