La Liga Betting: Girona can get on the scoresheet against Real Madrid

Barcelona v Athletic Club
Sunday, 15:15 GMT
Live on Sky Sports Mix and Betfair Live Video

Barcelona put on another ruthlessness workshop on Wednesday night, drawing Chelsea's sting and punishing them with some pinpoint finishing - much of it through the legs of poor old Thibaut Courtois. Ernesto Valverde's men were not quite at their flowing best over two legs, but they needn't need to be, which should strike fear into the other sides left in the competition.

With ten games to go, Barça are still protecting the only unbeaten record in Europe's top five leagues, and it seems unlikely that Athletic Club will the ones to dethrone them this weekend. The Basques have lost the last eight league meetings between the sides, scoring in only two of those games, and have not won at the Camp Nou since 2001.

Valverde's exit was always going to leave a hole at San Mamés, and José Ángel Ziganda has struggled to fill it this season. Athletic have been unconvincing in attack and error-prone at the back, and their hopes of rescuing something from the campaign expired in midweek, when they were dumped out of the Europa League by Marseille.

Barcelona are without Luis Suárez, who serves a ban, but that shouldn't make too much difference here. Athletic have lost their last three away games 2-0 and this one could go a similar way.

Doomed Málaga won't be thrashed

Celta Vigo v Málaga
Sunday, 17:30 GMT
Live on Sky Sports Red Button and Betfair Live Video

Málaga are already planning for life in the second flight, and while you won't certainly get rich from opposing them outright - the match odds reflect the fact that they've taken just two points from the last 39 available - their refusal to really capitulate in any single game provides us with an angle.

The seasiders carry very little threat in the final third (five goals in 15) but have not conceded three in a match since late November. So while Celta are likely winners at Balaídos, there's no real reason to expect a blowout, meaning the home win and under 3.5 goals looks like value at even money.

Girona can score at the Bernabéu

Real Madrid v Girona
Sunday, 19:45 GMT
Live on Sky Sports Football and Betfair Live Video

Girona stunned Real Madrid back in October, winning 2-1 in their first ever competitive game against Los Merengues, and will be looking to repeat the trick on Sunday night.

Their recent form provides reason for hope: Pablo Machín's men have won three on the spin and are edging towards the Europa League in their first season in primera. They have made a nuisance of themselves on recent trips to Atlético Madrid (1-1), Sevilla (0-1) and Villarreal (2-0), so the Bernabéu is unlikely to hold any great fear.

The bad news for the minnows is that Madrid, who were in a real rut when they travelled to the Estadi Montilivi, now have their tails up. It's now eight wins in nine (all competitions) after the smash-and-grab success over Eibar last time out, and they have been especially impressive on home soil, racking up 19 goals in their last four league outings at the Bernabéu.

With Cristiano Ronaldo on fire and Luka Modrić building up fitness after injury, Madrid should exact a little revenge on Girona here. But there's every chance the visitors will also get on the scoresheet, with Cristhian Stuani and Portu - who has already scored against Madrid,​ Atlético, Barça and Valencia this term - having shown they can mix it with the best defences at this level.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Barcelona to beat Athletic Club to nil at 8/11 (Sportsbook)

Back Celta Vigo to beat Málaga and under 3.5 goals at Evens (Sportsbook)

Back Real Madrid to beat Girona and both teams to score at Evens (Sportsbook)