Champions Barcelona are five points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid at the summit
That pair’s rivals, Real Madrid, are third and one point worse off than Atleti
Winless Malaga are propping up the table
The first Clasico of the season — and Jose Mourinho’s first since 2013 — rightfully dominates the headlines ahead of matchday 10 in LaLiga.
Alaves vs Malaga (Friday, 8pm)
Key Stats
Alaves have won three of their five home games
Malaga are LaLiga’s only winless team
Team news
Facundo Garces and Mikel Rodriguez miss out for the hosts, who are at least boosted by the return of previously suspended Angel Perez.
Malaga will be without Diego Murillo and Julen Lobete while Aaron Ochoa and Juan Cruz must be assessed.
Need to know
The hosts have beaten Getafe, Villarreal and Osasuna at home and are led by in-form Lucas Boye, scorer of five goals in eight appearances.
Malaga’s luckless start to the season hit a new low when they were hammered 5-2 at home by Real Sociedad last weekend and they are unlikely to break their duck at Alaves.
Score prediction: Alaves 2-1 Malaga @ 7/1 with LiveScore Bet
Rayo Vallecano vs Elche (Saturday, 1pm)
Key Stats
Rayo Vallecano have lost to only Real Madrid in their last five games
The same is true for Elche, who have drawn two in a row
Team news
Rayo have doubts over the fitness of Andrei Ratu and Randy Nteka and will certainly be without long-term absentees Augusto Batalla and Luiz Felipe as well as suspended midfielder Pathe Ciss.
Marc Aguado is still a few weeks away from returning but Elche have no fresh injury concerns.
Need to know
Both of these sides have picked up form of late, each losing only one of their last five matches.
Each has also drawn their last two, so a stalemate seems likely. That does not mean it will be a drab affair, though, as both teams have scored in all nine of Rayo’s LaLiga matches, and this well-matched pair could cancel each other out.
Score prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Elche @ 23/4 with LiveScore Bet
Racing Santander vs Espanyol (Saturday, 3.15pm)
Key Stats
Only goal difference separates this pair in the standings, with both having eight points
Racing Santander are unbeaten at home, scoring at least two goals in each of those four games
Team news
Goalkeeper Simon Eriksson is missing for Racing, who otherwise have a fully-fit squad.
Kike Garcia is Espanyol’s only confirmed absentee, although Jofre must be assessed after missing his side’s last four games.
Need to know
Racing have done exactly what a promoted team must do — make their home ground a fortress.
Only six LaLiga teams have picked up more home points than their eight and there is every chance they add to that tally against Espanyol, who were held to a 1-1 draw at winless Malaga on their most recent away day.
Score prediction: Racing Santander 2-1 Espanyol @ 15/2 with LiveScore Bet
Valencia vs Villarreal (Saturday, 5.30pm)
Key Stats
Only Malaga have fewer points than Valencia’s six
Villarreal have lost four of their last five away matches
Team news
Jose Copete, Umar Sadiq, Sergi Canos, Diego Lopez and Dimitri Foulquier make up a lengthy Valencia injury list.
Nicolas Pepe is struggling with an eye injury but Villarreal have an otherwise fit squad.
Need to know
Villarreal went toe-to-toe with one of the world’s best teams on Tuesday and they are likely to be feeling the effects after going full-tilt in that narrow 4-3 defeat at Liverpool.
A derby is the last thing they would have wanted after that exhausting outing and Valencia, who have looked much better since appointing experienced manager Javier Aguirre, could have enough to capitalise.
Score prediction: Valencia 1-0 Villarreal @ 10/1 with LiveScore Bet
Atletico Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna (Saturday, 8pm)
Key Stats
Atletico Madrid are on a seven-game unbeaten run
Deportivo have gone five matches without a win
Team news
Atletico captain Koke still has a way to go in his recovery and while Cristian Romero is nearing a return, he is unlikely to be risked.
Deportivo's star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is stepping up his recovery but, for now, he misses out alongside teammates Marc Casado, Bright Ede and Zakaria Eddahchouri.
There is good news for La Coruna, though, as loanee Jose Maria Gimenez can play against his parent club and Lorenzo Amatucci is available after suspension.
Need to know
It is hard to see promoted Deportivo — especially without Aubameyang — snapping Atletico’s unbeaten streak. However, they have failed to score in only one of their nine matches and can trouble Diego Simeone’s side.
It could also be a busy night for the referee, with four of Atleti’s last five games seeing a sending off and Deportivo’s most recent away match featuring two red cards.
Score prediction: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Deportivo La Coruna @ 12/1 with LiveScore Bet
Athletic Bilbao vs Getafe (Sunday, 1pm)
Key Stats
Athletic Bilbao are without a win in four games
Only one of Getafe’s last eight La Liga matches has featured more than two goals
Team news
Key defender Aymeric Laporte was sent off in Thursday’s loss to Levante and is now suspended. That leaves Bilbao a touch short of talent, with Unai Egiluz, Gorka Guruzeta, Oihan Sancet and Alvaro Djalo sidelined.
Getafe will be without injured quintet Ivan Azon, Juanmi, Orel Mangala, Christantus Uche and Zaid Romero as well as suspended centre-back Djene.
Need to know
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas has been up to his old tricks this season and a typically low-scoring game featuring his side is likely in the Basque Country.
Bordalas’s ability to grind out results deserves credit, however, and a run of only two losses — one to Barcelona — in six league games suggests they can add to the misery of Bilbao, who suffered a painful 3-1 defeat at Levante on Wednesday.
Score prediction: Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Getafe @ 10/1 with LiveScore Bet
Celta Vigo vs Real Betis (Sunday, 3.15pm)
Key Stats
Celta Vigo are unbeaten in six LaLiga matches, although four of those have been draws
Real Betis’s only loss in nine games has come against Barcelona
Team news
Celta were already without Carl Starfelt, Jones El-Abdellaoui, Andrei Radu, Borja Iglesias and Pablo Duran ahead of Thursday’s trip to Celtic.
Cucho Hernandez is a doubt after missing Betis’s Champions League outing and may miss out alongside suspended midfielder Facundo Bernal and injured pair Junior Firpo and Iker Losada.
Need to know
Real Betis kept up their perfect start in the Champions League when beating Feyenoord 1-0 on Wednesday and they look a cut above Celta, who will also have had a day fewer to recover as they were in Europa League action at Celtic on Thursday.
Four of Vigo’s opponents in their six-game unbeaten run start the weekend in the bottom six and they are likely to be outclassed in Seville.
Score prediction: Celta Vigo 0-2 Real Betis @ 10/1 with LiveScore Bet
Real Sociedad vs Levante (Sunday, 5.30pm)
Key Stats
Real Sociedad have won three LaLiga games in a row
Levante have lost to only Barcelona and Villarreal in their last eight games
Team news
Pablo Marin is back from suspension and Yangel Herrera could return after a calf strain but Jon Aramburu, Alvaro Odriozola and Luken Beitia miss out for Real Sociedad.
Dela and Enzo Bardeli missed Levante’s win over Athletic Bilbao and are doubts for this clash.
Need to know
Real Sociedad have bounced back from a sluggish start to win three in a row. However, their defensive frailties remain, with the San Sebastian side conceding two goals in each of those victories.
Levante will be buzzing after beating Bilbao and while a follow-up victory is unlikely in the absence of home advantage, they should have enough to trouble another Basque side.
Score prediction: Real Sociedad 3-2 Levante @ 14/1 with LiveScore Bet
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (Sunday, 8pm)
Key Stats
Barcelona won their first 11 games of the season before Tuesday’s 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid have lost two of their last three LaLiga away matches
Team news
Barcelona could welcome Jules Kounde back from injury but Dani Olmo was forced off against PSG and has joined Andreas Christensen, Roony Bardghji and Eric Garcia on the sidelines.
Suspended Vinicius Junior is Real Madrid’s headline absentee while Raul Asencio, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy are still some way off returning from injury.
Need to know
Barcelona surrendered their perfect start to the season in midweek but there is no shame in losing at back-to-back Champions League winners PSG and they can bounce back in the best way possible — by beating their fiercest rivals Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have scored 13 goals in winning their last four matches and Mourinho will not let them go down without a fight.
However, Los Blancos have lost at Atletico and Real Betis this term, suggesting they will be outclassed in Catalonia.
Score prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid @ 9/1 with LiveScore Bet
Sevilla vs Osasuna (Monday, 8pm)
Key Stats
Both teams have scored in seven of Sevilla’s nine games
Osasuna have lost four of their last six matches
Team news
Sevilla can welcome Isaac Romero back from suspension but Jon Guridi, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Marcao, Iker Munoz and Miguel Sierra make for a packed infirmary.
Romain Del Castillo, Jorge Herrando and Aimar Oroz miss out for the visitors.
Need to know
Osasuna snapped a five-game winless run by beating promoted Racing Santander last time but the 14 goals they have conceded in three straight away defeats makes them hard to trust in Seville.
Hosts Sevilla have four wins on the board and can take down Osasuna, even if the visitors prevent Los Rojiblancos from securing a third clean sheet of the season.
Score prediction: Sevilla 2-1 Osasuna @ 7/1 with LiveScore Bet
