The league that produced the player that lifted the Euro 2012 trophy, La Furia Roja, the #1 FIFA ranked side in the world (that’s Spain in case you weren’t paying attention) is gearing up for the most exciting two horse race on the continent.

Out of the Euro 2012 winning squad (of 22 players) only four didn’t ply their trade in Spain’s La Liga, and from the 18 that do play mainly in Spain, 13 play for the two sides who (seriously) contest the La Liga title; Real Madrid and Barcelona. 

Lionel MessiLa Liga Primera is the top division of Spanish football, and therefore should chart somewhere near the top of everyone’s best football league. La Liga 2012-13 gets under way on 18th August and you can expect another close-fought and antagonistic battle between the countries’ two favourite clubs; Blaugrana and Los Merengues. 

La Liga was established in 1929 and is now on its 82nd incarnation, La Liga 2012-13 (technically known as the Liga BBVA for sponsorship reasons) will run until 1st June 2012 and welcomes back the mighty, mighty Real Madrid as reigning champions after winning the 2011–12 La Liga campaign. 

First (two) among (un)equals

There may be a total of 20 teams contesting Real Madrid’s crown, including 17 sides from the 2011–12 season and three promoted from the 2011–12 Segunda División, but the sportsbooks have it as a clear and simple two horse race. Did we say two horses, make that two Arabian thoroughbred stallions ahead of a herd of Blackpool pleasure beach donkeys.

It should come as no surprise to ANYONE that after the odds on these two sides winning La Liga, there is a BIG spike in numbers. 

Real Madrid are the bookies favourites at 4/5 to win back to back trophies, with Barcelona hot on their heels at 6/5. Third place Malaga varies from 50/1 to 88/1, shop around and put a couple of pesetas on Malaga if you like, but treat that very much as a LOL bet, Madrid and Barca are where your BFH bets should go. 

My kingdom for a third horse

Even Mrs Richardson knows that it’s foolish to look to a team like Malaga as a genuine challenger to Real Madrid and Barcelona’s dominance over La Liga. As a measure of the gulf between the top two teams and Malaga, the hopeful Malga conceded four goals (at home) against both Real Madrid and Barcelona when they met last season.

It’s telling that even a side as well respected as CF Valencia, who finished the 2011-12 La Liga season third in the table are a massive 150/1 to win La Liga. Maybe it’s not surprising as Valencia were 30 points (that’s ten straight wins) behind Barcelona and 39 (do the maths) points behind Real Madrid. The big two are both 1/50 to record top three finish, the sort of odds that are only worth sticking loose Greek drachma on. 

If you want to bet as if you’ve got a pair, but with common sense check out the odds on “without Real Madrid and Barcelona” (aka the bronze medal) bets. But very few odds there excited Mrs Richardson. 

Set your diaries to FOOTBALL!

Barcelona and Real Madrid will play out their first el Clasico at Camp Nou just two months into the Liga season, with the return fixture scheduled for early March. These games are always the biggest deal in Spain (something akin to the Tyne / Wear derby in the English top flight) and really are season defining six-pointers. 

Even though there has been scant transfer activity for the Champions, Jose Mourinho’s men are looking well placed to complete back-to-back title wins, as they have the belief (and the accompanying confidence) that they can beat Barcelona over a 38-game league season.

Pointless fact alert!

The 2012 La Liga victory means that Real Madrid have won nine league titles, in summer Olympic years (you’re welcome!).

Ole!

The reigning champions Real Madrid begin their 2012-13 La Liga campaign at home to Valencia while Barcelona will entertain Real Sociedad at Camp Nou, expect both sides to blast out the blocks with wins. 

Barcelona re 1/7 to get all three points from their season opener while Real Madrid are 29/10.

It’s sad to say that even if a team like Atlético Madrid (somehow) pull a massive rabbit out of a very small hat and overtake either Real Madrid or Barcelona, are still a whopping 104/1 to beat them both and take the 2012-13 La Liga title.

What about the top goalscorer in La Liga odds?

Well may you ask. It’s another case of Barcelona, Real Madrid and then EVRYBODY else as the bookies have Lionle Messi as favourite to lift the Spanish golden boot at 18/19 closely followed by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo at 6/5; then “any other player” at 23/4. In case you doubt how good these guys are Ronaldo scored the fastest hat-trick of the 2011-12 season against Levante, in 12 minutes and 12 seconds (on 12th February 2012) and Messi scored the most goals by one player in any one match in last season’s La Liga (TWICE), he netted four against both Valencia (19 February 2012) and Espanyol (5 May 2012). 

Like their clubs, one player might just slip up but I doubt that they both will.

Soccer Betting Prediction: Barcelona (or Real Madrid!) will win La Liga 2012-13 anything else is a fool’s bet.