Top four candidates to win the 2021/22 La Liga title
The 2021/22 La Liga season is now only a few weeks away after a summer filled with major international tournaments across three continents.
After beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to the title, Atletico Madrid will be aiming to win back-to-back La Liga crowns for the first first time since 1951.
However, that may be easier said than done, at least according to the bookmakers. If you fancy Atleti to spring another surprise this season, you can take advantage of DC sports betting odds or any other bookmaker of your choice and bet on Simeone’s men to lift the title again.
However, it pays to look at the landscape first. Barcelona and Lionel Messi dominate the conversation and for good reason. Lionel Messi has always been a polarising figure, depending on which side of the spectrum of liking him you stand, but the guy knows how to win titles.
After finally breaking his international curse at the 2021 Copa America this summer, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner pledged his future to Camp Nou, handing Barcelona's hopes of regaining La Liga control a massive boost.
Accompanied by the likes of Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay in the front third and backed by prodigious midfielder Pedri and long-serving stalwart Sergio Busquets, Messi will be decisive to the Blaugrana's title charge next term.
Despite the club's ongoing financial struggle, Joan Laporta has ensured Ronald Koeman has all the necessary tools to launch a steadfast title assault in the upcoming season.
Therefore, Barcelona are the joint-top candidates to conquer La Liga in 2021/22, with the bookmakers rating them as the 3/2 favourites to dethrone Atletico.
Sharing the limelight as the main favourites to win the Spanish championship is Real Madrid, who missed out on the top spot by a tiny margin back in 2020/21.
But before jumping to a premature conclusion, let's not forget that Los Merengues lost their defensive cornerstone, Sergio Ramos, to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer.
Another defensive mainstay, Raphael Varane, is also on the verge of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu, with the Manchester United move waiting in the wings.
Additionally, the recent tape scandal involving Los Blancos supremo Florentino Perez has rocked Madrid's world from top to bottom, casting doubts on the goings-on inside the club.
So, even though the bookmakers earmarked Real as one of the top title contenders, Carlo Ancelotti's side's involvement in the title race is all but a foregone conclusion.
Looking at Real's cross-town rivals Atletico, they look to be in a much better position heading into the new season despite the bookmakers seeing them as the 10/3 third-favourites for the title.
Diego Simeone's warriors lifted the La Liga crown in 2020/21 after dictating the pace in the league for the entire last campaign.
The Argentine has not only retained the core of the squad that left Barcelona a staggering 17 points behind this past season, but he also added Rodrigo De Paul to his star-studded roster.
The 27-year-old midfielder played a pivotal role in Argentina's 2021 Copa America title charge and was one of the most influential players in Serie A during his five-year stint at Udinese.
Meanwhile, Sevilla, who are always there, lurking in the shadows, are the fourth likeliest candidates to spoil the party for the big three.
According to the bookies, the Andalusian giants have outside chances of climbing to the top of La Liga at 16/1.
Led by ex-Real manager Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla secured a top-four finish with seven games to spare back in 2020/21, but interfering in the title race would require a monumental effort.