Another fascinating weekend of La Liga action beckons with Spain’s top-flight providing entertainment on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Cadiz’s long trip north to Galicia to face Celta Vigo is Friday’s fare but our first picks come from the capital and Saturday’s standout game.
Much to Play for in Madrid
Both champions Atletico and Athletic Bilbao have made impressive starts to the season, claiming 10 and eight points respectively, with neither tasting defeat.
Los Colchoneros grabbed a 99th-minute winner to beat Espanyol last weekend and were also in Champions League action in midweek, drawing 0-0 against Porto.
Diego Simeone’s side built last season’s title-winning campaign on their fine home form, including winning last year’s edition of this fixture 2-1, and a repeat of that result is 37/4.
Athletic won the pair’s most recent meeting by the same scoreline in April and also won their last away outing at Celta 1-0.
Barring their 2-2 against a very good Villarreal team, Atleti have still to concede at home in all competitions but have looked decidedly uncertain at the back.
Los Leones, meanwhile, have scored in their last three games and could get on the scoresheet. Therefore, a ‘yes’ on Both Teams to Score is tempting at 13/10.
Real to Strike Mestalla Blow
On to Sunday and the top two meet at Mestalla as Valencia host Real Madrid with both teams level on 10 points.
Los Che boss Jose Bordelas is a man who seems destined for the top and the transformation he has brought about in his short time in charge has been remarkable.
Like at Getafe, his success is being built on solid foundations at the back but that’s not to suggest his team don’t play with flair, with Carlos Soler, 11/5 anytime, having netted three of his team’s nine goals this term.
Two of those have been penalties and Valencia are 5/1 to score from 12 yards but that might not be enough against a Real side who have mixed grit and glory in the embryonic stages of Carlo Ancelotti’s second spell in charge.
Los Blancos looked better at the back in Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League win away at Inter Milan but are yet to entirely convince. An away win on Sunday is 20/21 but taking the 11/4 for an away win and both to score might prove the way to go.
No Monday Misery for Barcelona
Fans have a rare treat to look forward to on Monday with Barcelona in action against Granada.
The Blaugrana did make one outing on a Monday last term, defeating Huesca 4-1, a fixture that snapped a 10-year run of them not featuring on the opening day of the week.
They may have revenge on their agenda having lost 2-1 to the Andalusians when the pair met at the Nou Camp last term.
Granada have still to win this season and have lost their last two La Liga matches by an aggregate score of 1-6.
Meanwhile, Barca have taken seven points from their opening three La Liga games but demonstrated their limitations on Tuesday as they went down 3-0 at home to Bayern Munich on Matchday One of the Champions League.
New boy Memphis Depay has netted in Barcelona’s last two La Liga games and is one to watch at 5/6 in the anytime market, on what should be a comfortable evening for Ronald Koeman’s men, evidenced by the home win being rated at just 5/18.
Therefore, it could pay to look for value and a Barcelona victory and over 3.5 goals at 33/20 could be one to explore.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
