La Liga Tips: Top of the table clash as Barcelona host Sevilla

Real Madrid and Barcelona will both be eager to end their respective four-match winless runs in La Liga, as domestic action gets back underway this weekend.

Can the two title rivals return to winning ways after the international break? We’ve previewed their matches, along with two other top tussles, below.

Barcelona v Sevilla (Saturday, 7:30pm)

Few would have had this down as a battle between the top two at the start of the season. Yet as we enter late October, Sevilla lead their hosts by a single point at the top of La Liga.

Their good form could prove a leveller based on recent head-to-heads. The visitors have either been beaten by a single goal or drawn six of their last seven league match-ups with Barcelona.

A first La Liga home defeat for the Catalan club since 2016 seems unlikely at 7/1. But a third domestic draw in a row at the Nou Camp could have legs at 9/2.

54 goals in 16 league matches involving these two this season sees Both Teams to Score at 4/9, and Over 4.5 Goals at 31/20.

Real Madrid v Levante (Saturday, 12:00pm)

Levante’s last victory at the Bernabeu came back in 2007. They’ve lost on eight of their last nine visits since – save a pulsating 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital 13 months ago.

Their hosts may be on something of a barren run. But Real should return to winning ways against the leaky minnows, who have shipped a third-high divisional tally of 14 goals.

Los Blancos aren’t exactly free-scoring themselves. So this should be closer than usually anticipated. We go 1/7 about a Real win and 15/4 for a Home Success and Under 2.5 Goals.

Villarreal v Atletico Madrid (Saturday, 5:30pm)

Atletico have won four of their last five matches in all competitions. But there’s something about fixtures with Villarreal which doesn’t quite agree with Diego Simeone’s men.

Saturday’s hosts are unbeaten in six against Atletico, winning their last three at El Madrigal. Will they be able to counter the visitors’ rigid system again? Or will this season’s form ring true?

Villarreal are 5/2 for what would be another surprise win, with their Double Chance odds chalked up at 8/13. Under 1.5 Goals between two defensively-minded sides is priced at 8/5.

Huesca v Espanyol (Sunday, 3:15pm)

Fifth-placed Espanyol are 11/10 to beat La Liga’s bottom club. They’ll be hoping to do so by continuing their impressive defensive record.

The visitors have shipped just seven goals so far this season; opponents Huesca, by contrast, have failed to score in four of their last five matches.

It’s 12/5 about Espanyol to Win to Nil.

Click here for the latest La Liga odds.

All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication