MY ACCOUNT
Reigning LaLiga champions Real Madrid are enjoying a perfect start to the season — and can extend their winning run against Mallorca at the Bernabeu.
But Barcelona are just two points off the pace and will be looking to keep the pressure on when they travel to basement boys Cadiz.
Meanwhile, fourth take on third when Real Betis host Villarreal, while seventh face eighth as Atletico Madrid play Celta Vigo.
Further down the table, 17th-placed Sevilla will be hoping for their first win of the campaign as they visit Espanyol.
Game of the week: Real Madrid vs Mallorca (Sunday, 1pm)
Real Madrid are the only team left in Europe’s top five leagues with a 100% record — and history suggests they will continue that run for at least another round of fixtures.
Los Blancos have won eight of their last nine against Mallorca (one defeat), as well as the last six in a row at home. In LaLiga, Mallorca have lost more games (39) and conceded more goals (131) against Real Madrid than any other opponent.
However, 11th-placed Mallorca are in good form, losing just one of their last seven league games (three wins, three draws).
Furthermore, Carlo Ancelotti’s hosts are yet to keep a LaLiga clean sheet this season, conceding exactly once in each of their four matches thus far.
Cadiz vs Barcelona (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Cadiz are suffering their worst-ever start to a LaLiga campaign, losing each of their first four fixtures without scoring.
They are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to find the net and have mustered the fewest shots on target (seven).
Meanwhile, no Spanish top flight side has faced fewer shots so far than Barcelona (31), who have conceded just once.
No club has won or scored more against Cadiz in LaLiga than Barcelona (19 wins, 59 goals) — but recent history tells a different story.
Cadiz are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Barca (two wins, two draws) and kept a clean sheet in each of the previous two.
Real Betis vs Villarreal (Sunday, 8pm)
Real Betis and Villarreal’s clash sees two high-flying sides meet in what should be a closely-fought contest.
Both teams have been impressive defensively — Betis have won and kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home games, while Villarreal are the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to concede a goal.
The pair have also been clinical at the sharp end of the pitch, with Betis boasting the highest conversion rate of any team in the division (17.5%), while Villarreal are third (15.5%).
This encounter could be settled by individual brilliance — and the Yellow Submarine can count on Gerard Moreno to provide it.
The striker has been involved in five goals (four goals, one assist) in his last five league appearances against Betis and will be keen to continue that streak.
Atletico Madrid vs Celta Vigo (Saturday, 8pm)
Atletico will be keen to build on their last-gasp Champions League win against Porto when they welcome Celta Vigo to the Spanish capital.
Encouragingly for Diego Simeone’s men, Celta have not won any of their last 10 trips to Atletico in the league (three draws, seven defeats), failing to score in six of those games.
Both sides have forwards chasing individual milestones in this fixture.
Antoine Griezmann is on 99 LaLiga goals for Atletico and is looking to become just the sixth player to reach triple figures in the competition for the club.
Celta skipper Iago Aspas, meanwhile, could become only the second Spanish player to net six or more goals after the first five games of a top-flight campaign in the 21st century, after David Villa.
Espanyol vs Sevilla (Saturday, 3.15pm)
Sevilla will be desperate to turn their form around after equalling their worst-ever start to a season.
Their domestic woes were further compounded by a humbling 4-0 home defeat to Manchester City in Tuesday’s Champions League encounter.
But Julen Lopetegui’s men will take heart from their next opponents, Espanyol, who snapped a 10-game winless run (four draws, six defeats) last time out by beating Athletic Bilbao 1-0.
History is on the Rojiblancos’ side in this fixture, with Espanyol failing to win any of the last eight meetings between the pair (three draws, five defeats).
Additionally, Sevilla have won more games (71) and scored more goals (243) against Espanyol in LaLiga than against any other team.
The weekend’s other games
Girona vs Real Valladolid (Friday, 8pm)
Rayo Vallecano vs Valencia (Saturday, 1pm)
Elche vs Athletic Bilbao (Sunday, 3.15pm)
Getafe vs Real Sociedad (Sunday, 5.30pm)
Almeria vs Osasuna (Monday, 8pm)
Follow each game with our unbeatable live scores service. Simply tap the Scores tab on the web or download the LiveScore app from the App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android.
