La Liga Matchday 2 betting preview & top picks | August 22-25

La Liga 2025/26 rolls into Matchday 2 this weekend, with Real Betis hosting Deportivo Alavés on Friday night to get things started.

After an opening week that served up a few early surprises and slow starts, the slate features plenty of headline clashes across Spain from Friday through Monday.

Our soccer betting experts have gone through all 10 games on the program this weekend and picked out the best bets for La Liga Matchday 2.

• 

  Fast Payouts

Real Betis vs Deportivo Alavés

Friday, August 22 – 9:30pm CEST – Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla

Real Betis’ “home” opener is at La Cartuja while Villamarín undergoes works, and Alavés arrive buoyed by a 2–1 Matchday 1 win at Levante. Alavés have gone unbeaten in their last five encounters with Betis, who drew 1–1 at Elche to start. On form, the double chance on the visitors is an appealing bet.

RDC Mallorca vs RC Celta Vigo

Saturday, August 23 – 5pm CEST – Estadi Mallorca Son Moix

RDC Mallorca were outgunned 3–0 by Barcelona on Matchday 1, with two first-half reds not exactly helping. Historically, RC Celta Vigo hate Son Moix, having endured a 21-year winless run in Palma before winning there in April earlier this year. The +190 with top sports betting sites for Mallorca to win is too hard to pass up.

Atlético Madrid vs Elche CF

Saturday, August 23 – 7:30pm CEST – Riyadh Air Metropolitano

Atlético Madrid’s home body of work remains elite, and Elche have never won away at Atleti — in any division. Diego Simeone’s men usually bully promoted visitors at the Metropolitano, and that may well be the case this Saturday.

Levante UD vs FC Barcelona

Saturday, August 23 – 9:30pm CEST – Ciutat de Valencia

Promoted Levante opened with a stoppage-time 2-1 loss against Alavés, while champions Barcelona cruised to a 3–0 win at Mallorca. The gulf in class plus an early-season rhythm under Hansi Flick points towards Barca cruising to another three points.

CA Osasuna vs Valencia CF

Sunday, August 24 – 5pm CEST – El Sadar

El Sadar is often unforgiving, and Valencia’s away form has been an issue for a while. The visitors’ last away league win came at this venue back in April 2024. Considering how Osasuna made Real Madrid work for the three points in their 1-0 loss last week, the hosts can grab their first win of the season.

Real Sociedad vs RCD Espanyol

Sunday, August 24 – 7:30pm CEST – Reale Arena

Real Sociedad beat Espanyol home and away last season, winning 1–0 on the road and 2–1 triumph in San Sebastian. Although Sociedad drew with Valencia and Espanyol rolled Atletico Madrid in the opening week, the home side should come out on top here.

Villarreal CF vs Girona FC

Sunday, August 24 – 7:30pm CEST – Estadio de la Cerámica

Villarreal beat Oviedo 2–0 on Matchday 1, while Girona conceded three in their loss at Rayo Vallecano. Back at La Cerámica, Villarreal should keep creating chances, and Girona rarely sit deep, so this points to chances both ways and goals aplenty.

Real Oviedo vs Real Madrid

Sunday, August 24 – 9:30pm CEST – Carlos Tartiere

Real Oviedo’s first top-flight home night in 24 years welcomes Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid. The Frenchman’s penalty handed Real Matchday 1 success with the only goal against Osasuna. Mbappe opened the scoring 17 times in the 2024/25 Liga campaign, and he can repeat the dose this weekend.

Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano

Monday, August 25 – 7:30pm CEST – San Mamés

Athletic Club have the wood over Rayo Vallecano in recent times, winning six of their last seven meetings. The only points dropped by the hosts in that stretch was a goalless draw in 2023 at the Vallecas. With 3–1 and 4–0 wins over Rayo in the last two clashes at San Mamés, the trend looks set to continue.

Sevilla FC vs Getafe CF

Monday, August 25 – 9:30pm CEST – Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán

This matchup trends low-scoring of late. Last season at the Sánchez-Pizjuán finished 1-0 to Sevilla, and the last three league meetings have produced only two goals in total. As only nine of Getafe’s first 30 league games in 2024/25 went over 2.5 goals, it points to another slow, narrow game between the two.