La Liga Betting: Real Betis have the cutting edge to net at the Bernabéu

Barcelona v Eibar
Tuesday, 21:00
Live on Sky Sports Mix and Betfair Live Video

Misery: just when you think you're out, it drags you back in again. Barcelona had a spring in their step after four wins on the spin, the outlook suddenly sunny again after the slow torture of the summer transfer window. But the mood soured just a touch on Saturday when Ousmane Dembéle - making his first start since that mega-bucks move from Borussia Dortmund - limped off just half an hour into the game against Getafe.

The prognosis is not good: the French flyer is likely to be out for four months - a significant blow for player and team. That Neymar-shaped hole is gaping all over again, with many in the Barça camp pointing at the state of the pitch at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. "It was a field that couldn't be played on," huffed Gerard Deulofeu.

The Catalans eventually made the best of a bad situation, coming from behind to win thanks to goals from substitutes Denis Suárez and Paulinho. Ernesto Valverde will also find solace in the fixture list, with two very winnable fixtures up next before the Champions League returns. First up are Eibar, whose record against La Liga's big hitters over the last few seasons is not much to write home about.

Against the combined forces of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club, Los Armeros' record since they were promoted to Primera reads W0 D6 L29 (all competitions). José Luis Mendilibar's side tend to do their best work against the league's lower lights, then, and they have already drawn blanks against Athletic and Sevilla this term. With that in mind, we'll be backing a no-frills home win.

Recommended Bet
Back Barcelona to win to nil at 6/5

Athletic Club v Atlético Madrid
Wednesday, 19:00
Live on Sky Sports Mix and Betfair Live Video

We were a second-half Real Sociedad goal away from an 8/1 winner at the weekend, so we're emboldened to risk another long-odds bet in the midweek round. It's no banker, clearly, but there's a reasonable chance of a stalematewhen Athletic Club welcome Atlético Madrid to San Mamés on Wednesday.

Both of these teams have been stodgy in the early part of the season. Since a thriller against Panathinaikos, Athletic's results read 0-0, 1-0, 1-0, 2-0, 0-0, 0-1. The side from the capital spanked Las Palmas but the three games since have produced just one goal: Antoine Griezmann's housewarming winner at the new Wanda Metropolitano at the weekend.

The unders is the obvious pick but odds of 1.62 don't hold colossal appeal, so instead we'll take on the goalless draw and hope two imposing defences cancel each other out.

Recommended Bet
Back the 0-0 draw at 8.80

Real Madrid v Real Betis
Wednesday, 21:00
Live on Sky Sports Mix and Betfair Live Video

There's no doubt who will be centre of attention at the Bernabéu on Wednesday night. One of the European game's most respected wide men, a serial match-winner, is ready to strut his stuff once again. But enough about Joaquín; Cristiano Ronaldo is also back in action.

I jest, but not really: the Real Betis veteran, fresh from a brace that sealed three points for his side against Deportivo La Coruña, really will be one of the key men here. It just so happens that he'll share the stage with Madrid's returning hero, fresh and raring to after his four-match ban from the Super Cup.

His comeback is great news for Zinedine Zidane, who has seen his charges drop four points from their opening four games of the league season. With other personnel issues rearing their heads (Marco Asensio's shaving shocker, an injury to Karim Benzema, the sale of Álvaro Morata), Los Merengues have looked just a bit short of star power, even if Gareth Bale and Borja Mayoral both opened their accounts for the campaign at the weekend.

The unspoken feeling that Madrid's season only really starts now is probably not good news for Real Betis, who have not won at the Bernabéu since 1998. But the early signs of life under Quique Setién have been fairly positive and they have the attacking talent (Sergio León, Cristian Tello, the fit-again Ryad Boudebouz - and Joaquín) to cause one or two problems at the other end.

Recommended Bet
Back Read Madrid to win and both teams to score at Evens