Super Soccer Betting Weekend: Real Madrid vs Barcelona & Liverpool vs Man City Odds
When it comes to soccer betting, Canada knows its stuff. The game has never been more popular here, thanks in part to the recent success of our national team. But we’re also naturally very interested in EPL betting, given our ties to the mother country, and La Liga betting is always a treat when Real Madrid and Barcelona are doing battle.
It just so happens that the latest El Classico between these two Spanish titans is coming up this Sunday. And not long after that match gets underway, the two most recent champions in the Premier League will meet when Liverpool host Manchester City. Here’s a sneak preview of what you can expect before you place your bets at Bodog Sportsbook.
El Classico Betting: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
It just wasn’t the same there for a while. FC Barcelona were on top of the soccer world for almost 30 years, before they ran into debt issues in 2020 and fell to third place in Spain’s Primera Division. Barca couldn’t even afford to re-sign Lionel Messi after his contract expired last year, allowing their talisman to sign with French club Paris Saint-Germain – where Messi scored 40 goals and won his seventh Ballon d’Or trophy as the best player in the world.
Real Madrid were quick to take advantage, winning two more titles over the past three years while Barcelona were busy rebuilding their front office. But soccer’s greatest rivalry is back: As we go to press, Real and Barca are tied atop the La Liga table with identical 7-1 records. And it’s Barca who have impressed the most, allowing just a single goal thus far while scoring 20 of their own to lead the league.
The arrival of Robert Lewandowski to Camp Nou has made all the difference. Lewandowski is one of the top strikers of all-time, racking up eight straight Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich while leading the league in scoring each of the past five seasons. The Polish sensation finished a close second to Messi in last year’s Ballon D’Or voting; with nine goals in his first eight La Liga matches, Lewandowski is well on his way to usurping Messi’s throne.
They still have to get past Real Madrid, though. And that won’t be an easy task when they meet this Sunday (10:15 AM ET) at Santiago Bernabeu. Real still have one of the best and deepest squads anywhere, plus a brilliant manager in Carlo Ancelotti who would no doubt relish picking up all three points against his biggest rivals.
Real will also have two key players back in uniform when forward Karim Benzema (thigh) and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (sciatic nerve) make their return to the pitch. That makes Real the +125 home favourites on Bodog’s 1X2 soccer betting lines, with Barcelona priced at +200 and the draw at +245.
Liverpool vs Man City
While Barcelona have returned to form, Liverpool are trending in the opposite direction. The 2019-20 English Premier League champions are 10th on the table with two wins, four draws and two losses, and they’re coming off a 3-2 defeat at the hands of first-place Arsenal.
This has been a rough year for former Golden Boot winner Mo Salah, who’s stuck on just two goals after eight matches. To make matters worse, winger Luis Diaz will be out until December after injuring his left knee versus the Gunners. Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold also hurt his ankle in that match; he’s expected to miss the next two weeks for the Reds.
On the other side of the pitch, Manchester City find themselves in a familiar early-season position: not at the top of the table. It’s become common to see the Sky Blues catch fire and eventually run away with the Premier League, but for now, they’re a single point behind Arsenal with seven wins and two draws in their first nine matches.
Make no mistake: Man City are the best team in the division. They lead the league with a +24 goal differential, 11 better than second-place Arsenal. Erling Haaland, the incredible 22-year-old striker they signed from Borussia Dortmund, already has 15 goals this season, including three hat tricks. At this rate, Haaland is almost certain to snatch that Ballon D’Or award away from Lewandowski and Messi.
First things first. City haven’t always had great success at Anfield, but this Sunday (11:30 AM ET), they’re big –120 favourites to win this matchup, with a Liverpool win (+285) as juicy on the soccer betting odd board as it has been in a long time. We’ll soon see if manager Jurgen Klopp has any tricks up his sleeve that can help salvage at least a point for the Reds at home.
Bet on Soccer with Crypto
Before you put down money on either of these important contests, consider using cryptocurrency to place your bets if you aren’t already. Crypto betting is without a doubt the best way to bet at Bodog Sportsbook; your transactions go through much more smoothly, with greater speed and security – and considerably lower fees attached – than traditional methods.
You’re not limited to just using Bitcoin, either. Bodog is pleased to accept the following digital coins, with more being added to the list as they gain a firm foothold in the crypto space:
– Bitcoin
– Bitcoin Cash
– Ethereum
– Litecoin
– Tether
If you’re concerned about the price of Bitcoin or any of these coins going up and down, fear not; when you deposit with crypto at Bodog, we automatically convert your funds to Canadian dollars, then back again when you withdraw. All you need is a crypto wallet and an account at a crypto exchange, both of which you can get for free.
Check out our Bitcoin video tutorials to see how easy it is to use cryptocurrency at Bodog Sportsbook, and make sure to claim your super-sized bonuses when you do. Our crypto FAQ and Help guides will tell you more; in the meantime, get ready for the biggest weekend of the soccer betting season, and enjoy the matches.