Malaga v Real Madrid 7pm

When you think about Malaga you think about sun, sea, the Costa del Sol and fights over sun loungers. What doesn’t spring to mind is a football club looking to become the biggest in Spain. However, that is exactly what Malaga CF are looking to do following the takeover of Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani last season.

The Andalusian outfit are now one of the richest clubs in the world and flexed their financial muscle in the summer by bringing in the likes of Jeremy Toulalan, Joaquin, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Santi Cazorla. With a star-studded squad at his disposal former Real boss Manuel Pellegrini will now look to overthrow the club his current employers are desperate to emulate.

Malaga are 11/2 to get the win, with Real 4/9 and the draw 7/2 in the match betting. You might expect Real to be shorter given the way they have been playing since a 1-0 defeat to surprise package Levante in September. The longer the season goes the better Jose Mourinho’s men look, scoring over three goals in each of their last five matches.

The ‘Special One’ has got the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema all singing from the same hymn sheet finally and they look capable of challenging Barcelona this season. Both Ronaldo and Higuain have got seven goals in as many games and Real look capable of matching Barcelona’s deadliness in front of goal.

However, the most improved aspect of the team has been the defence. Whereas it use to be a case of outscoring the opposition, Mourinho has instilled into his players the need to keep it tight at the back.

With both of those aspects in mind Real to win at 11/10 with a minus one handicap looks a cracking bet. Malaga will be a force to be reckoned with soon enough but this will be a valuable lesson they’ll need to learn if they are to get to that level.

Barcelona v Sevilla 9pm

What can be said about Barcelona that hasn’t been done so already? The 2-0 win over Viktoria Plzen might not look much on paper but it contained another classic goal scored by Andres Iniesta which is well worth digging out. At the Nou Camp this season they have been unstoppable, winning their four La Liga matches by a combined scoreline of 21-0. Sevilla should be the next victims but they won’t be pushovers.

New manager Marcelino Garcia Toral has hit the ground running with Sevilla and they are just one of three unbeaten sides left in the division. Their water-tight defensive unit has been their strength thus far with Toral’s men letting just one goal in during the past five matches.

That backline is likely to be sorely test on Saturday night but it shouldn’t be the kind of lop-sided result we are used to seeing at Barcelona. Totals goals between 2-3 could be a good bet at 6/5, with Barcelona’s odds of 1/6 to win the match offering no value. Barcelona will win but there could be some money to be made if Sevilla keep the scoreline down.

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Sunderland

In the last four weeks, Turner and co have faced Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United and come through those games unbeaten.

Steve Bruce takes his side to Ewood Park on Monday night to face a Blackburn side level on points with them as the sides sit just two points above the relegation places (Sunderland 12/5 to win the game, draw 23/10).

What will be a huge blow to Sunderland could be the loss of leading scorer Darren Bent. The former Tottenham man sustained a groin injury on England duty and is rated as doubtful for the clash. Their £13million Ghanaian signing Asamoah Gyan (15/2 to be first goalscorer) is set to take his place should Bent fail to make it.

Bruce is also buoyed by the return of Kieran Richardson, Anton Ferdinand and John Mensah, while Danny Wellbeck is available after being ineligible to play against parent club Manchester United in the last game.

Turner knows many Sunderland fans are looking for the side to step up and improve on their results from last season and finish in the Premier League top ten, but the defender is taking nothing for granted with more tough games against Aston Villa and local rivals Newcastle looming on the horizon.

“We have had a good start this year and we just want it to carry on,” said the former Hull defender.

“But we have got a tough game on Monday night and that is what we are concentrating on.

“We know it is going to be a huge contrast to Manchester United and Liverpool in the way Blackburn play, so we know we are going to have to be prepared and roll our sleeves up and be ready for what they throw at us.

“Every team in the league plays with a different style and it is about dealing with whatever is thrown at you.

“We will try to stamp our play on the game and concentrate on that, but we know we are going to have to deal with balls into the box and throw our bodies on the line to keep a clean sheet.”

Blackburn (6/1 to win the game 1-0) manager Sam Allardyce has injury concerns over captain Ryan Nelsen, who is struggling with a thigh problem, while David Dunn is likely to play some part after recovering from a hamstring sprain.

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