Barcelona v Granada
It wasn’t the return from the international break that Barca would have wanted as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich. They have the chance to bounce right back and nothing but a victory over this Granada side will do.
The Andalusian club remain winless in La Liga this season, though sit outside the relegation zone from two well-earned draws against Villarreal and Valencia. They are still yet to find the net away from home, and a thumping 4-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano on their last road trip is not the kind of form they want to be taking into the Nou Camp.
With that said, they’ve won two of their four meetings with the Catalans since returning to the top-flight, including this exact fixture last season so they’re no strangers to an upset. They did that with their only two shots on target in the game though, and they seem a less confident outfit at the start of this season. We’d expect the hosts to dominate proceedings and with Granada registering just four shots on target away from home this year, the win to nil looks the best prospect.
PREDICTION:
BARCELONA TO WIN TO NIL
Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao
Both of these sides have made an unbeaten start to the campaign and while the hosts’ main prerogative will be defending their title, Bilbao will fancy their chances of competing for a top-four spot in what is looking likely to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.
With this being played at the Wanda, there’s only one way this looks destined to go, and that is a low scoring and tight affair, with both sides impeccably well drilled in defence. Diego Simeone’s record in charge needs no explaining, with his sides regularly conceding the fewest goals season after season, while Bilbao have only shipped the one so far this season, and with that coming against Barcelona they can be forgiven. The visitors come into this off the back of successive win to nil results, and although it’s a tall order to get a result in Madrid, they certainly have enough about them to keep this game tight.
PREDICTION:
UNDER 2.5 GOALS
Valencia v Real Madrid
The top two go head-to-head after three wins from four unbeaten games to kick-off the campaign, and it’s Valencia that will likely be on more of a high. Despite Real nicking a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in midweek, they were dominated for a large portion of the game and can consider themselves very lucky to be walking away with three points from that one.
These two sides are the top scorers in the league so far, with 22 goals between them already. However, Valancia are still yet to concede at home this season having won their both such games to nil, and we’d be fearful of Madrid’s chances. While we wouldn’t back Los Blancos to draw a blank, this is arguably the hardest ground to come to in Spain, with Los Murcielagos remaining unbeaten here in 2021. The visitors will have to be at their very bet to get a result, and a performance like in midweek will do nothing for their hopes.
PREDICTION:
VALENCIA OR DRAW (DOUBLE CHANCE)
18+BeGambleAware
GENTING CASINO ONLY OFFERS SPORTS ARTICLES AND NOT SPORTS BETTING
