It might not be the biggest derby for Real Madrid this weekend, particularly with ‘El Clasico’ coming up at the end of the month, but Atletico (17/2 in the match betting) will be looking to upset their more illustrious neighbours to earn the bragging rights in the Spanish capital and reignite their bid for Champions League football next year.
That will be the plan anyway but Real (2/7 favourites) have turned a corner under Jose Mourinho following a slow start to the campaign and are now beginning to look like a team, rather than a collection of individuals.
The goals have started to flow as well of late, certainly domestically, with 19 scored in the last four games as Los Merengues have moved to the top of the table with a minimum of fuss.
They hold a one-point advantage over arch-rivals Barcelona (both 10/11 to win Primera Liga) and will not be wanting to let that advantage slip, with the Catalans given the perceived easier task this weekend of a trip to Getafe.
Of course, Barcelona do kick off earlier on Sunday but that will have no bearing on the Atletico clash as Real will either want to regain the lead or pull further clear ahead of ‘El Casico’ on November 28.
The attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria have started to gel and all have got amongst the goals, with Ronaldo leading the way with 10 goals in the last four games to take his season’s tally so far in the league to 12.
The former Manchester United ace is an obvious candidate in the goalscoring markets as he also takes the penalties, and will no doubt have a number of opportunities to add to his collection and is available at 5/2 to be first or last goalscorer, 4/7 anytime or 11/4 to score 2 or more.
With a dominant home record of four wins from four, scoring 16 goals and conceding just two, it is no surprise to see Real strong 2/7 favourites in the match betting, and it may be worth taking them to do complete the Half-time/Full-time result at 8/11.
Being a derby match, there will be no easing into the game and with Atletico seemingly struggling on their travels, Real will waste little time in setting about their neighbours.
Hercules were not handed the easiest of starts on their return to the top flight in Spain but they wasted little time in making a name for themselves with a 2-0 win over Barcelona at the Nou Camp on the second weekend.
Los Blanquiazules (11/5 in the match betting) can become the first team this season to win at the Reyno de Navarra when they take on Osasuna (21/20 to win, 11/5 the draw) on Sunday as they have proved they certainly can be a match for the big boys in the top flight.
Following the Barca win, Hercules have already held Sevilla and Villarreal this term and although they lost last weekend, two of Real Madrid’s three goals came in the last eight minutes.
Although Osasuna have not been beaten at home, two wins and two draws, Los Rojillos have had a much easier start to the campaign on paper, only facing Real in the opening nine games, while they were hammered 4-1 at Racing Santander last weekend, who moved out of the bottom three with the win.
Meanwhile in Germany, Bayern Munich (7/4 to win the Bundesliga) seemingly have turned things around after a slow start to the campaign and look ready to pick up three points on their travels.
Since a 2-0 defeat at league leaders Borussia Dortmund, the Bavarian giants (4/7 in the match betting) have gone a five-match unbeaten streak, winning four of them, and can claim the win at lowly Borussia Monchengladbach (19/5 to win, 11/4 the draw) on Saturday.
Bayern have banged in 14 goals in those five games and look to have far too much ammunition for the basement side who have yet to win at home and have lost three of their five games, while they have only mustered six goals all season.
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