"After a worrying blip in November, the Yellow Submarine found their groove again before Christmas, dispatching Atlético Madrid and Sporting Gijón in some style"
Real Madrid v Granada
Saturday, 12:00
Live on Sky Sports 2
For many people, 2016 was a nightmare that seemed to drag on forever. For Zinedine Zidane, it was a dream. The Frenchman's maiden year in management could hardly have gone more smoothly, yielding a Champions League title to go alongside the one he won as a player, the Spanish Super Cup and, just before Christmas, glory at the Club World Cup in Japan. If his success can summed up in one stat, it is this: Zidane has now won more trophies as a manager than he has lost matches.
He will hope for more of the same in 2017 and things got off to a solid start on Wednesday, when Real brushed Sevilla aside in the Copa del Rey. Now, almost a month after beating Deportivo La Coruña, they return to the bread and butter of La Liga, hoping to extend their three-point advantage at the summit. Given that they also have a game in hand, the outlook is fairly rosy for Los Blancos.
A home game against Granada is a landing as soft as they come. The Andalusians showed signs of life in December but signed off before the break with a home defeat to Real Sociedad and were turned over by fellow strugglers Osasuna in the cup this week.
Yet given the scrawny odds available on the hosts in all markets, the best option might be backing the visitors to provide the tiniest bit of resistance by scoring. Real's defence is weakened by the absence of the suspended Sergio Ramos and they have conceded in nine of their last ten La Liga games at the Bernabéu. Granada have scored in seven of their eight away league games this term (including against Atlético Madrid) and can do so again here.
Recommended Bet
Back Real Madrid to win and both teams to score at 13/10
Saturday, 12:00
Live on Sky Sports 2
For many people, 2016 was a nightmare that seemed to drag on forever. For Zinedine Zidane, it was a dream. The Frenchman's maiden year in management could hardly have gone more smoothly, yielding a Champions League title to go alongside the one he won as a player, the Spanish Super Cup and, just before Christmas, glory at the Club World Cup in Japan. If his success can summed up in one stat, it is this: Zidane has now won more trophies as a manager than he has lost matches.
He will hope for more of the same in 2017 and things got off to a solid start on Wednesday, when Real brushed Sevilla aside in the Copa del Rey. Now, almost a month after beating Deportivo La Coruña, they return to the bread and butter of La Liga, hoping to extend their three-point advantage at the summit. Given that they also have a game in hand, the outlook is fairly rosy for Los Blancos.
A home game against Granada is a landing as soft as they come. The Andalusians showed signs of life in December but signed off before the break with a home defeat to Real Sociedad and were turned over by fellow strugglers Osasuna in the cup this week.
Yet given the scrawny odds available on the hosts in all markets, the best option might be backing the visitors to provide the tiniest bit of resistance by scoring. Real's defence is weakened by the absence of the suspended Sergio Ramos and they have conceded in nine of their last ten La Liga games at the Bernabéu. Granada have scored in seven of their eight away league games this term (including against Atlético Madrid) and can do so again here.
Recommended Bet
Back Real Madrid to win and both teams to score at 13/10
Celta Vigo v Málaga
Sunday, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports 2
A midtable clash it may be, but the meeting between Celta Vigo and Málaga in Galicia looks unlikely to disappoint as far as entertainment value goes. Both of these sides have been involved in some thrilling matches recently and we expect this one to produce the goods as well.
Celta were convincing winners over Valencia in the Copa del Rey this week (4-1) has tenand have been impressive going forward all season: only six sides in La Liga have outscored them going into Jornada 17. Iago Aspas alone has ten goals to his name, including nine in his last nine league games.
Málaga are no slouches going forward, either, but the key factor here is that neither of these sides can defend. Celta have kept just two clean sheets all season in the league, the last of which came in September, and will be without Facundo Roncaglia (suspended). Málaga have conceded three goals or more on four separate occasions since the end of October.
All of Celta's last seven home games in La Liga have gone over the 2.5 goal mark, as have three of Málaga's four away. But the combination of two strong attacks and two shaky defences makes the 3.5-goal line worth taking on at chunkier odds.
Recommended Bet
Back over 3.5 goals at 3.10
Villarreal v Barcelona
Sunday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 2
Fourth plays second at El Madrigal as Villarreal look to maintain the momentum they built up before the winter break against Barcelona. Both of these sides lost in the cup this week (Villarreal to Real Sociedad, Barça to Athletic Club), giving this match an added edge.
After a worrying blip in November, the Yellow Submarine found their groove again before Christmas, dispatching Atlético Madrid and Sporting Gijón in some style. They will be without Cedric Bakambu again here, but Alexandre Pato has helped to plug that gap: the Brazilian has been busy in recent matches, even if his finishing remains frustratingly hit-and-miss.
Barça have no major selection issues, but will need a major improvement from Thursday night's display in Bilbao. Not for the first time this season, Luis Enrique's charges started sluggishly and, despite creating plenty of chances as the game wore on, were profligate in front of goal.
Villarreal's recent record against Barcelona isn't great: they haven't beaten the Catalans in 14 league games (D4 L10). But they have been strong on home soil in recent weeks and will fancy their chances of making a game of it against a side that has conceded in five of eight away games in La Liga.
Recommended Bet
Back both teams to score at 1.76
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