Ahead of the 21/22 La Liga season, we've looked into the opening outright odds to win the title.
Atletico Madrid ran victorious last time out, after starting the campaign with an underdog price of 3/1.
Have they been made the favourites to retain their crown though? Take a read below.
Despite their worst points tally and league position in thirteen years, Barcelona have been made the slight outright favourites to win La Liga next season, at a short price of 6/4.
Lionel Messi's presence will always have such an impact on the Spanish giant's low odds, but their label as the favourites will likely surprise fellow readers.
Barca looked a shadow of their former-selves last season, finishing outside of the top two for the first time since 2008. The players have not warmed to Ronald Koeman's methods, with the manager reportedly only staying on due to a pay-cut taken. Financial troubles will dominate the La Liga club this summer, with €200,000,000 needing to be offloaded from their bills.
Players will depart and until they do, the likes of Messi, Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero cannot be registered to the squad. It's impossible to call what their squad will exactly look like come the first day of the season, hence our surprise at their significantly short odds.
It was a bitter end to the season for Real Madrid. Not only did they lose the league title on the final day, but they also said farewell to Zinedine Zidane and long-standing captain Sergio Ramos. There will some uncertainty as to how the Spanish club fare, particularly without the latter, not to mention, should Raphaël Varane also head for the exit door.
In a nutshell, like Barcelona, Madrid's summer preparations do not look to be ideal to be mounting towards a title charge. Despite this, their odds are equally as low at 13/8.
On the flip side, if one person can offer a blanket of security, it's Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian was a fan favourite at the Bernabéu, winning 74.79% of his games during his first stint with the club. Whether he has the same financial resources to place with though, remains uncertain. Kylian Mbappe's name continues to circulate in the speculation, but deals of over £100m still seem optimistic this summer.
With limited signings coming through the door, Madrid will need their usual veterans to regroup and go once again. It will also serve as a pivotal opportunity for their youthful attackers to step up to the plate.
Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid have become one of football's favourite underdogs. Their 2014 title victory broke a run of nine years of dominance between Real and Barca, before waiting another seven for their next one.
Despite these two title parades and successive 2nd place finishes in 2018 and 2019, Simeone's men will always be constituted as slight underdogs. This tends to be reflected in the betting odds too - despite being the reigning champions, they find themselves at 7/2 to defend their crown.
In terms of looking ahead to the new season, it will be business as usual. Same style of play, same transfer business. The robust Rodrigo de Paul has already come through the door, and the familiar face of Antoine Griezmann looks set to return too.
Already a well-equipped squad, there are no reasons to justify a dramatic Atletico drop-off. Barca and Madrid, motivated for revenge, may naturally improve, but we expect another tight race.
Amongst all the transfer chaos at the top, as we have delved in, could another side emerge and capitalise?
Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla were the standout team last season, comfortably clinching 4th place for the second successive campaign and finishing just two points off Barcelona. They are best priced at 25/1 to win La Liga, with the squad possessing some real attacking gems. They have a reliable goalscorer in Youssef En-Nesyri, and two lively wide players in Lucas Ocampos and Suso.
Moving beyond Sevilla, and the prices drastically surge.
Real Sociedad started last season strongly and we had tipped them at 66/1 to go far and cause an upset in the Europa League, before being unluckily drawn against finalists Manchester United. They do pose a threat against the big boys, but their inconsistency justifies their long-shot odds of 66/1 to win the league.
Real Betis and Villarreal come in at 100/1 - of the two, the latter look the most likely for those fancying an outside punt. Unai Emery showcased his managerial abilities with the Yellow Submarines during his debut campaign, becoming the first manager to win the UEL on four separate occasions.
