Almost every stat for the Spanish champions is down on last season.

Out of the Cup earlier, fewer points than at this stage a year ago, fewer goals, more goals conceded, more defeats, worse disciplinary record.

One thing, however, is shiningly better.

Their record in the Spanish capital ‘derbi’.

Last term they played Real Madrid five times, winning once, losing three and drawing the final domestic encounter 2-2 having led 2-1 at home in a typically volcanic Calderón meeting.

Which is where battle resumes on Saturday afternoon – this time with the figures drastically in favour of Diego Simeone’s troops.

These two have squared off five times this season [with another in the Champions League not yet out of the question] but the Spanish champions have the Indian sign over ‘the Vikings’.

Since August Atlético have beaten the European champions:

• in the league at the Bernabéu
• at the Calderón in the Spanish Supercup
• again at home in the Copa Del Rey while eliminating Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish Cup holders.

The two further draws, 1-1 and 2-2, mean that since losing that most dramatic Champions League final last May, Atleti are undefeated in three competitions and five matches against their bitter enemies.

The five games have yielded 12 goals with Madrid the only ones who have [twice] drawn a blank.

Not since January 2008 have Atleti failed to score at home in the league against Los Blancos –

How will it go?

Even though they can most certainly win, even though ‘form goes out of the window in a derby’ Madrid don’t quite look in shape.

No Pepe, no Modric, no James, no Ramos, no Marcelo.

Bale anxious in front of goal, Ronaldo just back from a two game suspension and noticeably short on top form and goals.

Since mid-December in three different competitions he’s scored just four times in eight matches.

Prior to that he’d hit 32 in 22 matches across Liga, Supercopas and Champions League.

A big dip.

But the boy likes a show.

On form they can take a draw or a win – if Ronaldo’s not at the races then Madrid are cooked.

• Ronaldo has 15 goals in 19 games against Atleti – seven of which came at the Calderón.

But, with half an eye on how temperamentally he played in getting sent-off and banned at Córdoba recently, old Crissy-boy also has seven yellows and a red in those 19 derbis.

Diego Simeone has his work cut out, as do you to pick a scorer.

Six of his players, Tiago, Raúl García, Fernando Torres, Arda Turan, José Giménez and Mario Mandzukic, have a goal against Los Blancos this season.

He’s going to start with Torres on the bench, Mandzukic and Griezmann up front ? Harsh on El Niño from El Cholo?

The Frenchman hasn’t hit the net against Madrid this season but is otherwise scoring for fun. Work out whether Simeone’s choice is going to be good or bad and you’ve a better chance of winning money.

I’ve a narrow feeling for both teams to score, no Ramos no Pepe, what price Godín or Miranda from a set play? Score draw anyone?

Graham’s Bet: Both teams to score and match to finish as a draw at 16/5

Getafe v Sevilla Sunday 4pm

If you think this is precisely the kind of fixture for which Quique Sanchez Flores was brought back to win then you’re gonna LOVE this stat.

The two sides have met at this stadium in Madrid ten times in the Primera Division and Sevilla have only won once. Six years ago.

Sevilla won the Cup Final the two contested [2007]. Sevilla won the Cup Final when Quique was the Atletico manager [2010]. Sevilla won when they met at the Alfonso Perez Coliseum in the Second Division.

But in the top flight Getafe are stubborn as mules when this lot come to town.

Less promisingly Quique’s two matches in charge of Getafe v Sevilla, a decade ago, each ended in scoreless draws littered with yellow cards.

IF you want to build a case for this talented, charismatic manager to win this one then here’s what you’re up against.

His eight games in charge have seen two wins, five goals and only three scorers – Álvaro, Diego Castro and Pedro Sarabia.

More, Geta are still without: Vicente Guaita, Babá Diawara, Ángel Lafita, Karim Yoda and Sergio Escudero.

But here’s the rub. Sevilla blew a chance to win in Madrid in midweek – mostly because they couldn’t finish chances.

And, before they return to the capital this weekend it has cost them.

Keeper Beto is out for at least 8 weeks after his collision with Benzema and Unai is without Vitolo, Aleix Vidal and Carriço because of suspension, adding to an injury list of Tremoulinas, Pareja, Reyes, Gameiro and Cristóforo.

They should have beaten the European champions on Wednesday, they are the better team in this match… but this is football.

This is a place they hate coming.

To me it all smacks of either Quique’s third consecutive 0-0 draw against Sevilla, ten years on, or, if he’s lucky, Mehdi Lacen, back from Copa Africa, adding to his regular groovy performances against Sevilla and a 1-0 win.

Graham Hunter’s Bet: 0-0 draw at 13/2

Espanyol v Valencia – Sunday 6pm

So, will this match tell the story of Espanyol’s or Valencia’s season?

That’s crucial.

On Matchday 3 Los Che romped it. 3-0 up until a 90th minute penalty which Sergio Garcia converted
Valencia pushed them about, played on the break, ignored any of Espanyol’s nice passing patterns and just got the knuckle-duster out.

Bish, bash bosh.

That day Lucas Vázquez and Felipe Caicedo were only subs for the visitors. Coach Sergio González had other priorities.

From then till now a great deal has changed.

For example, Valencia are Charles Atlas at home, eight stone weaklings away.

Espanyol now feel very differently about Lucas and Felipe.

Caicedo’s on a blistering scoring run – eight in his last eleven to equal his best-ever goal form which was 2010/11 with Levante. Lucas, on loan from Madrid, looks smart and technically elegant.

Now a regular starter and full of creative threat he, plus Caicedo, Duarte, Moreno, Sergio Garcia and Casilla have transformed Espanyol’s season.

Such that they knocked Valencia out of the Cup, 3-2, with the Ecuadorian striker notching twice.

A result which added to the unsettling fact that although Nuno Espirito Santo is patently a firm part of a powerful and still very new project at the Mestalla there’s growing concern at his team’s apathetic away form and the concept that he’s a tactical tinkerer – too often fiddling with the formation and the starting XI.

Last week they let us down at Málaga – barely showing up.

Play like that again and, although they are a better XI and better squad than Espanyol, they’ll lose.

This week, having already suffered 7 red cards this season, they are without both Otamendi and full back Cancela – suspended.

Home wins in January over Celta, Almería, Valencia and Sevilla [10 scored 1 conceded] tell you that Espanyol aren’t to be sneered at, a home loss to Eibar before that tells you that they ain’t the Bank of England either.

Caicedo, Sergio G and Stuani worth a look for the home side, Piatti, Negredo and Paco Alcacer for the visitors.

Graham’s Bet: Espanyol win at 7/4

Athletic v Barcelona Sunday 8pm

This is one for the superstitious – those who see patterns in numbers and statistical trends which mustn’t be ignored.

The last time Luis Enrique’s mob were ‘oop north’ in the Basque country it was the first match of the year, at the Anoeta, and it was grim.

An own-goal, a defeat – both ridicule and a mini-mutiny for having left not only Neymar, Piqué, Rakitic and Alves out – but Messi too.

The defeat came just after a mini holiday.

Now they are back in the Pays Vasco – after a mini holiday.

Another mini revolt, too. The players, and to be fair the coach, didn’t want to play a scheduled friendly in Qatar this week so it was cancelled.

Everyone bar Piqué and Neymar had two and a half days off.

So, what chances of the result or the performance at San Mames repeating that of the Anoeta and leaving the title chasers with egg on their faces again?

Do you sense a pattern emerging?

It’s a thorny place, traditionally. Since 2004 Barcelona have three wins, six draws …but only two defeats in league and cup at the San Mames.

The key fact, however, is that given their four point deficit to Madrid at the top Barcelona can’t afford either of the latter two results. Not even a draw.

It’s February, so to pretend that this is an all-or-nothing weekend would be immature.

But it paints as an opportunity. Barcelona cure their travel-ills and get a bit Jack Kerouac. Memorable on the road. [Geddit?]

Away from the Camp Nou they’ve dropped thirteen points and consistently looked vulnerable.

But IF they’ve shed that personality, IF the form at the Calderón and Riazor is the real Barça then here’s the script.

They pick up three points and Madrid draw in the derbi.
Gap down to two points with a Camp Nou Clásico still to play.

That’s got to be how Luis Enrique is figuring this weekend.

What makes this particularly juicy for the neutral is that Athletic have stemmed the hemorrhage of bad results recently.

Wins and draws against Málaga and Levante in Cup and League have brought three goals for Aduriz and a sixth of the season from man-mountain defender Miki San-Jose.

Susaeta has set up three of the last four Athletic goals and they DO like to notch with a header.

Something Barcelona notoriously struggle to cope with.

Summary? Barcelona too improved, too many options, too much quality. 2-1 to the visitors.

Up to you, but if both San Jose and Piqué start I’m gonna take a wild punt on both to score. But that’s how I roll.

The sane will look to Messi, Neymar, Suárez [who’s increasingly vital for this attack] and Aduriz for scorers.

Graham’s Bet: Barcelona to win 2-1 at 7/1

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Burnley v West Ham

Sam Allardyce’s Hammers have hit a sticky patch at just the wrong time in their bid to secure an immediate return to the Premier League (4/7 – Promotion) this season.

The Londoners looked certain to win promotion at one stage, but their recent inability to kill teams off – particularly at home – has resulted in five draws from the last six outings which has allowed in-form Reading to jump into second spot behind league leaders Southampton.

However, West Ham have been strong away from home all season and it might be good for them to be playing away from Upton Park as the pressure from the stands appears to have affected them in recent weeks.

The Hammers have picked up half of their total of 68 points on the road so will be confident of improving on that at Turf Moor.

Julien Faubert and Ricardo Vaz Te are still absent with respective groin and hamstring problems, while defender Guy Demel and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop have long-term injuries.

Burnley have been consistently inconsistent this season with their home record of six wins, six draw and six defeats summing things up perfectly. However, Eddie Howe’s men did defeat the Hammers 2-1 at Upton Park earlier in the season and have lost only four of 36 games against them on home soil.

Left-back Danny Lafferty and forward Danny Ings will be checked before the game, while top scorer Jay Rodriguez is also likely to start again after completing 90 minutes against Ipswich in midweek.

The Clarets want a first win in seven, while West Ham know a draw will mean a record fifth consecutive stalemate, but Allardyce’s side should get their promotion bid back on track on Saturday.

Prediction: Away Win 90 Minutes @ 5/4
Value Bet: Draw/West Ham HT/FT @ 9/2

Reading v Blackpool

A huge game is in wait in the scrap for promotion and play-off places at the Madejski Stadium as second-placed Reading take on fifth-placed Blackpool.

Brian McDermott’s Royals have jumped above West Ham into the second automatic promotion places (4/7 – Promotion) following a run of nine wins and one draw before Tuesday’s surprise 3-1 defeat at Peterborough.

They stay two points ahead of the Hammers, who have a game in hand, so will be desperate to secure three points against the Tangerines to stay in the box seat for another weekend.

The Royals have won five successive games on home soil going into this match and will be looking to extend that run, although they will have to do it without striker Jason Roberts due to a hamstring injury.

England youth international Benik Afobe has arrived on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season, and the youngster could make his debut, while Hayden Mullins is set to continue on the right of defence in the absence of ankle injury victim Matt Connolly and Joseph Mills continues to miss out.

Blackpool have hit an indifferent run of form in recent weeks, although Wednesday’s last-gasp 3-3 draw with Leicester at Bloomfield Road has kept them in the play-off places.

Ian Holloway’s side have won two, drawn two and lost two in their last six, but an encouraging statistic is they are the Championship’s top scorers on their travels with 32 so far.

Roman Bednar will sit this one out due to injury and so it is a timely return for Stephen Dobbie to the club from Swansea.

The Royals look set to bounce back from Tuesday’s Posh defeat and put another three points on the board this weekend.

Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 4/5
Value Bet: Reading To Win 3-2 Correct Score @ 25/1

Southampton v Doncaster

A real top-versus-bottom affair at St Mary’s which, on the face of it, appears to be one of the biggest home bankers of the weekend.

Nigel Adkins’ Saints sit five points clear at the top of the Championship table (1/3 – Outright) and look good for a return to the Premier League, while Doncaster are one place and one point off the bottom spot.

Southampton’s home form is easily the best in the league with 14 wins and just two defeats, while they have won five and drawn one in their last matches.

Guly do Prado and Tadanari Lee are injury doubts for the Saints so Billy Sharp could be handed a rare start against his former club, while midfielder Richard Chaplow could return to the squad after missing out at Hull in midweek.

Dean Saunders’ Rovers are in desperate need of a win as they are four points adrift of safety following a run of just one win in six, which came at fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Shelton Martis remains a major injury doubt for Doncaster with hamstring and calf problems, while Tommy Spurr’s absence means George Friend will contest the left-back berth with Herita Ilunga after returning to training from knee ligament damage.

Pascal Chimbonda is poised to return at right-back having missed the Millwall home defeat due to his wife being unwell, while Kyle Bennett faces a late fitness test on his toe.

Everything points to a home win, but Rovers did defeat the Saints 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium earlier in the season and won 2-1 on their previous visit to St Mary’s so they will have some hope of securing a result.

But anything other than a comfortable win for the Saints would be a major shock.

Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 1/3
Value Bet: Lambert 1st Goal Southampton To Win 3-1 Scorecast @ 22/1

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Everton

But the draw (13/5) still looks like being the most likely result given that all that’s gone before the match -  which takes place one day before Toffees boss David Moyes celebrates ten years in charge.

Moyes underlined why he could be one of the hottest names on the managerial merry-go-round this summer when his Everton side topped Tottenham 1-0 on Saturday – just hours after Liverpool had slumped to a disappointing loss at Sunderland.

The Goodison Park side are now only two points behind their cross city rivals and will be champing at the bit to inflict more misery on Kenny Dalglish’s men by winning at Anfield – something they last did three years before Moyes arrived in 1999.

Liverpool’s home form this year has been the main reason behind their seventh place standing in the Premier League. The Reds have won only four of 13 matches at Anfield – and have drawn eight times.

Four of the last six meetings between the sides have also been draws, including last season’s January encounter which finished 2-2 after Dirk Kuyt’s 68th minute penalty levelled the scores (5/1 Liverpool To Score a penalty, 7/1 Everton).

Kuyt was on spot-kicks then because Steven Gerrard (13/2 First Goalscorer) was injured and the influential Liverpool skipper’s involvement in this fixture greatly improves his side’s chances of winning the match.

Gerrard (7/4 Anytime Goalscorer) scored in the 2009 derby at Anfield, which finished 1-1, but Kuyt also bagged from open play when Liverpool won the 2010 clash.

Kuyt missed a penalty when the two teams met earlier this season at Goodison Park which meant he did not score in his fourth Merseyside derby in a row.

The Dutchman has scored only one Premier League goal this season – a disappointing return from a player who hit 13, nine and 12 in his last three campaigns.

Kuyt has been coming off the bench for Liverpool recently and making an impact – as he did in extra time at the Carling Cup final.

He has scored three goals in his last eight appearances for Liverpool and on two of these occasions, it was the last goal in the match (Kuyt 7/1 Last Goalscorer)

Everton have scored in their last seven Premier League matches, a run in which they are unbeaten – having defeated Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester City during that spell.

Liverpool should hold no fears for Moyes’ men, particularly with their dodgy home record and the price on an Everton comeback victory (20/1 Everton Win from Behind) must be worth some consideration given Liverpool’s recent inability to hold onto leads against Cardiff City and Arsenal.

However, the draw looks the most likely result after 90 minutes and with Everton’s last three Premier League away games having ended 1-1,  a fourth in a row should probably be backed on Tuesday night (6/1 in Correct Score betting).

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Giovanni Trapattoni’s men arrive in Skopje full of confidence after they lifted the Carling Nations Trophy last Sunday courtesy of a 1-0 win against Scotland, having seen off Wales and Northern Ireland in the previous games without conceding a goal in the process.

But the pressure on their shoulders could be intensified by the time kick-off arrives as Slovakia and Russia, who are level on 10 points with the Irish, will have already finished their respective matches against Andorra and Armenia.

Slovakia’s game is a 1/80 home banker with Totesport as Andorra are pointless from their opening five games, while Ireland will possibly look for Armenia, who are fourth in Group B and just two points off the leading trio, to do them a favour and hold the Russians to a point (11/2 Draw).

In that scenario a win against Macedonia, who have drawn and lost their opening two qualifiers on home soil, could take Ireland two points clear in second spot behind the Slovaks on 13 points.

Trapattoni will be delighted with his defence’s recent solidity and will expect them to keep the Macedonian’s at bay after their exploits against the Scots, Welsh and Ulstermen, despite the absence of the suspended Richard Dunne.

It is the Italian’s attack that could give him some concern as 30-year-old star striker Robbie Keane is battling to shake off a groin injury he suffered in training in order to play.

And with Macedonia’s own defensive record not looking to shabby with only six goals conceded from five matches, the game could require a moment of magic from somebody of Keane’s calibre to ensure they take the maximum points haul they desperately need.

West Brom?s Simon Cox (13/2 First/Last Goalscorer) appears to be the man who will step into the attack should Keane fail to make it and, having recently got his first goal for his country, he will prove to be a very able deputy.

Therefore, we anticipate a tight game (2/1 1 or Less Total Goals) between two teams that are strong in defence, but with Ireland’s superior strike-force, they should have just enough to come out on top.

Prediction: Ireland To Win 90 Minutes @ 23/20
Value Bet: Simon Cox 1st goal Ireland To Win 1-0 Scorecast @ 25/1

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1) Chelsea are by no means assured of the Premier League title after losing at home for the first time this season to Sunderland. Many thought they would be out of sight by Christmas, with those below failing to mount a serious challenge, but there are still at least four title contenders in mid-November (Chelsea 8/11 to win Premier League).

2) Arsenal are one of them and proved that, despite having a young side, they are capable of sustaining a challenge with their fourth away win of the campaign at Everton. Of the chasing pack, they look the most likely to upset the Chelsea bandwagon as they still have Robin van Persie to come back into the side.

3) Roberto Mancini still has not grasped the fact that attacking teams win Premier League titles and bore draws and defensive football just drive away the fans and lose highly-paid managers their jobs (Man City 2/5 to finish in top four).

4) Liverpool have turned the corner only to find a brick wall in front of them. The mini-revival is over and the bottom three is not too far away again after a 2-0 defeat at Stoke. The club may now be stable off the pitch but look anything but on the playing surface.

5) There is only so long you can say that a team’s position in the table is false and they will turn things around if they keep going. Wolves fans must be sick of hearing those words after yet another defeat – this time at home to Bolton – saw them remain second bottom, off rock bottom only on goal difference (Wolves 8/11 to be relegated).

6) Ian Holloway might fancy putting out his second XI once again after the so-called Blackpool first team failed to hit the back of the net against West Ham after the ‘reserves’ hit two against Aston Villa in midweek in their narrow 3-2 defeat. It remains to be seen whether the club will be fined and the boss will carry out his threat to quit.

7) Gareth Bale has a head as good as his left foot after he got the ball rolling with a superb header in Tottenham’s 4-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

8 ) Fabio Capello is prepared to give wayward players a chance as Andy Carroll was called into the England squad for Wednesday’s friendly with France. He has the talent to make it at international level and Capello believes the young Geordie will toe the line (Carroll 20/1 to be Premier League top scorer).

9) West Ham could be in for a long season after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with relegation-tipped Blackpool and, if the inspirational Scott Parker ever gets injured, Hammers fans might want to check out where the likes of Scunthorpe, Barnsley and Hull are when they plan next season’s away trips.

10) Playing outside the top flight and outside England is no barrier to an England call up as Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd was named in the England squad to face France. The much-travelled forward has scored 15 goals already this term as Cardiff replaced QPR at the top of the Championship on Saturday. He could form an unlikely partnership with Carroll against the 1998 World Cup winners at Wembley (England 11/10 to beat France).

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Italy

The Italians are seventh-favourites going into the tournament, but that doesn’t worry the 62-year-old.

“Italy has never been amongst the favourites, I don’t remember a World Cup where we’ve been favourites,” Lippi said. “The favourites are rightly Brazil and Spain, but you also have to add other strong teams to the mix.”

“I’ve said it many times before, there’s Brazil, Spain and then five or six other teams, such as England, Holland, Germany, Italy and France, that don’t go just to do well, they go to win and want to win,”  he added.

“Sometimes they manage it and we’ve won it four times. But a World Cup is special, it’s not always technical ability that decides who wins, there are other things,” he added.

The World Cup-winning coach insisted that the Italy team are not an aged and creaking side, as some pundits believe.

“We’re not the oldest team here, there are three or four teams that are older than us,” said the coach.

“We’ve got a good mix, we have nine players from 2006, that’s less than 50 percent,” he said. “But I’ve never seen another team that’s won the last World Cup to turn up with 23 different players the next time. We’ve got old players but age doesn’t mean broken down, it means experience, charisma.”

Lippi also defended his decision to keep AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo in his 23-man squad despite the fact he is suffering from a calf strain.

Pirlo will not be fit before Italy’s third group game but despite bringing along a 24th player, in Cagliari’s Andrea Cossu, Lippi is unwilling to let his playmaker go.

“He’s here because the team doctors said he will be ready by the third game,” said Lippi.

“Over the last few days I have been recovering and I feel less pain,” Pirlo told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The situation is encouraging as the lesion has started to heal. I have faith, even though the return will be defined step by step.”

Meanwhile, Mauro Camoranesi resumed training on Thursday for the first time since his knee injury.

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Salomon Kalou

Carlo Ancelotti’s side lead Manchester United by just a single point ahead of their trip to Anfield on Sunday lunchtime (Liverpool 11/4, Chelsea 5/6, draw 13/5 90 Minutes) and anything less than a win could hand the initiative over to the Red Devils, who face Sunderland in the later game.

Therefore Kalou is looking for the Blues to remove any doubts by heaping more misery on Liverpool and securing maximum points to keep the title destiny in their own hands going into the final weekend.

“I think we have to win. There’s two games to go and there’s no other way of going about it,” said the Ivory Coast frontman.

“If you want to keep your chance at your end, you have to win every game.

“I hope United will go to Sunderland and drop points, but you can only focus on your own game.

“If we take the three points against Liverpool, we don’t need to worry about what United will do.

“Anfield will be a difficult journey but we will be very motivated and know that if we win there, everything will be in our hands at home against Wigan.”

Chelsea will be boosted by the absence of Liverpool’s prolific striker Fernando Torres due to injury, but Kalou says they cannot afford to be complacent.

“Liverpool at home are still a strong team, even without Torres,” he said.

“It’s true that if Torres played it would be a plus for them, but I think they are still difficult to play at Anfield because they have that spirit at home and their supporters will push them 200 per cent.

“We have to go there and take control of the game. We need to keep the ball and play our own game and not wait for Liverpool to take the initiative.”

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