La Liga Champions Crave a Winning Start

Barcelona vs Alaves

Football is back with a bang in La Liga as champions Barcelona begin their defence at the Camp Nou against Abelardo’s Alaves.

It’s a game which looks like a comfortable home win on paper, but the strangest results usually come at either end of the season and Ernesto Valverde’s Barca will be desperate to avoid an early upset.

The Babazorros will arrive at the Camp Nou as overwhelming underdogs but they like that and have stunned the Catalans before, back in 2017. But surely this is a mismatch, as far as top flight games can be. The hosts boast some of the world’s best players while Alaves will just be happy to secure another season in the Primera Division.

I think they probably will, but the big question is: could this be another season of La Liga domination for Barca?

Talking Points

La Liga 2018 betting markets have noted the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and installed Barcelona as clear favourites; odds-on at 1.74 with SBOBET.

So does Lionel Messi now the stand alone as the best player in Spain’s top league? His many fans will insist he always did, but the departure of his nemesis Ronaldo has taken one challenge away from the little genius. It will be fascinating to see how he reacts, particularly after another World Cup disappointment with Argentina.

Many of Valverde’s team starred at World Cup 2018, including winner Samuel Umtiti and Croatia’s playmaker Ivan Rakitic, who was subject of late to speculation surrounding a potential move to PSG while Barca pursued Manchester United’s unsettled star Paul Pogba.

Valued at over £110m and with a magical touch combined with an inner steel, Rakitic would be an asset to any of Europe’s top clubs, but for now, he’s staying put. And that’s something Messi will be pleased about, having told his club not to sell the Croatian star!

Ivan Rakitic will be one of Barcelona's main man in midfield in the 2018/19 la Liga season — Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic in action for Barcelona during the Spanish Super Cup 2018

Luis Suarez had a successful World Cup, linking up well with PSG man Edinson Cavani, as Uruguay looked like they may go all the way at one point. But his pre-season form has left fans asking for more bite from the striker.

Visitors Alaves need to make a good start to their third season in the top flight after impressing on their return to the Primera Liga in 2016/17 when they finished ninth and reached the Copa del Rey final.

But there was a touch of second season syndrome last term in the Basque country, as a slow start left Alaves with a relegation battle, which they eventually negotiated and finished in the relative comfort of 14th place.

Abelardo has worked hard to strengthen in the close season, picking up striker Borja Baston from Swansea on a season-long loan after the Swans were relegated from the Premier League. A product of the Atletico Madrid youth academy, Baston could well link up with another new arrival, Swedish forward John Guidetti.

Jony Rodriguez and Ximo Navarro have also been added to the numbers as Alaves aim for another season of consolidation.

It all promises to be a great competition, and you can keep up with all the latest La Liga 2018 news right here at SBOBET.

History

So this is a matchup between the 25-time La Liga winners and the 2016 Segunda Division champions! The overall head-to-head record is no surprise with Barca winning 15 to Alaves’ four, with two matches being drawn. SBOBET tips another win for the hosts, but it may not be a one-sided affair.

Barca have won the last four games between these two teams but they have all been pretty competitive, apart from a 6-0 thumping the Champions handed out at the Estadio de Mendizorroza in the 2016/17 season.

And don’t forget Alaves did shock Barca at the Camp Nou in the very same season, grabbing a 2-1 win with goals from Deyverson and Gomez.

But the big match of the 2017 season was the Copa del Rey final, when the La Liga newcomers made the final to face Barca, in a game the favourites won 3-1 with man of the match Leo Messi on target.

Ernesto Valverde’s men have had a mixed pre-season, following up defeats to Roma and Milan in the ICC Cup with victories against Sevilla and Boca Juniors as more of their World Cup stars returned.

Meanwhile, Alaves followed up three victories, including one against Real Sociedad, with a narrow defeat to Huesca.

Now it’s time for business.

Betting Tip

	Barcelona vs Alaves	Under 3.50 @ 1.98
	August 19, 04:15 (GMT +8)

This should be a winning start for Barca, and that is crucial for Valverde’s men who will be determined to snuff out any hope their rivals have of gaining an early advantage.

The handicap betting markets suggest there will be a two-goal margin, and that may well happen, but I think Abelardo will set his team up to frustrate. Alaves will be no pushover again this season, and while they will hope to get something from this game, a 2-0 or 2-1 defeat won’t worry them.

Of course, the Babazorros will aim for a repeat of their 2017 smash-and-grab, but that may be a distant dream come Sunday.