Barcelona have won all nine league matches and scored 39 goals, but PSG ended their winning streak in midweek. Real Madrid head into El Clásico on the back of two consecutive 4-1 victories, although they are already six points behind the Catalans. Atlético Madrid sit between the two rivals and will also be looking to capitalise on the outcome of the weekend’s biggest fixture.
La Liga Matchday 10 runs from 23 to 26 October. We examine the teams’ form, key statistics and odds from 888STARZ.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Nine Straight Wins Against a Six-Point Gap
25 October | 1st vs 3rd
Hansi Flick’s side have taken a perfect 27 points from 27, scoring 39 goals and conceding nine. Barcelona put five past Betis in their latest league match, having previously scored three against Getafe. They are averaging more than four goals per game.
However, their 4-2 Champions League defeat to PSG showed that even this attack can be outplayed. The Parisians led 3.70 to 2.23 on xG and registered 14 shots on target to Barcelona’s five. Barça equalised twice but could not withstand the pressure in the closing stages.
Real Madrid have won four consecutive matches in all competitions since losing to Atlético. Their last two outings brought identical 4-1 victories over Sevilla and RB Leipzig. José Mourinho’s team will, however, be without the suspended Vinícius Júnior.
The Brazilian’s absence limits Madrid’s options on the left, although Kylian Mbappé, Arda Güler and Yan Diomande remain available. Their speed in attacking transitions could prove especially useful against Barcelona’s high defensive line.
Barcelona won last season’s home Clásico 2-0. Another victory would stretch their lead over Real Madrid to nine points as early as October. An away win, meanwhile, would cut the gap to three.
Atlético Madrid vs Deportivo: A Chance to Close the Gap
24 October | 2nd vs 9th
Atlético have collected 22 points from nine matches and won their last five league fixtures. Diego Simeone’s side have conceded only eight goals, with their sole defeat coming early in the season.
In midweek, Atlético drew 1-1 with Stuttgart in the Champions League. The German club led 1.50 to 0.87 on xG, while Atlético finished with ten men. The physical demands of that European encounter could make this fixture less straightforward than the difference in quality suggests.
Deportivo sit ninth with 11 points. They have lost only twice, but five draws have prevented them from climbing further up the table.
888STARZ: Home — 1.34, Draw — 6.11, Away — 9.40.
Atlético are among the clearest favourites of the round. A win would at least preserve their five-point advantage over Real Madrid and give them a chance to benefit if Barcelona drop points in El Clásico.
Valencia vs Villarreal: A Derby Between Two Struggling Sides
24 October | 19th vs 12th
Valencia have managed just six points from nine matches. They have scored only six goals, with Getafe the only team to have scored fewer, and are still searching for their first home win. Javier Aguirre also remains without a victory since taking charge.
Villarreal have hardly enjoyed a better start: nine points and 12th place. They failed to score in their last two league games, losing 1-0 to Real Madrid before drawing 0-0 with Elche.
Yet Villarreal came close to beating Liverpool in the Champions League. The Spanish side led 2-0 at Anfield before eventually losing 4-3. Their attack can trouble even strong opponents, although defensive mistakes continue to cost them.
888STARZ: Home — 3.33, Draw — 3.69, Away — 2.25.
Villarreal won both meetings last season and are unbeaten in their last five against Valencia. The odds once again favour the visitors, but neither team’s current form makes this derby particularly easy to predict.
Celta Vigo vs Real Betis: The League’s Tightest Defence Faces a Top-Four Side
25 October | 8th vs 4th
Celta have conceded just seven goals in nine matches, the best defensive record in La Liga. Scoring has been a different story, though: ten goals and five draws alongside only two victories.
Betis have the opposite problem. They sit fourth with 19 points but have already conceded 14 times. Their latest defeat, a 5-2 loss to Barcelona, was particularly painful.
Both clubs were in Europa League action on Thursday. Celta beat Celtic 2-1, while Betis edged Feyenoord 1-0. Neither side will have much recovery time before this league meeting.
888STARZ: Home — 2.92, Draw — 3.57, Away — 2.55.
Betis are narrow favourites, although Celta are unbeaten in their last five league matches. The contrast is clear: the hosts rarely concede but create relatively little, while the visitors attack more freely and leave more openings at the back.
Real Sociedad vs Levante: The Basque Side Are Finding Their Rhythm
25 October | 5th vs 11th
Real Sociedad have won four of their last five league matches. A 5-2 victory over Málaga last weekend lifted them to fifth with 16 points.
Their improved attacking form has not solved their defensive problems, however. Sociedad have scored 17 goals and conceded 17 in nine matches. They regularly create chances but also give opponents opportunities to respond.
Levante have ten points, 15 goals scored and 17 conceded. Despite sitting in the bottom half, the visitors have shown they can make games open and high-scoring.
888STARZ: Home — 1.72, Draw — 4.32, Away — 4.98.
Sociedad’s recent form explains their favourite status, but those 17 goals conceded make a comfortable home victory far from certain.
Other Matchday 10 Fixtures
Alavés open the round against bottom-placed Málaga, who are still without a league win. Rayo Vallecano host Elche, while Racing meet Espanyol, with both clubs hovering near the relegation zone.
Athletic Club take on Getafe, who have scored only five goals in nine rounds. The programme concludes on 26 October with Sevilla against Osasuna. Sevilla sit sixth despite conceding 16 goals, while Osasuna occupy tenth place.
What Matters Most Ahead of Matchday 10
The weekend is about more than who wins El Clásico. Barcelona could open a nine-point lead over Real Madrid, but defeat would put the Madrid club right back into the title race. Atlético also have an opportunity to take advantage of their rivals’ meeting.
Further down the standings, Betis are looking to consolidate their place in the top four, Real Sociedad are recovering from a difficult start, and Valencia already find themselves in the relegation zone in October.
Once the round is complete, we’ll compare the results with the recorded 888STARZ odds, the quality of chances created and what actually happened on the pitch.
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