La Liga outright: Messi ‘backed to guide Barcelona’ to third successive league title

It’s already been an eventful season in Spain’s top flight, and it’s only December. So far, fans have seen newly-promoted Granada sit top of the table, as well as huge pressure on the bosses of the two biggest clubs in La Liga.

Both Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane and Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde have been feeling the heat in the dugout, yet both have managed to save their jobs thus far. Whether they can see the positions out for the rest of the campaign remains to be seen.

Wednesday’s El Clasico certainly wasn’t a classic, but it keeps the title race well and truly alive. The two giants of Spanish football go into matchday 18 level on 36 points, with Barca leading on goal difference.

Valverde’s side are currently 1/2 to win the title as the clubs head into their final game of the calendar year. Zidane’s men are available at 9/5 to clinch the title.

Also in the running are Atletico Madrid, who are currently 60/1 to win the league. They sit fifth with just seven league wins all season. Sevilla occupy third spot, and are 90/1 to cause a huge upset and secure the title.

The trio of Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Valencia are all currently 500/1.

And as for the goalscoring bragging rights, it’s once again Lionel Messi who is favourite to end the season on top. The Barca winger sits top of the charts on 12, level with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. 

Messi has claimed the top scorer award for the past three seasons, and is 2/5 to clinch it again this time around.

Benzema is available at 3/1 to be the league’s top scorer this season.

Luis Suarez shared second place with Benzema last season with 21, 15 behind leader Messi. Suarez is currently on nine for the campaign, and is 12/1 to finish top of the pile come the end of the season.

Also competing is Loren Moron of Real Betis and Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno. They both have eight this season, and have been given odds of 66/1 to be the league’s top scorer.

Barcelona stormed to another league title last season as their 87 points clinched top spot. They edged out the two Madrid sides, with Atletico claiming second and Real taking third. Valencia meanwhile just about sealed fourth.

It looks set to be a similarly nervy remainder of the campaign for the three big hitters of Barca, Atletico and Real, but only one can secure the coveted La Liga trophy come the end of the season.