By ATHLETIC BILBAO VS BARCELONA
Athletic Bilbao host Barcelona at the San Mames Stadium on Saturday, with the home side looking to improve on their slow start to the season, while Ernesto Valverde will be wanting to extend his side’s already comprehensive lead at the top of the table by coming away with a victory over his old team.
Barcelona have conceded just three goals all season in the league, so it certainly won’t be an easy task for Bilbao who are yet to really make a mark on La Liga this year.
The Blaugrana lead the league by four points ahead of Valencia, while Athletic are 11th. Yet the Basque club still boasts enough quality to shock Barca on home soil.
In this tie back at the beginning of last season, Barcelona ran out eventual 1-0 winners courtesy of a goal from Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
In the reverse fixture at the Nou Camp, Barcelona won comfortably after goals from Paco Alcacer, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal on a night where the Blaugrana were fielding an under-strength starting eleven.
GIRONA VS REAL MADRID
Real madrid, four points behind Barca willl look to close the gap with the trip to Girona.
Real Madrid will not make their way to Catalan club Girona in their logo-displaying team coach as extra security measures are put in place for their first trip to the Montilivi.
The European champions are starting to find their feet again after slipping off the pace after two early season draws and a disappointing loss at home against Real Betis.
A positive result on Sunday would help keep up the pressure on leaders Barcelona.
A first season in top flight football is being dealt with admirably by Blanquivermell who have already recorded two league wins and sit at 15th in La Liga.
Partly owned by the City Football Group, the riverside city club are looking to establish themselves as another top division Catalan team.
An early penalty from Manchester City loanee Olarenwaju Kayode gave Girona a surprise advantage in their game against Deportivo.
This initial lead was soon cancelled out by another spot kick from Lucas Perez before Kayode set up Cristian Portu to give Girona what could prove to be a vital win.
Despite lacking sustained periods of possession, Girona created numerous chances and were ultimately more clinical than La Coruna.
Los Blancos comfortably dispatched a poor Eibar side and are beginning to look in full flow.
20-year-old starlet Marcus Asensio was in brilliant form as he scored one goal and his cross provided an unfortunate assist for Eibar defender Paulo Oliviera to knock it past his own keeper. Marcelo sealed the points late on with a well-taken chance.
ATLETICO MADRID VS VILLARREAL
Atletico Madrid will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the La Liga season on Saturday evening, as Diego Simeone’s side entertain Villarreal in the Spanish capital.
Despite a rocky start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, Los Coloncheros are yet to be beaten in their opening nine league games, with Kevin Gameiro netting his first of the season last time out at Celta Vigo as this weekend’s hosts climbed to fourth spot in the standings.
Simeone’s side remain six points off the pace of leaders FC Barcelona, but having held La Blaugrana a fortnight ago to 1-1 draw, Atletico know that are far from ‘also rans’ this term.
Villarreal sit just three points below their opponents this Saturday, as Javier Calleja takes his side to Madrid seeking to pull level on points.
The Yellow Submarines arrive on the back of a handsome 4-0 win over Las Palmas last time out, as striker Cedric Bakambu took his tally for the season to nine goals.
The visitors come into the game after three-successive league wins with further wins at home to Eibar and on the road at Girona, having conceded just once in that time.
OTHER LA LIGA WEEK 10 FIXTURES
Alaves VS Valencia
Atletico Madrid VS Villarreal
Athletic Bilbao VS Barcelona
Sevilla VS Leganes
Getafe VS Real Sociedad
Girona VS Real Madrid
Eibar VS Levante
Malaga VS Celta Vigo
