European Football Leagues Week 1 Tips: Mallorca vs Barcelona & More
La Liga and Ligue 1 make their returns on Friday and there are some exciting matches to enjoy in the French and Spanish top flights this weekend.
We have picked out a tip in three of the biggest matches on the continent, where there should be positive results for one of Spain’s most in-form sides and the team likely to run PSG closest in France.
Tip 1 – Marseille to win @ 22/25
Rennes vs Marseille (Friday, 7.45pm)
Roberto De Zerbi’s debut season in Marseille was full of the three things most associated with the Italian - goals, bust-ups and excellent results.
The former Brighton boss fell out with players and the board at points throughout the campaign, but despite that, still managed to outscore and finish above every Ligue 1 side bar runaway champions PSG.
OM should only improve under De Zerbi, with another second-place finish being the minimum aim, and they can get their season off to the perfect start by taking the spoils in Ligue 1’s curtain-raiser at Rennes on Friday night.
The hosts’ 10th-place finish in 2024-25 was their worst in a decade and while they will be hoping for better this time around, they may have to wait until week two to get any points on the board.
Marseille have won their last five opening fixtures, as well as four of their past five meetings with Rennes, and rate the far stronger side.
Tip 2 – Barcelona to win and both teams to score @ 33/20
Mallorca vs Barcelona (Saturday, 3.30pm)
Barcelona earned four points more than Real Madrid to regain La Liga from their bitter rivals last season and they can be expected to get their title defence off to the perfect start at Mallorca.
That being said, the hosts enjoyed a decent season themselves, finishing a respectable 10th, and they may have enough to trouble the champions on the opening weekend.
Mallorca have netted three goals across their last two home matches against Barcelona and ended the season in fine scoring form, with both teams to score landing in 10 of their final 12 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
However, any goals they do manage look sure to be in vain. Barca netted a mammoth 102 times while securing the title last term and have only strengthened their frightening frontline by bringing in Marcus Rashford to help out Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
Tip 3 – Valencia to win @ 6/4
Valencia vs Real Sociedad (Saturday, 8pm)
Valencia and Real Sociedad are sides that ended last season in drastically different ways. Only five teams earned more points from their final 10 La Liga games than Los Che’s 18, while Sociedad lost five of their final eight matches to slip all the way down to 11th.
Given Real Sociedad were 15 points clear of then basement boys Valencia at the halfway point, it is telling that the pair both finished on 46 points. The job Carlos Corberan has done with Los Che is nothing short of sensational and their upward trajectory can continue on the opening weekend.
Martin Zubimendi will be sorely missed by Real Sociedad, who lost this fixture 1-0 last term, and new manager Sergio Francisco showed nothing in his spells with the Basque side’s B and C teams to suggest he is the man to suddenly improve their fortunes.
It is much easier to have faith in a settled Valencia, who have a top-quality manager and won five of their final seven home matches of last season.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
