Real Madrid will be looking to chalk up another victory and move a step closer to La Liga glory when they play host to Real Sociedad on Saturday (20:00 KO), while there are also huge games involving Barcelona and Atletico Madrid this weekend.
Los Blancos head into this fixture on a two-game winning run, having beaten Alaves 3-0 and Rayo Vallecano 1-0, and they need to keep picking up wins with second-placed Sevilla not giving up in their pursuit of the leaders.
Madrid take on a Sociedad side sitting sixth in the standings, just two points behind Real Betis in third, but Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be confident of overcoming this test based on their fantastic form at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Home Form Crucial for League Leaders
The table-toppers are unbeaten in their last 12 home matches across all competitions, while they have suffered just one defeat from their previous 30 home assignments – a shock 2-1 loss at the hands of Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League.
Sociedad did win their last away game, a 2-0 at Mallorca, but they had failed to taste success in any of their five away matches before that and a lack of consistency on the road is a real worry.
A Madrid win, on offer at 5/8, looks to be the betting route to go down.
Catalans in Top-Four Battle
It has been anything but simple for Xavi since he took the reins at Barcelona, but the former midfielder is starting to get a tune out of his side and they head to Elche on Sunday (15:15 KO) on a seven-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
The Catalans, fourth in the table and a point behind third-placed Betis, are also unbeaten in their last four away assignments and they take on an Elche side yet to fully pull themselves away from relegation trouble.
Francisco’s side are eight points clear of the bottom three and have lost two of their last three outings. However, they have won their last two home games and have suffered just one loss at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in the previous six.
Getting the better of Barcelona may be a bridge too far for Elche, but they should at least get on the scoresheet, with both teams to score at 10/11 appearing tempting.
Betis Primed for Atleti Test
Sunday’s final game, kicking off at 20:00 at the Benito Villamarin Stadium, is one that could have huge implications on the top-four race as Betis, third in the table, play host to fifth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Just one point separates these two teams but the form of both couldn’t be more different, with Betis winless in their last three across all competitions and Atleti looking to extend their unbeaten streak to four matches.
Diego Simeone’s men won the meeting earlier in the season, running out 3-0 victors, while they are unbeaten against Betis in the last five La Liga fixtures (W4 D1).
Atleti have outscored Los Verdiblancos 9-2 during their unbeaten streak and it is hard to ignore the 7/5 on the visitors coming away with all three points.
*All odds correct at time of writing
