LaLiga Matchday 4: Top two meet when Real host Betis in home opener

There is a super Saturday in LaLiga with the big three all in action ahead of the Champions League kicking off in midweek.

Early leaders Real Madrid face nearest challengers Real Betis and Atletico Madrid are at Real Sociedad.

The late game sees struggling Sevilla welcome Barcelona to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan. We preview all the main matches below.

Game of the week: Real Madrid vs Real Betis (Saturday, 3.15pm)

The only two teams with 100% records after three rounds of LaLiga fixtures go head-to-head when leaders Real host second-place Betis.

Los Blancos are back at the Bernabeu for the first time having beaten Almeria, Celta Vigo and Espanyol on the road, while Betis have seen off Elche, Mallorca and Osasuna.

Los Verdiblancos have a strong recent record in the capital, keeping clean sheets on each of their last five visits to Real and winning two of those games.

But current Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini has won just 15.8% of his matches against Los Blancos in LaLiga, his lowest percentage against any opponent in the division.

Vinicius Jr will be keen to impress the returning Bernabeu crowd after scoring two goals and assisting one in the past two games. Only Karim Benzema (21) and Iago Aspas (17) have more goal involvements in the division than the Brazilian (16) in 2022.

Celta Vigo vs Cadiz (Friday, 8pm)

After finishing mid-table last term, Cadiz head to Celta Vigo as the only pointless and goalless team in LaLiga.

It is 32 years since they last went four games in a row without scoring, though they did win 2-1 on their last league visit to Vigo.

The hosts picked up their first victory of the season at Girona last week thanks to an Iago Aspas goal.

That made it three in three for the 35-year-old, who would become just the second player in Celta’s history to score in each of their opening four top-flight games if he continues his run.

Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid (Saturday, 5.15pm)

Atleti head to Sociedad hoping to continue their recent strong record at the Reale Arena.

Diego Simeone’s side have won on each of their past two visits, while they are looking for a fifth consecutive away win in LaLiga.

Both sides sit on six points and La Real lost their only home game so far against Real Madrid, while they have maximum points from both of their road trips.

Antoine Griezmann looks like a man back to his best this campaign for Atleti — after netting just three times last term, he has scored two in three already.

Sevilla vs Barcelona (Saturday 8pm)

Sevilla’s worst start to a LaLiga season in 41 years may get even worse with bogey side Barcelona visiting Andalusia on Saturday.

Not since the 1981-82 campaign have they taken one point or fewer from their opening three games and they have only beaten Barca once in their past 30 meetings.

Xavi’s men followed up a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano on the opening weekend by beating Sociedad and Real Valladolid.

They have only conceded one goal in those games, their joint-lowest tally at this stage in the past five seasons.

Other weekend fixtures

Mallorca vs Girona (Saturday, 1pm)

Osasuna vs Rayo Vallecano (Sunday, 1pm)

Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol (Sunday, 3.15pm)

Villarreal vs Elche (Sunday, 5.30pm)

Valencia vs Getafe (Sunday, 8pm)

Real Valladolid vs Almeria (Monday, 8pm)